Desert sighed as she looked up at the sky, blinking rain out of her eyes. "This rain needs to lay off," she growled to Juliet, who was sitting beside her. "We don't need another flood like that one a year ago."

Juliet hummed in agreement. "Well, at least we haven't had to worry about as many attacks," she said optimistically.

"No, but we're still patrolling just as much as ever." Desert cast an irritated glance towards the cave beneath the overhang, where Colt was inside loudly arguing with Geo. The alpha had recently fallen ill, but he utterly refused to take the rest which the healers kept insisting that he take. He appeared to be getting worse, but he wouldn't listen to anyone who dared say so.

"I think his temper is only getting worse," Juliet murmured, following Desert's gaze. "And he's paranoid that Wind Pack will try to attack because they think he's weak."

Desert admitted to herself that that wasn't entirely unreasonable, but the amount of patrols he had ordered were getting rather excessive.

As though in response two her thoughts, Pebble came up to the two defenders. "I need you to join me on the north border," he said. "Shouldn't be too much activity over there but we can't leave it neglected."

Juliet glanced up at the sky, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Respectfully, are you sure? The weather only looks like it's getting worse. It might be safer to stay under the overhang."

"I know," Pebble said with a sigh, "but during these times we can't afford to not keep a tight hold on the borders. I've told all of the patrols not to waste any time and get back as soon as they can. We'll do the same."

Desert and Juliet agreed and followed Pebble into the forest, although Desert shared Juliet's feelings. The rain was only coming down harder, and she could hear the rumble of thunder more and more frequently. She doubted most packs would even consider launching an attack in conditions like this, but at the same time, they could try banking on that very assumption to catch you off guard.

"I don't think we have to worry too much about Storm Pack," Pebble barked over the rain. "They get very wary during conditions like this."

Desert nodded in agreement. Storm Pack's territory was situated in a mini-valley of sorts, sloping down steadily from the mountains before rising up again as you went south. Between that and the river that flowed through their territory, they were at much more risk of floods than any other pack besides Lake Pack.

"That's a little ironic, isn't it?" asked Juliet. "They're called 'Storm Pack' and they're the most threatened by storms."

Pebble gave a short of laughter. "Perhaps it was intentional. They probably have some elaborate explanation about how they're actually above the storm, or something."

"That wouldn't surprise me," Desert sniffed. "Storm Pack and their airs. Sometimes seems like they're compensating for something, doesn't it?"

"They have been known to back it up," Pebble admitted. "I remember when I was much younger and tried to rile one at a Hunter's Moon and he nearly took my ears off. And then I was lectured for poor conduct."

"When you were younger?" Juliet asked playfully. "That must have been a long, long time ago."

Pebble gave her good-natured glare in response. Desert was about to add something when the wind suddenly picked up and the previously heavy rainfall turned into sheets. There was a searing flash of lightning followed by an ear-splitting crack of thunder. Desert staggered backward and when she could see again she saw Juliet crouching against the ground, her eyes stretched wide in fear.

"This is bad!" Pebble's voice came shouting over the roar of the downpour. "We need to get back, now!"

Nobody was going to argue. Juliet rose shakily to her feet and all three dogs turned and ran back in the direction of the overhang. Desert found herself tripping and stumbling over rocks and roots far more than she would normally; the rain reduced visibility so much that it was difficult to find their usual paths. She had to quickly swerve before running into a tree multiple times.

She began to feel as though they had been running for a very long time and yet had not found their way back yet. Juliet gave voice to her thoughts when she said, "I don't think we're going the right way!"

Pebble cursed, shaking his head in frustration. "This confounded rain has me all turned around. And I can't smell a thing!"

"Maybe we should find somewhere to wait it out," Desert barked. "Surely we can find a large tree nearby. It's better than running around aimlessly."

Pebble slowly nodded. "That sounds like as good of a plan as any," he agreed. "How about over there?"

He gestured with his paw towards an old ash tree with a wide trunk and long branches which were waving wildly in the wind. Juliet agreed and Desert couldn't see any better options so she did as well.

The three of them settled against the tree trunk, prepared to wait out the storm. "I hope the pack isn't worried about us," Juliet said after a few moments.

