Pack book 1: A new Dawn

Chapter 7

Dawn sprang up. "Todays the day!" She yelped. I'm going to be the best escort ever, and Mockingbird will be so impressed!

Aspen woke up growling. "Really?" She barked at Dawn.

Toad next to her, wiggled restless. He sat up and yawned. "Morning to you to sis!" He said bright eyed.

The other wolves yawned and groaned mumbling. Mockingbird came from the back of the cave slowly. She looked around at everyone.

"Hows everyone after yesterday?" She asked calmly, seeming to aim her words more at Dawn,

Most of the wolves just grumbled in reply, but Dawn wagged her tail.

"Well I'm very excited to escort you to the meeting with the other packs!" She said happily. Suddenly she felt a tail brush down her back.

"Well you have fun." Orchard said, her eyes were red and bloodshot, clearly trying to stay happy for her daughter.

"I'm sure she will, but I think you need some rest." Koi walked up to them. He nuzzled his wife. "It'll be alright." He told Orchard walking away with her.

Dawn watched the two walk away. I feel so bad now. Being all enthusiastic definitely didn't help my mother accept her littermate's death.

She looked over to see Mockingbird talking to Thorn. She growled a little. She was definitely aiming to get more praise them him for this outing.

"Dawn!" Mockingbird walked over to her. "You think you'll be ready to take off soon? Me and Thorn were planning on going to meet the other packs after I assign the pack their duties for today." She said smiling. "I haven't gotten to talk to the other Alpha's in a while, so this should be interesting."

Dawn straightened up. "Of course I'll be ready Mo- Alpha!" She could see Thorn glaring at her but ignored him.

Mockingbird nodded. "Alright then." She headed out of the cave.

Dawn was deep in thought as Mockingbird went through the daily routine of organizing missions. Thinking about all the ways this trip could go great, but also the ways it could go wrong.

She wouldn't be surprised if Thorn shoved her in the river, the jerk. Her ears perked up at the sound of her name. She turned to see Mockingbird and Thorn close behind her.

"Well Dawn, were heading out!" Mockingbird proclaimed. "Come on you two." She began to head towards the river.

Dawn walked right behind her as Thorn took up the rear. He was staring at the ground a lot she noticed, as if he wasn't even there, and was so lost in thought he'd went somewhere else.

Mockingbird stopped abruptly. She turned. "Well, here are!" The river ran swiftly behind. "Now all we have to do is wait, so I hope you guys are up for conversation."

Thorn shook his head. "I'd rather say nothing." He mumbled.

Dawn snorted. Maybe he didn't care about impressing Mockingbird as much as she did, and he wouldn't do anything against her.

"Lighten up a little." Mockingbird cuffed Thorn's ear with a paw. "It'll make you look a lot more respectable in front of the other Alpha's. Which you better believe is important to me."

Dawn chuckled a little at her lecturing.

"And you be nice!" Mockingbird barked at her. "Surely you two can get along for one day?"

"I'd hope so if I were you, a dysfunctional tribe is the last thing you want." A large brown wolf walked up to them, a trio of wolves at his side.

"Elk, Alpha of the Pack of Fading Light. So nice to see you."