WAR

Chapter 23

Around midday everyone is up. I round everybody up and mount Hermosa. We travel dead north. The forest is never ending. Tall oaks. Beautiful maples. Deep green pines. White spruce. Hackberry. Red pine. Silver maple. Red maple. Black walnut. Birch.

We keep up a steady trot. The pups tiring the quickest. Being too old for their mothers to carry them. I stop the horses and dismount. Picking up Daisy, and putting her on Ember. Then picking up all the other slower dogs. Riley and Bell are happy to be out though they don't have their normal spring in their step. "Storm will be avenged." I murmur in Bell's ear.

We make a stunning 20 miles. Trotting for 5 hours and walking the rest. We stop at a beautiful clearing with a pond. I slip into the water. Taking my first bath in who-knows-how-long. The horses and dogs also enjoy the water. We start a game of tag. With Hail chasing after me. I plunge into the deeper water. I start to tred and watch as he struggles to keep up with me. "Come on, you can do this!" I encourage him. Bell watches nervously from the shore. Her long term fear of water is completely understandable. As a little pup my father had found her half drowned in a puddle of water. Ever since she has engorged her pups into the water but has remained firmly on the safe dry land.

Hail kicks his paws. Swimming after me as I swim away. "Haha! Can't get me!" Then a scream of a horse makes me swim toward the shore as fast as I can. I grab Hail's big paws, and drag him along. My clothes are dripping with water but I run toward the sound. Everyone has gathered around a fallen shape on the ground. A huge pack of wolves circles my horses and dogs. 'Back off blood eaters!' yells Hermosa. "Hey!" I yell out. "Leave them alone!" The wolves turn on me. And I darted into the crowd. 'Ray. Leave me. They ripped out a huge chunk of my flank. I will not survive. Leave me to these foul beasts.' Says a sickeningly familiar voice. "Oh hell no. There is no way I am leaving you to the mercy of these wolves who will leave us alone if they know what's good for them." 'Ha! No chance of that Ray. We know who you are and you must leave. That is what Wilder said. Echo is close to having her pups. You will be nowhere near her when that happens. Hand over the horse or we will kill you all.' Says a tall gray wolf. "You know I am not going to leave Sugar alone here with you. I am here to speak to Wilder and Echo."

'I Said No!' Says the gray wolf. "And I am saying yea or else you will see me show up to your den and congratulate Echo myself." 'The pack will kill you at first sight.' "Will they? I am a good friend to most of you. I know you. Frost. Or, I used to." 'I do not want to kill you Ray. But our pack needs food. This horse will feed us for days. We need it more than you." Anger flares though me. "I am done playing nice Frost. Back off or I will attack." 'What can a few stupid mutts and prey possibly do to us?' I laugh coldly. "There's more than what I have. Hermosa, how many herds are there now that we released?" Hermosa knows what I am doing. I would never attack Frost. Nor any creature unless they attack first. 'At least over a hundrend. Filled with half wild Horses. Stallions, Mares, Foals, Geldings, Yearlings. And they all owe you.' I see fear flash though Frosts face. Then she snarls. 'Very well Ray. You may, and only you may come and see Wilder and Echo.' 'Oh hell no!' Says Bell. 'I am coming!' I glance at Frost. "Bells coming."

Frost snarls once and turns tail and trots off. Bell and I set off in a run. We jump logs and stumps. Even a small creek that the wolves run though. The branches whip at my face. Roots try and trip me up. I am sweating like crazy and panting when we reach their camp. I wipe the sweat off of my face and follow Frost into camp. About 4-5 dens in a clearing. "Wilder? Echo?"

A tall imposing wolf comes out of what looks like the biggest den. 'Frost. Who are these strangers? And why did you bring them here?' Frost snarls at me. 'Wilder and Echo knew her. She threatened to destroy us if I refused to bring her to you.' I glare at Frost. "Darling, I only told you I could kill your pack. Not that I would. Who are you other wolf? Where is Wilder? Is Echo ok?' The other wolf looks surprised. 'My name is Freeze. Echo is still alive. Wilder has been long gone dead. My mate, Blossom, is going to give birth. I ordered closed borders. Though since you are here I would like to talk about the War. What has happened? Has it settled? Can I return to killing the cattle?' I roll my eyes. "My name is Ray. This is Bell. The war will hopefully soon be ended. I cannot wait for the moment I get to kill Max and River. Sadly I have no idea when that will be. Though there has been proguess. That's why I have came to you. I thought Wilder was still here though if you are the leader it will still do fine. I need help. Badly. I could really use your help in winning this war. Would you help me?" Freeze pauses. 'I am sorry. No. We cannot help you.' Furustrion surages though me. Anger, Regret. Hate. Pain. Sadness. Happyness. Content. Then comes full on rage. Burning though my body. I sigh in defeat. "Ok. I understand. Please, if or whenever you are willing to help come and tell me. I will tell you when this war if over. I am going to be traveling farther away from here until later when i am done training. Or i may go back to where i was once. Just send Frost or Echo after me. Thank you Freeze." "Hold up. Did someone say my name?' Happiness surges through me. "Echo?" Freeze cuts in. 'Call me when you plan the final battle. You sure love that Storm.' I stare at Freeze. "Thank you." An old pitch white she-wolf comes out of the biggest den. She has a dark gray muzzle. 'Ray? Oh its been ages since i have seen you! I can't believe that you came back! I have someone for you to meet!'

Echo disappears into a smaller den. And comes out with a young male wolf. "Wilder? Oh sorry, you look so much like him." The male looks at me. 'Hello. My mother has told me about you. I am Lightning. My father was Wilder.' "Hello Lightning. It's so nice to meet one of Echo's offspring. Though I must be going. Hermosa will be wondering where I am. I will send for you when the big war is coming." Lightning shakes his head. 'No! I- I wanted to come with you. When you need to call on us I can run back here and tell for you. No need for one of your dogs to do it. I will also be quicker. May I come with you?' I look at Bell. "Don't fight with my dogs and don't hunt my horses or any horses and then yes, you can come. Thank you again Freeze. May when I see you again the final battle will be there. I turn and run out of there camp. Lightning coles on Bell and my heels.