Nights in the Shadows

Chapter 3

The sun rose once again, waking the silent life in the forest. Silvermoon shook her fur, feeling a chill run through her at the memory of her sister still fresh in her mind, even though the scar was fully healed. "Good morning, Silvermoon!" Luna walked over to her, disrupting Silvermoon's thoughts. "Ah, Good morning, Luna." Silvermoon smiled. "Are you ok?" Luna asked, "You seem uneasy." Silvermoon shook her head and said, "Nope, all good!" But before Luna was able to say another word, Silvermoon quickly interrupted as she rose to her paws. "I'll go get the hunting group all gathered." And just like that, Silvermoon rushed quickly out of Luna's sight. "Something is up." Luna's ear twitched before she made her way over to Crow's den for her hunting orders.

Once Luna and Silvermoon returned with their hunting group, the two walked away toward Hunter's Den. "Silvermoon, are you sure you're ok?" Luna looked at Silvermoon, concern and worry showing in her eyes. "Yes, Luna I'm perfectly fine. Silvermoon's words trailed off as she looked over Luna's shoulder. Her eyes widened in shock. "What's wrong?" Luna turned around to see a white wolf panting in front of the entrance. His white fur was covered in blood. "Crow! Where's Crow!?" He looked around, his eyes widening in panic and his body trembling. "Snowstorm, what happened!?" Luna raced over to him, examining the gash on his shoulder. Silvermoon continued to watch her eyes fill with horror at the depth of the gashes on Snowstorm "Violet." She breathed. That was the only thing she could do for the pack's strongest fighter. Luna's eyes watered as she guided Snowstorm to the medicine cave. "How did this happen, Snowstorm?" His eyes clouded with fear. "I don't know," he responded weakly. As they walked into the cave, Autumn looked at them in shock and said, "Oh my.." Her voice trailed off: "One second!" Autumn raced to the back to gather herbs. Luna helped Snowstorm lay down, his body still trembling from the pain. Luna rested her nose on his head. "Everything is going to be fine," she said, closing her eyes. Then a squeal jolted Luna from her thoughts: "Autumn? Is everything okay?" She stood up and made her way toward the back of the cave. "Autumn?" Luna's voice began to shake as she continued to walk forward. Suddenly a brown lump dropped in front of her, making Luna yell, "How cute." A voice came from the darkness: "Who are you?" Luna was quickly interrupted: "Shouldn't you check on your friend?" The voice quickly said Luna bent down and realized right away, "Oh god, Autumn." Her tears dripped onto the blood-covered body that lay before her. "Who are you!!?" Luna growled, staring at the darkness. Luna began to hear small giggles: "Aww, Luna, you're crying." A black wolf walked out, blood dripping down her mouth. "It's so cute." Luna felt her blood run cold, and she slowly began to back away. "Violet?" She managed to say Violet smiled and slowly walked forward, stepping over Autumn's dead body as she did. "How sweet!" Luna stumbled back as Violet spoke, "You remember me." Violet stood there, her eyes glittering with amusement at Luna's shocked expression. Luna shook her fur to suppress her fear. "What are you doing here, Violet?" Her voice was stern as she held Violet's gaze. "Well, I came to do something." Violet looked over at her shoulder, looking over at the dead she-wolf. "Now that that's done." Violet circled Luna, who stiffened seeing Violet's red gaze in the corner of her eye. "I'll be going now." Violet walked past Luna towards the darkness at the end of the cave. "Hey wait! I'm not just going to let you walk out of here!" Luna growled, which made Violet giggle. "Oh really? How scary " Violet burst with laughter, but Luna continued to growl, her expression unwaveringly angry. "Oh, stop looking at me like that," Violet growled, taking a step towards Luna. "You sound like Crow, and it's disgusting." Luna jolted in surprise, taking a step back as Violet continued to growl. "Don't worry, your precious little fur, Luna, I'll be back." Violet turned around. Luna's muscles tensed, ready to leap, but she quickly turned, hearing Snowstorm groan at the entrance of the cave, and she turned back, her heart dropping... Violet was gone.

Silvermoon paced back and forth at the hunter's cave entrance, her mind whirling with thoughts. Silvermoon stopped when she saw Luna rushing over to Crow, who lay in front of his cave, basking in the afternoon sun. Crow's face scrunched into what Silvermoon assumed was a growl as they both ran back over to the medicine cave. "Did something happen?" She asked herself. Silvermoon's question was quickly answered once she witnessed Luna and Crow carrying a brown and red body that left a trail of blood as they moved it toward the center of the home. "I have something to say to everyone in the pack!" Crow's voice echoed through the camp, and everyone began to slowly make their way out of the caves. Gasps rippled amongst everyone as they saw who played beside Crow on the dirt that was now stained in blood. "I have an announcement to make for everyone who has gathered around," Crow repeated, looking around as everyone's gasps grew to whispers and cries of agony. Crow stood up, which quickly silenced everyone except those who continued to weep. "Now, as you can see, Autumn is who lays beside me at this moment. She is dead." Crow sat back down, his fur bristling with anger. "From this day forward, we need to double our territory routes. No outsiders should be allowed in our territory without my knowledge." Crow raised his voice into a loud growl. "Any outsiders in this territory without my knowledge are expected to be taken care of ON sight!" Crow scanned across the crowd with a shocked expression. Crow then stood up and began walking back to his cave. "Meeting dismissed," he growled.