Chapter 10: Mysti

Mysti placed her nose on her sister's cheek and whispers,"Please be safe on your journey." Mazaska nodded and parted away from Mysti. Her sister and the wolf from Tundra Pack then took off. "May the Sky Spirits be with you!" Mysti cried out as she struggled to see her sister through the tall trees. The air felt thin to Mysti. The forest suddenly felt empty. Mazaska is gone.

~~~

"Wake up, Mysti!" growled Sova as he nudged Mysti's side.

"Wh-what? Is it time for training? The sun hasn't come up yet!" she whined.

"It's not that." Sova paused. "Alpha Cailean set up a group to go to Tundra Encampmen and we're part of it. We're getting Mazaska back." Mysti bolted right up, her eyes widen with fear. 

"We're leaving now, Alpha Cailean is waiting for us." Sova said as he made his way out of the den. Mysti stood there, frozen. No... we can't go! If they find out if Mazaska is gone, Tundra and Dawnfall Pack might get into a fight!

"Mysti! We have to go now!" growled Sova. Mysti shook her head and padded towards the group. Alpha Cailean began to explain to the group their plan.

"We are not here to fight," she instructed,"we are here to get Mazaska back." The group nodded, their eyes raged with hatred towards their rival pack. With a flick of Alpha Cailean's tail, the group gathered up and made their way towards Tundra Encampment.

As they sprinted towards Tundra borders, Mysti's tail shook with unease. They're going to find out... We're going to battle... We're--

"Aren't you listening to me?" Sova snarled into Mysti's ear. She flinched and shook her head as a no. Sova sighed heavily and fixed his eyes ahead. 

At last, the group halted. A Tundra Protector narrowed his eyes at the group.

"Why have you come here?" the Tundra wolf padded towards Alpha Cailean. The wolf was very muscular and his fur was smokey black. He was much larger than Alpha Cailean, yet she did not flinch.

"I am here to have a discussion with Alpha Convel." she replied boldly.

"Where are they here?" he glared at the group and Mysti gulped nervously as she made an effort to stop the shaking of her tail. 

"They will stay up front. I shall take my business inside." The Tundra wolf called out for three other Protectors to inspect the group as Alpha Cailean went inside Tundra Encampment.

The Tundra Protectors stared menacingly at the group. Mysti stared at the ground nervously, dreading the battle that will break when they find out that Mazaska is missing. Suddenly a loud cry came from inside the encampment. A young she-wolf with pure white fur cried. 

"She is gone!" Suddenly, a loud growl came from Sova. He then leaped towards the nearest Tundra Protector and leashed his claws towards the Protector's throat.

Chapter 9

Mazaska treks across the vast land with sore paws. Zayev follows Mazaska slowly. The sun was scorching down on the two as they went through the rough landscape. Mazaska squinted her eyes as she stared upon the bright sky. Our packs must noticed that we are missing by now... 

"Mazaska..." mutters Zayev. "We need to take a break and eat... My paws are sore!" Mazaska shakes her head as a no and Zayev sighs sadly. 

"We need to reach the Mountains by sundown." she pointed out. Zayev grunts loudly and hesitantly follows. He lifts his head up high and points his nose towards a small shade.

"Look, shade!" he races over towards the cooling spot and wraps his tail around him. Mazaska narrows her eyes at him and reluctantly follows him.

"Perhaps I'll be able to see one of the Sky Spirits in my dreams." Mazaska mutters as she curls up into a ball beside Zayev. She shuts her eyes tightly and attempts to enter the realm of Sky Spirits.

~~~

The same wolf from Mazaska's previous dream appears. Her fur was gleaming with mist, gray and her blue eyes sparkled. The wolf from her last dream padded towards her, resting her soft eyes on Mazaska. The elegant wolf opened her mouth to speak, but black smoke quickly surrounded the two. The beautiful wolf wrapped her tail around Mazaska to protect her. Mazaska stared at the she-wolf's eyes. Instead of a soft expression, the she-wolf's face was full of panic and dismay.

