Silvershore

Chapter Six

At around midnight, all the volunteers arrived back home. Perlina and Sakura returned with Kaia, but Nyla was still nowhere to be found.

"...You're back." Wood immediately approached the six wolves. "Kaia...where have you been?...And where is your sister?" He gently asked her, leaning down.

"I don't know...I-I was w-walking with her, th-then we realized we were lost...a-and she was gone!" Kaia cried. Calvin pulled her close to his pelt.

"It'll be alright...we'll find your sister." Wood comforted her. He lifted his face to look at Perlina and Sakura. "Where did you find her?"

"At the edge of our territory, kinda close to The Pack of the Fire," Sakura responded.

"Kaia, do you know where you were when you lost your sister?" Wood asked.

"I-I didn't move from the spot I was at...I promise!"

Jupiter's eyes widened. "So...you were just there, throughout the entire night, and today?"

Kaia sniffled. "Y-Yeah..."

"And you really don't know what happened to Nyla?" Perlina asked.

"N-No...she's gone!"

"Don't be scared, Kaia..." Calvin gently reassured her. "We'll find her. It'll take no time at all."

"I hate to do this at this time of night...but there's no time to waste. That kid could be in real danger." Wood sighed. "Will some of you come with me to the spot Kaia was found?"

"I'll come, since Perlina and I found her." Sakura offered.

"So will I." Jupiter nodded.

"I will, too." Roscoe agreed.

"I'll just stay here and look after Kaia." Perlina offered.

"Hell no, you're not looking after my daughters again." Calvin snapped. "And, Wood, I'm coming, too."

"Calvin, you should get Misa to look after them, if you don't want my mother to. Misa's a great mom." Ragna suggested.

"I think I will." Calvin huffed. "I don't know why I trusted Perlina with this again."

"You didn't even ask me!"

"No, you're just a fuckin'-"

"Guys, stop! You're scaring Kaia!" Roscoe snapped.

"What authority do you have? You're too young to be the friggin' beta anyway...you're doing a terrible job..." Perlina snarled. "Daruk was a better beta than you'll ever be, you stupid kid..."

Roscoe fell silent. He looked a bit defeated.

"Perlina." The fur on Wood's back stood up. "What the...what the hell is wrong with you, you little fu-" Wood stopped himself from saying any more.

Perlina lowered herself, Roscoe still looked taken aback, and everyone else stood in uncomfortable silence.

"...Calvin. Why...don't you...stay...with Kaia tonight? We'll find Nyla. And Perlina...how about you call it a day?" Wood took a deep breath before speaking again. "Everyone else...you'll come along?"

"U-Uh...yeah." Jupiter nodded. Everyone left nodded with him.

"Fine then...we're leaving." Wood snarled as he began walking towards the East Forests.

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The sky was illuminated by the rise of stars, at home in the almost perfect black. Upon this summer night, it brought starlight to strong and vivid seasonal hues.