Fall of the Packs: Void

Chapter Eighteen

Desert sighed as she looked up at the sky, blinking rain out of her eyes. "This rain needs to lay off," she growled to Juliet, who was sitting beside her. "We don't need another flood like that one a year ago."

Juliet hummed in agreement. "Well, at least we haven't had to worry about as many attacks," she said optimistically.

"No, but we're still patrolling just as much as ever." Desert cast an irritated glance towards the cave beneath the overhang, where Colt was inside loudly arguing with Geo. The alpha had recently fallen ill, but he utterly refused to take the rest which the healers kept insisting that he take. He appeared to be getting worse, but he wouldn't listen to anyone who dared say so.

"I think his temper is only getting worse," Juliet murmured, following Desert's gaze. "And he's paranoid that Wind Pack will try to attack because they think he's weak."

Desert admitted to herself that that wasn't entirely unreasonable, but the amount of patrols he had ordered were getting rather excessive.

As though in response two her thoughts, Pebble came up to the two defenders. "I need you to join me on the north border," he said. "Shouldn't be too much activity over there but we can't leave it neglected."

Juliet glanced up at the sky, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Respectfully, are you sure? The weather only looks like it's getting worse. It might be safer to stay under the overhang."

"I know," Pebble said with a sigh, "but during these times we can't afford to not keep a tight hold on the borders. I've told all of the patrols not to waste any time and get back as soon as they can. We'll do the same."

Desert and Juliet agreed and followed Pebble into the forest, although Desert shared Juliet's feelings. The rain was only coming down harder, and she could hear the rumble of thunder more and more frequently. She doubted most packs would even consider launching an attack in conditions like this, but at the same time, they could try banking on that very assumption to catch you off guard.

"I don't think we have to worry too much about Storm Pack," Pebble barked over the rain. "They get very wary during conditions like this."

Desert nodded in agreement. Storm Pack's territory was situated in a mini-valley of sorts, sloping down steadily from the mountains before rising up again as you went south. Between that and the river that flowed through their territory, they were at much more risk of floods than any other pack besides Lake Pack.

"That's a little ironic, isn't it?" asked Juliet. "They're called 'Storm Pack' and they're the most threatened by storms."

Pebble gave a short of laughter. "Perhaps it was intentional. They probably have some elaborate explanation about how they're actually above the storm, or something."

"That wouldn't surprise me," Desert sniffed. "Storm Pack and their airs. Sometimes seems like they're compensating for something, doesn't it?"

"They have been known to back it up," Pebble admitted. "I remember when I was much younger and tried to rile one at a Hunter's Moon and he nearly took my ears off. And then I was lectured for poor conduct."

"When you were younger?" Juliet asked playfully. "That must have been a long, long time ago."

Pebble gave her good-natured glare in response. Desert was about to add something when the wind suddenly picked up and the previously heavy rainfall turned into sheets. There was a searing flash of lightning followed by an ear-splitting crack of thunder. Desert staggered backward and when she could see again she saw Juliet crouching against the ground, her eyes stretched wide in fear.

"This is bad!" Pebble's voice came shouting over the roar of the downpour. "We need to get back, now!"

Nobody was going to argue. Juliet rose shakily to her feet and all three dogs turned and ran back in the direction of the overhang. Desert found herself tripping and stumbling over rocks and roots far more than she would normally; the rain reduced visibility so much that it was difficult to find their usual paths. She had to quickly swerve before running into a tree multiple times.