Wolf Saga: The Secret

Chapter 3

Frostfeather padded over to Blizzardstar, gazing solemnly into his eyes. "What you have said is true, and the pack forgives you. Welcome back, Blizzardstar." The rest of the pack nodded in what seemed to be a shell-shocked agreement.

"Thank you, Frostfeather," Blizzardstar replied with equal formality. "I give my apology and regret for what I have done when I was not within my senses, and wish a safe journey to Rockfall and Frozenpup on their way to the Star Pack." Owlheart let out a single whimper, and clutched Windpup closer, who was shivering from the memory. Blizzardstar realized, with a pang of guilt, that the little she-wolf had watched him murder her sister in front of her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Windpup," he whispered, leaping down from the rock and bowing his head toward the little pup. She trembled as he came near, but licked his nose, accepting his apology. "I would have never done if I had known what I was doing. Will you forgive me?"

"I guess so," Windpup replied, somewhat clearly. "I understand why Swanpelt did it." At Blizzardstar's start of surprise, she added, "In your eyes, I saw her, she had a triumphant look on her face, and the amulet you told us about, it was sparkling and it had you in it. Mama isn't favored by Swanpelt because she claimed the third-lead in the Forest Trial, and Swanpelt had to take fourth, which brought her score down. Mama told me. Are you trapped, Blizzardstar?"

"His Soul is," Frostfeather growled, coming up behind the little pup. "I assume that we have to get the onyx to fully free him. Blizzardstar, I need you to close your eyes and picture the onyx, as clearly as you can, the Shadowchain, too." Blizzardstar obey, closing his eyes and forcing himself to remember the jewel that had stolen his Soul. He could feel Frostfeather come up beside him carefully wrapping one wing around him.

"I'm not going to do anything bad," she assured him, as he stiffened. "Trust me." She pressed her wingtips together over his heart, and spoke a word in a language Blizzardstar could not understand. Suddenly, he felt power channeling through him, coursing through his veins and into his heart. "Keep picturing it," came Frostfeather's voice, "and draw it toward you. Will it to come to you. See yourself tugging it from her neck." Blizzardstar focused on the image of Swanpelt, the amulet glinting at her neck, and imagined that it was sliding, pulling away from her neck, her outrage as she snapped at it, but he tugged it away from her grasp. He then slid it toward him, and willed it to drop over his own neck. He gasped in surprise as he felt a heavy weight around his throat, and before exiting the scene, he took it off his neck again, and swiped it under Swanpelt's feet. She lunged at it, but he tugged it away and she fell on her face. Grinning, Blizzardstar slipped the chain over his neck again and exited.

"You got it!" Frostfeather cried. She look tired, and relieved, but happy. "I hoped it would work. May I see it?" Blizzardstar held up one wing to silence her, a gesture he realized was not normal of him. He stroked the onyx with one wing, holding it with the other, and licked it once. A brilliant flash blinded him, sending him stumbling back, and he was aware of the jewel clattering to the ground. As soon as the flash of light started, it ended, and Blizzardstar rose. He felt more whole, and more powerful- he had the rest of his remaining lives back.

"Alpha... are you alright?" asked Owlheart. She seemed in awe of him, and Blizzardstar looked down, to see his coat glossy and his body lean, a vision of his prime.

"I am well," he responded, surprising himself at the ringing voice that sprang forth from his lips. The pack murmured around him, and Blizzardstar picked up the black onyx that had fell from his wings, which were formerly black. He unfolded his wings ever so slightly, and smiled as he saw the faint glint of hot pink. Blizzardstar peered at the jewel, but it was as blank and empty as prey's eyes. Passing it to Frostfeather, he nodded to let her destroy it.

"Pheasantwing," he called softly. "May I see our pups?" Pheasantwing brought out Bluepup, Stormpup, and Dewpup. Blizzardstar licked her nose and bit her ear, barely scratching the skin, and Pheasantwing felt for the small scar at his scruff. Finding it with her fangs, she carefully pierced it, opening up the scar. Bending down, Blizzardstar licked each up his pups, and then trotted over to the prey pile and let out a long howl.

"In my absence, I realized that my pup's apprenticeship should have been long due. Bluepup, Dewpup, and Stormpup, please come up to the Moonrock." The three pups bounced forward, fur rumpled. Pheasantwing squeaked, and tried to smooth their pelts, but the pups dodged away from her, and sat and the foot of the Moonrock.

"I, Blizzardstar, Alpha of the Winter Pack, call upon Bluepup, Dewpup, and Stormpup to become apprentices in the service of their pack. They will train hard under mentors, and someday, with become sharp-fangs and join the rest of their packmate. Bluepup, you are now known as Bluepaw, and I hope you will serve your pack with endurance and determination. Snowleaf, I summon you to be her mentor, and train her well. Stormpup, you will now be known as Stormpaw, and I hope you serve your pack with loyalty and intelligence. Windheart, I summon your to be her mentor, and I have confidence that you will train her well. Dewpup, you shall now be known as Dewpaw, and I hope you will serve your pack with strength and courage. Rainshadow, I summon you to be his mentor, and I believe that you will pass on all you know to him. Welcome Dewpaw, Bluepaw, and Stormpaw!" The pack erupted in cheers and baying howls, crying out the three new-fangs' names. Blizzardstar leapt down from the Moonrock, and licked each of his pups' ears before padding into his den. There, he curled up, trying to process the amount of memories that were hitting him- reliving his terrible deeds with the Dark Pack over and over. He leapt up as Pheasantwing entered the den, but upon recognizing her, he lay back down and let her share tongues with him.

"You did well today," Pheasantwing murmured. "I never knew how awful it was to be you.... We should have caught on about the Taint sooner on."

"It's all right," Blizzardstar murmured, touching noses with his mate tenderly. "By the way, why was there a fight going on while I was gone?"

"More wolves have been vanishing," Pheasantwing replied. "All of them frequent, except the Winter Pack. They asked many questions, and then attacked because they did not believe us." Blizzardstar sighed, then aimed another question at her.

"Where are Silverstripe, Sealpelt, and Leopardtail?" he asked. "I noticed fewer wolves in the camp today- did they desert?" Pheasantwing nodded sadly.

"They didn't believe Frostfeather's explanation of your capture," she growled. "They left after we discovered the claw was missing, claiming that they couldn't trust our Beta. I don't know where they went, but they must have experienced the vision- the entire territory went completely silent." Blizzardstar cocked his head, processing this information. Sealpelt, Silverstripe, and Leopardtail... Suddenly, the image of the three deserters entered his mind- he was watching them from afar. They were entering the Forgotten Palace, and Blizzardstar gave a small yelp of alarm as they were dragged into the shadows with thorny nooses around their necks, like he head. Another flashback came, of the trio trudging through the onyx mines, the thorns still encircling their necks.

"They were captured," Blizzardstar confirmed, shaking off the cobwebs of the memory. "I watched them enter the Forgotten Palace... I think I was a sentry, standing guard so that they didn't get away... They were captured like I was." Pheasantwing frowned.

"I suppose it was their fault," she conceded, "but even so, they have to be rescued. We can't leave anyone behind." Blizzardstar sighed.

"I know that being Tainted takes your senses away," Blizzardstar sighed, "but they looked pleased... and their meetings with Shadowstar were just a little too frequent..."