"I hope they have more sense than to try sending out a search party," Pebble added. "There's no point in more dogs getting lost out in this mess."

Desert briefly tried to peer around the other side of the tree. "With the Hunter Dog's blessing, the other patrols made it back all right. We can't afford to lose all of our defenders in a storm."

The conversation faded to silence and Desert began to notice a creaking sound. She glanced up and saw that the speed at which the branches were waving had increased. She looked more closely at the tree and gave it a sniff, tapping against it with her paw. It was hollow and dead. The creaking sound grew louder. Desert gave Juliet a nudge. "I think we made need to find a different--"

She was cut off by the sound of a harsh crack. One of the tree's branches came crashing to the ground. Juliet jumped backwards with a cry of horror. "Pebble!"

Desert realized with shock that the limb had fallen directly on top of the beta. "Quick, we have to get it off of him!" she shouted.

Both she and Juliet began shoving at the branch, straining as they attempted to move it. At last they managed to heave it off to reveal Pebble, unconscious. Desert couldn't tell whether or not he was still breathing.

"We have to get him back," Juliet said quickly.

"I don't think moving him is a good idea." Desert reached out a paw, wanting to feel of him to see if he had broken bones, but honestly she didn't really know what to look for. She stopped and closed her eyes. "Besides, we can't carry him through all of this."

Juliet stared at her with a look of anguish. "But we can't just... sit here!"

Desert dug her claws into the ground, and then looked up at the sky. Perhaps that was its last gasp. "All right. You go on ahead and tell the healers what happened. I don't know if we can do anything for him... but we'll try."

Juliet nodded and shot off. Desert leaned down and carefully took hold of Pebble's scruff. He was much smaller than she was, but his hind paws still dragged against the ground. He was heavy and she was reluctant to move too quickly lest she make any injuries worse. Thankfully, the rain was decreasing, making navigation much easier. She cursed the tree inwardly. You couldn't have held on for just a little longer?

At last she caught sight of the overhang and increased her speed slightly. She was met at the entrance by Geo and his son, Dash, who had recently become a full healer. "Let me see him," Geo said. "Don't move him any further."

Desert complied, setting Pebble down as carefully as she could. Geo quickly set to work, sniffing him up and down and gentling feeling with his wide paws. He leaned in, listening for breath and then slowly shook his head. "No good," he murmured. "His spine..."

He trailed off and Dash let out a whimper. Desert slowly bowed her head. Pebble hadn't deserved to die like that.

She saw movement in her peripheral vision and looked up to see that Colt had also come to the entrance. His fawn and white fur was sparse and dull and the skin on his face had grown abnormally thick, giving him a curious expression. But when you looked past that at his eyes, they were as fierce and determined as ever.

"He was the most loyal dog I ever knew," he declared. "I couldn't have asked for a better beta."

No one said anything as several more dogs came out to see him, grief rippling through the pack. There wasn't a single dog who disliked Pebble; probably not even in the other packs. Beyond her own sorrow Desert felt a deeper concern--Pebble had always been a voice of reason to the rather extreme alphas he served under. What sort of leadership would they have with a different dog?

No sooner had she thought this than Colt said, "I have to choose a new beta."

"You what?" Cosette, one of the hunters, stared at the alpha incredulously. "His body isn't even cold! You're just going to move on?"

"We have to." Colt returned her gaze severely. "This pack has to keep running smoothly. We are at war. And I need a dog beside me."

There was no more argument, although Desert saw resentment flash in a few eyes, especially Tansy and Sundae, Pebble's sisters. She herself agreed that it was disrespectful on Colt's part, but it was true that they needed a beta. Especially if Colt's sickness got worse.

He was scanning the dogs thoughtfully, before giving a decisive nod. "Ajax," he said. "I choose you to be my beta."

The Tosa Inu looked up, appearing slightly surprised. He exchanged a glance with Juliet, his mate, and then slowly straightened. "I don't believe I could ever be as good at it as Pebble was," he said. "But I will serve as best I can."

Colt nodded again. "I'm glad."

Desert felt a flash of relief. Ajax was both a skilled defender and a reasonable dog. He would be a good beta.

"We will take tonight to mourn Pebble," Colt continued. "And tomorrow we'll move on. We are Night Pack, and we will survive."