"What do you mean they 'left?'" Arius asked. All angel could think was, Why? Maybe Dontas was the shadow wolf after all.

"They completely left us. Just, woosh, gone." Keighley said.

"Why would they leave us?" Angel said.

"I don't know." Keighley said. "But if they left us this morning, they probably are not too far away."

"Then I take it we need to leave and find them." Arius said,

Keighley nodded. "We need to go. Now."

So Angel, Arius, and Keighley left the den. A cool winter breeze rushed through Angel's fur, making her shiver. Winters first signs were already showing.

They looked in all directions. There were no clear signs of the pack leaving in any direction.

"Are you sure they left us?" Angel asked, sniffing the air for signs of the pack.

"Positive." Keighley said, copying Angel. Arius joined in and they were eventually sniffing left and right trying to pick up a scent of the pack. Arius caught a scent, but it turned out to be a squirrel, who Arius killed and gulped down in one bite. After a few hours of searching, they had strayed quite a ways from the den. There wasn't any sign of the pack, so Angel sighed and flopped down on the dust. This was the same spot she had found the bunny a few days ago, which felt like ages to her.

"I can't find anything." Keighley said laying down next to Angel.

"Dang it." Angel said, followed by a swear. "Why did they even leave us?"

"I think they know you're on to something." Keighley said. They both sat in silence, watching the grass wave in the wind,the leaves rustling quietly. Angel wished none of this had ever happened. Her entire world fell apart after what she had done to Naomi. Naomi was probably in on it. She was most likely doing a happy dance while Angel was left to suffer.

"Guys! I mean, gals!" Arius called from a ways away. "Come here! I think I found them!"

Angel and Keighley perked up and looked at each other. Angel sprang to her feet and sprinted towards Arius, who was now sniffing the ground intensely. Keighley followed close behind her.

"Where are they?" Angel asked Arius the moment she arrived. Arius looked towards the rising sun.

"That way." He said. He began to run east through the fields. Angel remembered that this is where Keighley went to collect the Farhide flowers on Angel's first day. Angel was glad they weren't going west, or else they would have a problem with the hunter.

They continued to run forward until they reached a large river. Angel remembered this river; her class had gone to it once when she was a pup. This was also the river Arius almost drowned in while trying to get the mattress. She laughed to herself remembering that situation. Across the river, down a hill, Angel could see a small group of wolves traveling across the plains.

"There they are." Keighley said, astounded. "They completely left us. Just, ditched us."

Arius took a step forward. "Why, those little-"

"Stop!" Angel said. Arius turned his head and looked at Angel.

"Sorry..." Arius said laughing nervously.

Keighley cleared her throat. "Well, we need to head down there." Angel agreed and they all started into the river. One by one, the thee of them hopped in and paddled across the river. When they made it to the other side, they all shook and began to sprint towards the pack. they weren't even halfway towards the pack when Angel stopped. Keighley slowed down and U-turned to to back to Angel.

"Something wrong?" Keighley asked.

"I don't think that's our pack." Angel said, staring at the moving pack. "Check."

"How am I supposed to do that?" Keighley asked.

"Do what you did to the guards with Dontas." Angel explained. Keighley nodded and sat down. Closed her eyes and she drifted to sleep. Arius had turned around too was making his way back.

"What happened?" He asked as he approached Angel.

"We're seeing if this is our pack." Angel replied.

"By sleeping?"

Angel sighed. "No, silly. She's doing to Dontas what she did with the guards."

"And that would be...?"

"The mind trick!" Angel exclaimed. "Oh, crap. I never told you, did I?"

"No, but I don't care anymore. I think Keighley's in trouble..." Angel looked at Keighley, who was on the ground whimpering. She wasn't bleeding, but it looked like she was in pain.

"Come on, we need to wake her up!" Arius exclaimed. They ran over and shook Keighley around.

"Why isn't she waking up?!" Angel exclaimed.

"Why would I know, I'm not a roamer!" Replied Arius.

"The river!" Angel said, pushing Keighley back towards the river.

"What now?" Arius said.

"The river! Help me push her to the river!"

"Wha- Oh..." Arius ran over and helped Angel push Keighley's whimpering body over to the river. The pushed her into the shallow area where she sat, motionless. After a few minutes, she jerked awake, rolling over and disappearing momentarily underneath the waves.

"Keighley!" Angel called. Keighley rose a few seconds later. She gasped for air and paddles towards the bank. Once she arrived, she sat down and coughed.

"That was real..." She coughed again. "...real nice..." She laid down and breathed heavily. Angel sat down next to her and waited. Arius sat in front of them.After Keighley was done talking, she gasped.

"I had another run in with the shadow wolf..." Keighley said, restless.

"Was it Dontas?" Angel asked.

"No, I don't think so..." Keighley said. "I did it to Dontas. The mind trick."

"What is the mind trick?" Arius asked impatiently. Keighley explained it the best she could and continued.

"Anyways, you saw nothing happen down there, right?" Keighley asked. Angel nodded on response. "They threw us off the trail. One of those wolves is a part of our pack. We need to find them and ask where our pack is."