"I can't fight!" Star hissed. "I didn't do training to fight!"

"Stay behind us." Storm growled. "We can deal with this... I hope."

Starlight whimpered as she counted the wolves.

Nine wolves, three lynxes that can fight, and one useless. Great, I'll be the first to die. Unless...

She turned it over in her mind. Unless... they must've come from camp, and that must be where they brought River and Dawn!

"Storm!" she whispered. "Distract them!"

"Why? Star, I have to stay with Hawk- and Owl." Storm murmured back.

"Please!" Star hissed urgently. "I have an idea on finding River and Dawn."

"O- okay." Storm padded forward, trying not to show any fear at all. "What do you want?"

"Storm!" Hawk meowed. "Get back! You're gonna get us all killed!"

Storm flicked her ears dismissively and stood there. With the wolves' attention on the other lynx, Star looked for a way out. She glanced up and spotted a branch above her. That should work. She jumped silently and hooked her claws into the bark, freezing for a moment, hind legs dangling, before hauling herself up.

She crouched for a moment to catch her breath, but ended up holding it instead.

A small gray wolf was staring straight at her. She flinched, knowing that this wasn't going to end well. Nothing happened.

What? She looked again, and the wolf nodded, acknowledging that he could see her, but didn't do anything. He simply turned back to where his leader was snarling at Storm.

Star sighed in relief and backed towards the trunk of the oak. She spotted another branch- similar in size- and leapt onto it, using all her might to haul herself up soundlessly. She felt bad, leaving Storm, Hawk and Owl to fight alone.

But I can't even fight. She reassured herself. I'd be absolutely useless. She looked back once, just to make sure no one was watching, then, seeing that no one was, she continued through the trees.

. . .

"What do you want?" Storm hissed, not showing fear.

"Storm!" She heard Hawk call. "Get back here!" Storm flicked her ears, indicating that she was fine. She heard the tree branch above her shake slightly. That's a good idea, Star. She thought. But, if you're going to get out of this clearing completely, you're going to need to be a little quieter.

"Listen to your friend." A big black wolf growled. "Or you die."

"Then kill me." Storm shrugged. "It's not going to be my wrath you'll have to face."

The black wolf hesitated, unsure of what she was hinting at.

I got to get their attention more. She noticed that some of them looked absent minded. Owl came to her rescue.

"Oh," She meowed. "You look hesitant. Is that because you know how many of us will tear you apart?"

The black wolf blinked in confusion. "Wha- but there aren't very many of you."

"Oh, but there are." Storm added, knowing what Owl was trying to do. "Too many to count for sure."

"And, if you don't let River and Dawn go, we will tear you apart." Hawk lied. "Limb. By. Limb."

"When was the last time you checked?" Owl asked.

"Uh... not too long ago..." The wolf was getting annoyed.

The wolf flexed his claws. "You know what? I don't believe anything you three are saying." He didn't wait to hear anymore. "Attack! And try not to make too much noise when killing these three useless lynxes."

Storm's heart flipped, but she kept her gaze steady as she unsheathed her claws. She saw five or six of the wolves hesitate, but a nip from the others brought fear into their eyes, sending them forward. Wait. Are they driven by... fear? She thought in the second it took for one wolf to jump at her. She met it head on, and the three lynxes fought for their lives. Storm rolled onto her back, kicking upwards and sending the startled wolf flying.

Another wolf attacked, this one more determined than the first. Storm leapt out of the way the first time, raking her claws across the wolf's pelt, feeling blood as he howled in pain.

But, as she turned around, the wolf jumped, digging his claws deep into her and ripping some fur. Another wolf- a female- joined in, and Storm could hardly fight back with both the wolves ripping at her pelt, so she lashed out blindly, catching the male on the nose, making him fall back for a second. Just long enough time for Storm to lash at the female, slashing across her eyes.

Just when Storm thought she could beat them, a third wolf- another male- jumped on her back.

This one seemed like it didn't want to actually hurt her, but a glare from the female kept him fighting. All three wolves were dragging her down now. She was maybe half the size of them, so there was no chance.

Storm tried to kick one of them away, but it came right back at her, so she flipped over, trying to do what she did the first time, but they were ready. I'm sorry, River and Dawn. I wanted to help. I'm so sorry.

Then all the weight disappeared, and above her stood Moonsight, one dead wolf beside him, and two others still trying to get at her.

"Storm! Get up!" Moonsight growled, flinging the female away and pinning the male, who was only a bit bigger than the huge lynx.

Storm struggled to her feet, flinching at the pain coming from her wounds. Together, they fought off two more wolves. All around, she saw wolves and lynxes fighting.

"Nightshade!" A lynx- Thunder- yowled. "Where are they?"

"Where are who?" The big black wolf- obviously Nightshade- tried to look confused. He failed though.

"Dawn and River!" Thunder jumped to pin the black wolf, but Storm flinched as Nightshade batted the young lynx away effortlessly. All the fighting had stopped, and everyone's attention was one the two in the center.

"Oh, those two. Dead." He snarled. He had the lynx pinned.

"No. They're not. I know they're not. Tell me!" Thunder flipped and launched Nightshade off and tried to pin him.

"They are." Then Nightshade whispered something that Storm couldn't catch.

"Because I wouldn't- couldn't- ever do that!" Thunder answered out loud.

Nightshade growled a deep, low growl. As sudden as a flash of lightning, the leader wolf slashed at the lynx, sending him across the clearing, and landing at Moonsight's paws.

Blood dripped from Thunder's face. Storm looked up at Moonsight. Her leader narrowed his eyes and glared at Nightshade. "Why did you come here?" He took a step forward. "What did you come here to do?" Another step.

"Don't think you've won!" Nightshade snarled. "I just don't want to lose anymore wolves."

"Oh, I think you've lost." Moonsight hissed.

"We didn't. I'll be back. Wolves, follow me!"

Storm felt relieved as the wolves streamed out. Good. That's done then. "Moonsight," She meowed. "how did you know to come here?"

"Starlight told us." Moonsight answered. "She ran into the camp and told us that we needed to go to the clearing where River and Dawn were lost. So we did."

And that reminded her.

Oh no! I hope Star gets out of there in time!

. . .

River heard something behind the den. "Dawn, listen!" She whispered. "There's something behind us." A whiff of something flowed in. and she recognized it. Starlight? "It's Starlight!"

Dawn's ears went up. "Wait, actually?"

"River? Dawn?" Star whispered. "Are you in there?"

"Yes! It's us!" Dawn said in a hushed voice.

"Are you two alright?"

"Umm... sure?" River guessed. "Can you get us out?"

"I can try..." River heard scraping at the den wall. "It's not working. I can't get it."

Rustling nearby caught her attention.

"Wolves are coming!" Dawn hissed. "Go!"

"But I have to-"

"No, Dawn's right. Go, before they get you!" River flattened her ears.

"O- okay. But I'll be back."

"Star, go!" The wolves burst into camp.

"I will be back! I promise!"

"Just go!" River heard Starlight running, and then it was quiet.