Dawn balanced the cockroach on her head. Shadow had accidentally stepped on it that morning, and decided to play a game. 

"Shadow, it doesn't look like you're aiming for the cockroach.." Dawn said.

"Yeah i am!" Shadow replied. She crouched down and sprang towards her sister. Dawn yelped and they both tumbled down.

"Ha! You two are so clumsy, you would be the first to die in a battle." Ice snickered when he saw the two. 

Shadow staggered up quickly, "Just what kind of moves had Alpha taught you while mooning over you all the time?" Shadow retorted. Behind Ice, Boulder broke down laughing, but hushed as he saw Ice's cold glare on him.

"You haven't even step foot outside! You've been cooped up in this stinky cave all your life!" Ice replied.

"You were a pup once too!" Shadow shouted. The two wolves argued for only moments when Bog, a hunter, broke it up.

"Shut it! You would make this pack look terrible n the eyes of other alphas!"

"But we don't visit each other." Shadow said. 

"The alpha of the eastern pack is coming today." Ice said matter-of-factly.

"Why?" Dawn asked.

"That is Alpha's business." Bog growled and walked away.

Shadow looked towards the entrance to the cave, then back to Dawn, "Come on! let's be the first to see him!" They started to run but Meadow grabbed both their scruffs. Meadow dragged them back.

"No, you'll sit in the back with me, where Alpha has ordered you." Meadow said sternly. Dawn growled and Shadow huffed. Just then, a shadow hung over them. A tall figure was standing in the entrance of the cave. Alpha ran up to him.

"Smith." The eastern alpha said in a deep voice. He was tall, and dusky brown. 

"Terak," Alpha replied. "For what do i have this honor?"

"The southern packs are stealing our food. We are starving, and we are all supposed to be united." Terak answered.

Smith chuckled, "You can't hunt for yourself?"

Terak growled, "Again, they are taking our food. I have come to ask for help."

"Go ask the western packs, we don't help little babies like you." Smith said. Terak looked shocked.

"But, the western packs are too far, and all the packs are supposed to be united!"

"We can't feed everyone together in this wasteland!" Smith shouted angrily. He was right, they did live in a barren desert of freezing snow. Prey was uncommon. Herds rare. Terak looked away.

"Very well, then we will fight for it. All of it, unless peace is made."

(A/N oh no conflict)