Midnight's Dream

Midnight's Dream: Chapter Eight

"Is everyone clear on their part in this mission?" Dream was surprised by the authoritative note in Hunter's voice. All three wolves nodded, and Shadow murmured a quick "mhm."
"I don't think I want Dream going into this nest," hope started to flood in Dream's chest as her father spoke. "She is too weak to take on the man inside," the thorn of rejection threatened to stab through Dream again, but she held on to the hope her fathers first words had given her. "I don't want her hurt," the thorn disappeared instantly, replaced with a shocked happiness.
"Yes, but she's the smallest of all of us, and the most nimble. And I'll be in there with her," Hunter looked Papa straight in the eye. "I won't let her be injured." The two males seemed to have a silent conversation that lasted no more than a moment, then Papa was turning towards Dream.
"I can do it Papa," she reassured "I can do anything if it means saving Mama," Papa gave a small nod, and flicked his tail in request of silence. Laying his tail across Shadow's shoulders, he nodded again and set off towards the bush underneath what Hunter had called a window, where he and Shadow would get the man's attention. Hunter nudged Dream, beckoning for her to follow him, and together they crept to the den. Taking a deep breath, Hunter glanced over to make sure Shadow and Papa were in their correct hiding places, and gave one short, sharp bark. Some grumbling noises sounded from inside the den, and Hunter shoved Dream ungracefully into a bush beside the den entrance, just as the entrance opened and a harsh, bright light filled the grass patch. The creature that emerged from the den almost made Dream yelp in fear and horror. This was unlike any human Dream had seen so far. He stood taller than she has excepted was possible for any creature. The smell that came from him made her want to gag, and he had an odd shape. His head was small, and his belly, or what she thought should be his belly, bulged like a swollen bud, not quite ready to bloom. He had long, thick hind legs, but his front legs, which were poised in front of him as if he was about to strike, were much more gangly. The man turned towards the bush where Dream and Hunter were hiding, and starting kicking wildly, barely missing Dream's nose. The plan isn't working! She wanted to cry like a pup , but she kept her jaws clamped shut. She could hear Hunter suppressing a growl beside her. Suddenly the man stopped kicking at the bush, and Dream realized that Shadow and Papa had taken up the call, and were howling and barking as loudly as ever. You took your time, didn't you? Dream thought resentfully. Oh well. It didn't matter now. The man was lumbering over to Shadow and Kra's hiding place, and Dream knew it was time to move. She looked back, catching Hunter's eye, and flicked her ears toward the house. A shocked expression covered the yellow dogs face, but he quickly masked it and nodded, following her lead.
Dream wasn't sure what she'd expected, but the inside of the den shocked her. At first Dream thought it was one den. Then she realized there were more "doorways," as Hunter had called them, at each end of the den. She recognized almost nothing in the main den, and what she did recognize made her feel sick. The head of a moose hung from the side of the den, staring out as if it were just walking by. More animal heads hung near the moose, but Dream didn't recognize any. There was a hole in one wall of the den, about the size of a wolf, and within it was a pile of blazing logs. Next to the hole was a rabbit, poised on it's kind legs like it sensed trouble. It wasn't moving, and Dream figured it must be in some sort of trance. Close to the tranced rabbit, in a square made of hard, grey vines...
"Mama!" Dream squeaked, her voice cracking. She threw herself at the square, clawing and biting at it frantically. Her mother was in an awful state. She looked much thinner than usual, her golden fur dull and clumpy. Her ears drooped as if she didn't have the strength to keep them up, and her eyes looked defeated and tired. "Mama, I'm here. I promised I'd find you and I did! I'm here. I'll get you out," she went on and on as she clawed at the mesh.
"Dream, stop," her mothers voice sounded cracked and broken. "You won't be any help to either of us if you're in hysterics."
A flash of yellow caught her eye, and Dream turned to see Hunter slip in beside her. "We'll get you out," he promised, looking Mama in the eye. "We need to undo the latch," he growled, looking at Dream again. He was just starting to explain when a deep throated growl echoed through the den.
"Well what have we here?"