Dawnmist: Cliff of Shadows

Chapter 10

The wind blew wildly, like a desperate wolf after prey. Luna ran around the forest floor, her thoughts mixed and confused. Where was she, how did she get here, and where did everyone go? No traces of life found themselves to her sniffs. A deep panic burned her fur, driving her paws to go forward. But the forest looked the same, no matter where she went.

"Where are you!?" Luna howled. Then she snapped in control, past memories fueling her actions instead of her mind. Any moment now a spirit wolf would appear, wouldn't it? And it would give her a message that says something important?

She glanced around, her purple eyes searching for a spirit wolf. But no one appeared. Luna darted ahead before hitting something. Yet when she looked, nothing stood there. Her instincts made her go back, where her paw caught itself on mud. Below her wasn't a pile of mud, but a strange goop attached to the river.

It didn't appear to flow in the river. Luna dove in its cold waters, only to struggle against the current. Faster and faster it flowed until she could only go with it. At the end of the terrible river, Luna reached a grassy patch of ground. Nowhere were trees, only meadows, and the grass beneath her paws felt refreshing.

"Welcome, Luna," said an ominous voice. Luna looked up in surprise. How had she missed that wolf? "This is my realm of illusions. I'm sure you enjoyed it."

"But what about the wolves? Where are they?" Luna whimpered. But the ghostly red wolf in front of her only laughed.

"Oh, them? They're no longer here. The flood came."

"But... flood? There's a drought!"

"Sorry, did I mess something up?" The wolf cocked her head. Luna's eyes slid to another spirit wolf, a tall, burly brown wolf, who appeared next to the red one.

"Echo!"

"Yes?" She squeaked. The clearly older wolf growled.

"That's the wrong message! You go back to SilvershardPack, I'll do the rest."

"Fine, Aqua," Echo grumbled, vanishing shortly after. Aqua stared Luna in the eyes.

"Follow the river. Every wolf is hopeless without your help."

"But what does that mean?!" Luna exclaimed. The spirit faded without answer.

~~

Luna padded through the forest, listening to the surrounding birds. Leaves gently swayed in the morning wind. Scattered orange light reached the ground. But her mind raced with last night's spirit wolf visit. The encounter lingered long since she woke up. And it didn't help that Ice had yet to announce their picks. I just hope I get to join, Luna winced at the idea of being left out. She's the reason they're going upstream, after all.

A shrill howl skidded her paws to a stop. Except it wasn't Ice, nor was it a wolf she knew of...

"Help! Please! I'm trapped!" The wolf shouted. Luna angled her ears as she moved. Within moments she reached a fallen tree, and rocks surrounded the area. A black wolf struggled between the rocks. Half of his body was trapped, with one hind leg and his tail free. His golden eyes noticed Luna, and he barked, "Wait, aren't you that Lone Wolf?"

"Yes, but that doesn't matter," she pawed the rocks, but they were jammed. Suddenly, the rocks shifted, and a third wolf's paw burst from the rocks. The red fur struck Luna immediately.

"Willow?"

"Er... yes," he said quietly.

"Why are you here?"