An uneventful month passed in Lake Pack, free of incidents or dreams. Sophia had begun to forget about them and instead focused on training and hunting. By the time the Hunter's Moon rolled around, she was only reminded of them by Kenya's question, "I wonder if the wolf scent is still around?"

This called to mind her nightmare with the wolf. But she brushed it off and followed the other dogs to the shore. Night Pack was hosting this time.

Night Pack was there, of course, and Storm Pack was there before Lake Pack arrived. Wind Pack arrived at almost the same time, and Earth Pack shortly after. Frost Pack arrived last.

Gannon stood up and spoke first. "All is well in Night Pack," he barked. "But the signs of wolves have continued. We even saw pawprints, and some fur caught on brambles."

"We've continued to see it too," Aaron agreed, "in the far corner of our territory."

Gabriel nodded slowly. "We've seen it and smelled it. Eleazar said he thought he saw forms at a distance, but they were gone just as quick as he saw them."

Sophia heard skeptical murmurs through the crowd. She understood why. Eleazar of Wind Pack was a Briard; it was a wonder he could see anything through that curtain of hair, not to mention that he was getting older and his eyesight, in general, was questionable.

Martin frowned. "We have not scented them; we are likely too deep into the mountains. What do you think it means? If it was just a passing pack, why would we still be scenting them?"

Martin's question was met by silence, and then an abrupt change of the subject by Gannon. No one wanted to entertain the possibility of a threat.

~

The hunt had passed tensely. It had ended earlier than usual; nobody felt like talking or staying. On the way back to the island, though, Sophia could hear her packmates all talking among themselves. She was close enough to Dallas and Cassidy to hear them talking.

"It doesn't affect us directly," Dallas was saying. "They can't reach our borders, most likely. But it's still suspicious, and if it affects the other packs then it will affect us. What do you think?"

The Bloodhound alpha was silent for a few moments. Finally, she said, "We'll just have to wait. As you said, it doesn't affect us--yet."

An uncomfortable feeling settled in Sophia's stomach. It was probably connected to her dreams--but she had no idea how.

She jumped as Flutter, an English Springer Spaniel that was one of the healers, suddenly appeared beside her. "Are you okay?" she asked. "You look upset."

Sophia blinked. "No--uh, I mean, yes," she stammered. "I mean..." She sighed. "Have you ever seen a wolf before?"

Flutter looked surprised at first, but then her eyes softened. "I wouldn't be worried about the wolves. It could be nothing."

"Or it could be something," Sophia muttered.

Flutter laughed slightly. "It can't be anything too major. And even if it is, worrying right now won't help anything."

Sophia nodded, and by then they had reached the island. The pack began to mingle before bed, talking about what had happened. There won't be much to talk about, she thought dully, lying down in her usual place to sleep. But maybe Flutter's right. Maybe it will all just blow over by the next Hunter's Moon.

~

She didn't know what had happened; she was suddenly on the lakeshore again, as in her first dream. And the voice had returned.

There is still time, it said, with a trace of anger. The packs can still prepare. Do not waste this time.

Across the lake, a battle materialized before her eyes. Countless dogs fought viciously on Wind Pack's meadow, but she couldn't see the foe they were fighting. Was it each other? Something else?

You still have time, the voice repeated. I will send my sign when the time has come. If you do not tell them, I will set the sky ablaze.

Behind the fighting dogs, the sky began to change. It did not grow dark, but instead was dyed amber, orange, and red. Flames crawled up and consumed the sky, blazing behind the battle.

Before Sophia could even react, a bone-chilling howl split the air. It was joined by more howls just like it, mingling together into one deafening, endless dirge.

Sophia's blood ran cold. The howl echoed all around her as she seemed to grow closer and closer to the flaming sky. "No," she whispered. "No, no, no! I can't!"

You must, the voice snarled. Tell them.

This command repeated itself over and over, growing louder and louder. The voice, the fire, the howl, and the battle all blended together in one hateful, spinning circle, flying all around her and consuming her. Just as she thought she couldn't handle it anymore, her vision was seared by a blinding white light, accompanied by the roaring voice.

TELL THEM!

Sophia leaped to her feet, panting and shaking. It was still dark, and her packmates were still asleep, aside from the still form of Aurora keeping watch. Praying that the Kooikerhondje wouldn't turn around and ask her what was wrong, Sophia shakily laid back down and closed her eyes for a moment.

She heard the pebbles shift as Aurora turned around, but she returned to her position and Sophia let out a shaky breath. She didn't want to tell her that it was "just a bad dream." It wasn't. She was truly terrified now.

I'm supposed to tell them... Who? Cassidy? she wondered. I just... I can't.

The dream was too terrifying. She couldn't talk about it now. Besides, would Cassidy even believe her? Why would Siglitun speak to her, nothing more than an inexperienced trainee?

Sophia whimpered slightly as she laid her head on her paws, the nightmare still buzzing through her mind. She wouldn't sleep for the rest of the night, that was certain. Her head was full of questions, but one was more prominent than the others.

If this threat was real, what could she do?

Okay... Finished that chapter. I feel like this book is gonna be kinda short, but it's more of an introduction to the rest of the series, and the next five books will probably be much longer. So, bear with me and my probably pretty shabby writing, and I'll see if I can get this book done and then we'll have nitty-gritty backstories, yay!