Chapter 6

Star ran through the forest, his claws pushing him forward as he ran. His mind was yelling at him. "It's your fault he's dead! None of this would've happened had you listened!"

"He's right! You killed him Star! YOU KILLED HIM!" The forest was going black the trees turned to black ash and blew away with the wind. "Stop it please? STOP! STOOOOP!"

Star woke with a yelp of shock. What the hell was that? It felt real...too real...he groaned. His head hurt. No scratch that, his EVERYTHING hurt. He stretched his neck, whoever bit him had it's fangs real deep in his skin. He was sure the wound would scar.

He scanned his surroundings. His heart sank like a stone. He was in a cage, but in an open area where he could see wolves. A lot of wolves. None looked familiar, and definitely didn't smell familiar. They were complete strangers, a different pack of wolves.

One of the wolves stopped and looked at him. It was a young female, not much younger than himself. Her fur was a mix of brown and white and she had purple eyes. "What're you looking at she-wolf?" he growled.

She said nothing but smirked and trotted on. "The prisoners awake!" She called out. Instantly the whole pack stopped what they were doing and made his way to his cage. Are you kidding me? She's so dead...the pack surrounded his cage, sniffing at him and muttering under their breaths.

"Who is he?" Said one. "What kind of wolf is he?" Said another. "You think he's like us?" "No... he doesn't smell right." One of them poked him with their nose through his cage, he snarled and snapped his jaws. The wolf jumped back in shock. Star bared his teeth and snarled in warning, letting his tongue loll from his mouth. "Stay the hell away from me you murderous mutts!"

He may have been injured, but he was still a fighter. To his surprise the pack snarled back. "You will not talk to us that way loner! You mutts are nothing but trouble!" One snarled back.

"What the hell are you talking about?! I'm not a loner! I'm from a pack!" "Then explain why you and your friend were in our territory!" "He got scared and ran off! And I went after him! One of you savages killed him! He was my packmate! My brother!"

"You have no proof who you are mutt! You are nothing but a pathetic lone wolf with no pack of your own!" Enraged, Star slammed himself against his cage. It was strong, but with his dire wolf genes he was stronger. The wolves were shocked as he started loosening the bars.

With a final push he broke open the cage door and jumped out. He was easily bigger than these wolves, despite his young age. He bared his teeth in hate, snarling and snapping his jaws. Drool began to form as it fell in strings from his mouth. He puffed his fur to make him look larger, his marble eyes enormous.

"I AM STAR! SON OF ALPHA DAGGER AND WINTER! I AM THE FUTURE LEADER OF THE NIGHTLIGHT MOON PACK!" he continued to snarl, his claws digging into the soil.

The whole pack grew silent, as if they knew which pack he was speaking of. "What the hell is going on here?" The voice was cold. The pack made a path for another wolf, only a bit bigger than Star himself. As he walked past them, they cowered in submission.

Star could see why. It wasn't just his size that scared them, but his eyes. His eyes were red just like his father's, but they were much darker. His pelt was light grey, long and thick. He must be the Alpha…

"Beta, who is this stranger?" It was the female he saw earlier who stepped up. She was the only one who didn't cower before him. Oh great... She's beta. Awesome…"One of our warriors found him snooping around our territory with his friend during the storm. His friend paid the price but I think he can be useful,``''I don't want to be useful to anything for you devil's…" Star said coldly.

He stayed in a defensive position, his eyes hard. The alpha approached him, slowly circling him. "You look like one of those...dire wolves. Heh, it's funny how my great uncle would allow such a monster into his pack."

"What are you talking about? I don't even know who the hell you are!" "Oh I'm sorry, where are my manners?" He stopped and faced him, his head and tail held high. "I am Lightblood. Alpha of the Ancient Water Pack and great grandson of Alpha Bandit and Ava. The original alpha's of the Wild Pack,"

Star looked confused. This wolf was his cousin? But he looked older. "How can you be my cousin? You look much older than me…" "See that's because you and I were born in different seasons. So yes I am older, but why would my uncle let such a beast lead his pack?"

"I'm only half-dire you pathetic mutt. My father is Dagger, current alpha of the Nightlight Moon Pack. Yes he is a dire, but he's a great leader and nothing like my ancestors," "Well your behavior tells me otherwise. So tell me mutt, why were you in my territory?" Star growled at him.

"My name's Star, and I was looking for my packmate. But one of your savages killed him!" "That weak mutt? I was the one who had my wolves take his life, it was quite easy. The only reason I haven't had you killed is because I need you to do something for me…" "Like hell I do! I'm not doing anything for you!"

Lightblood smacked him with his paw. The blow was so hard it knocked him to the ground. From there, he placed a paw on Star's head, crushing him into the soil. He growled in his ear, "You will, if you want to live. Otherwise I will order my wolves to kill you right here right now." Star growled but didn't move.

The alpha backed away, his tail tip flicked. "Now where was I? I need you to retrieve something for me…from an enemy pack. You do this, and I'll let you go. But if you fail? You won't see the light of day again." Star tensed, this wasn't where he was supposed to be. He was supposed to be home, with his pack. He was supposed to be their for Nikita.

He sighed, lowering himself onto his front legs. In the world of wolves, this was their way of showing submission. Lightblood looked surprised, but a smirk shortly took over. "Wise choice. You know, you look like you could be a fine warrior. Let's test that. Beta?"

The female padded forward, her head high. "Yes Alpha?" "Take this mutt to Slash's pack. Have him bring back Slash's head, and then we'll see how truly powerful he is." Star's heart stopped. He was going back to that savage pack? Not only that, Nikita was there. How did he end up in this situation? He was brought out of his thoughts by a hard nip on his flank. "Move it!"

He growled at the wolf, but followed the beta if the pack. As they walked, Star couldn't help but stare at her. She was beautiful, he couldn't deny that. But their was something about her scent. Why is her scent so familiar to me? Her body was packed with muscle, matter of fact she looked big for a grey wolf female.

"Are you done?" she growled. He shook his head. "What?" "Are you done staring at me?" "I'm sorry for staring, it's just-----" "Don't start getting ideas, believe me I'm not the wolf you want to mess with." Star cocked his brow. "Oh yeah? Coming from a female who's only a few months younger than me." She paused, and faced him angrily. "What do you know? You're ansestors are the greediest and most aggressive wolves that have ever walked this earth! Your dire wolf side will show, just you wait..."

Star was unphased by her outburst. He was easily twice her size, but he never used his size to his advantage unless he had to. She's very loyal and stubborn...but what else would I suspect to get from her? He smirked down at her, his eyes blank. "Come on now princess, surely you know you're like me." She looked confused. "What're you talking about? Like you? Please."

"You know, if you're going to lie, you have to be good at it." She opened her mouth to protest but Star pushed on. "I know that smell...your scent. All half-breeds have the same scent. You're half dire, just like me. You can lie to your pack but you can't lie to me."

She gazed at him, speechless. Star smiled at this, she looked dumbfounded and it made him chuckle. "Loss of words princess?" She growled at him. "I have a name...and it's not Beta. That's just what my pack has to call me." "Oh really? Well what is it?"

She stood there in silence...she wasn't supposed to share her real name...but there was something about Star that made her think twice. "It's Zara."

Zara.... that's a pretty name. But deep down in his heart and soul, Star knew that he would never choose another female. Nikita was the one he loved, and the only she-wolf he would ever love. He sighed and shook himself.

"Aren't we supposed to be going somewhere? Or did you have something else in mind?" Zara growled and walked on, leaving Star to follow. This should be interesting....but I need to find a way back home. I can't stay here...this isn't where I'm meant to be....