"Run!" Mazaska stood there, puzzled, for a few heart beats. "Run, child! Run until you enter the safe sanctuary!" Mazaska nodded and sprinted. She did not know where to go, she just had to find the safe sanctuary. The black smoke continued to pursue Mazaska as she ran as fast as she could. A light glow was just ahead of her. The safe sanctuary! Mazaska continued to run with every strength that she can muster. Suddenly, the black smoke engulfed her.

~~~

"Wake up, Mazaska, wake up!" cried Zayev. She opened her eyes in a jolt and stood up quickly.

"Wh-what happened?" her breathing quickened. Suddenly, Mazaska's surroundings felt scorching hot. Red flames surrounded the two wolves. She could almost hear the hissing from the red fire.

"We have to get out of here!" she howled. 

"How? There's no where to go!" Zayev shrieked back. "We're going to die!" Mazaska had to think of a plan. No, there is no time to think. 

"We run!" Mazaska yelled. Zayev nodded and the two raced out of the dry land. They jumped over broken trees and avoided fiery flames. Mazaska squinted her eyes to see the Mountains.

"We have to reach the Mountains... We'll be safe there!" she panted. Run until you enter the safe sanctuary. The she-wolf's words rang throughout Mazaska's head. I hope we are going to the right place...

Chapter 8

The two wolves made their way through the large forest. The sun was slowly creeping up the hill and they still haven't made a way out of the Forest. 

"We're not going to get out of here in time... Tundra Pack is going to notice that we're not there in no time!" Zayev spoke tiredly. Mazaska blocked his voice out and fixed her eyes ahead.

"We're almost out. We just got to pass Dawnfall territory." Mazaska almost choked out the name of the pack. 

"Y-you're..." Zayev continues,"not going to ditch me... Are you?" Mazaska glances at him with a frown.

"You don't trust me?" she hisses. Zayev gulps nervously. 

After trekking for what seemed hours, the two wolves finally arrived Dawnfall territory, 

"Let's just get out of here quickly..." murmured Mazaska. The two picked up their pace. Mazaska didn't like going through her territory. Smelling the familiar scents of her pack made her want to turn back. She wanted to leave Zayev so bad and return to her Pack. If I don't do this then I won't have a Pack to return to... Mazaska thought. She shook her head and continued on. Zayev suddenly came to a halt.

"Zayev! We don't have time to stop. And don't you even think of trying to hunt in our territory!" growled Mazaska. Zayev's eyes widened and something told Mazaska that Zayev didn't want to hunt. A wolf, a bit smaller than Mazaska and Zayev, came out from the bushes. She growled furiously at the two. Suddenly, both Mazaska and the wolf froze.

"Mazaska?"

"Mysti?" 

Mysti, Mazaska's sister, playfully nudged her sister.

"A patrol was just sent to find you! Alpha Cailean was really worried about you!" Mysti spoke happily. "I was really worried about you, too!"

"I do too, but I have to go..." Mazaska stuttered.

"You missed so much, Sova just beca-- What? Why?" Mysti asked anxiously. "Is... Is it because that wolf is forcing you to go?" she growls at Zayev as he flinches.

"N-no! Look, I don't have time, but please just don't tell anyone!" Mazaska pleaded. Mysti reluctantly nods her head at her sister's request.

"Zayev and I are going on a quest... The Sky Spirits wanted us to go on the journey. If we succeed, we will be saving the whole Packs!" Mysti widened her eyes with disbelief.

"I promise not to tell. The hunting group will be arriving at any minute so... So you might have to go." Mysti sighs. Mazaska dips her head as a thank you and nuzzles her sister. Mazaska waves her tail good bye to her sister and the two wolves make their way out of the Forest.

Chapter 7

It was nightfall and the air was humid. Mazaska lifted her nose up to the air and breathed in the forest smell. She looked up to the sky and stared upon the shining stars. 

"Dear Sky Spirits... Please help us as we go on this journey." she whispered. Zayev padded over to Mazaska's side. A she-wolf came along with him. Her fur was caramel brown and her eyes where bright amber.

"This is Aspen." Zayev spoke. Mazaska narrowed her eyes and snarled.

"Why did you bring her? She'll tell Alpha Convel about us leaving the forest!" Mazaska snapped, her fur bristling with anger.

"I am not going to tell him about it. I knew that some day that Abaddon would rise again. I tried telling my fellow pack-mates about it, but they all shrugged me off. Afterall, no one believes young wolves." Aspen spoke. Mazaska narrowed her eyes at Aspen.

"If we're still on our journey and Abaddon rises, Aspen will be the only one who would know what to do." Zayev explained. "She won't be coming with us, but she'll be keeping an eye out back here." Mazaska fell silent.

"Okay... Let's go, I want to be as far away from the forest by sunhigh." she finally said.

"Wait!" Mazaska halted. "You will need some traveling herbs." Aspen declared. Reluctantly, Mazaska followed Aspen into the Shaman's Den. Aspen scanned through the cracks where the herbs where in until she found the right traveling herbs.

"Here, this will give you some strength." Aspen grabbed Burdock Roots and carefully rapped them into large leaves. Mazaska picked up the herbal package into her mouth.

"Thank you..." she murmured. 

Mazaska and Zayev silently made their way out of the encampment.

"I will go as far as the Tundra Pack borderlines."Aspen said gently. Now, there they where, in between Tundra and Dawnfall borderlines. "I will spill some badger blood on some leaves so that it would look like you two where killed."

"Yes, but what about our bodies?" Mazaska questioned.

"Have you ever heard of the badger tales? Everyone believes that a badger eats wolves. Now go, time is running out." Mazaska nodded and began to pad alongside with Zayev. 

"May the Sky Spirits guide you!" Aspen called out as the two made their way to Where the Light Touches the Sky.