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Jim had just sat down to eat when a rustle arose from across the way. He looked up to see an injured wolf limp into the clearing, which brought forth a rash of gasps from the assembled wolves, and a shout from Eric. "John, what happened?" he asked, jumping down to the wolf, who had collapsed on the ground.

"Sir," the wolf said, "we have a problem."

"Obviously," Eric replied. "What happened?"

"I was attacked," John told his leader. Various wolves snarled upon hearing this.

"By whom?" Eric asked, shocked that anyone would dare to attack one of his people in his own homeland.

"It was one of those Eastern Wolves," John replied. Kate gasped, her eyes going wide, and she backed up a step. "I was standing guard, and they got the jump on me before I could react. They said they left me alive to send you warning. Sir, they're coming to attack us!" Wolves all around the camp growled, and fur bristled, hungry for vengeance. Melissa padded down to join her mate.

"Eric, is this possible?" she asked.

"I have a hard time believing it. The Eastern wolves have been our allies for many years, since my grandfather's time. I don't understand their motives behind this," Eric said, shaking his head. "At this point, however, it doesn't matter. It's far too late to question why we're being attacked. We must prepare for the attack." Eric turned, and began issuing orders. The assembled wolves followed his instructions immediately.

"Eric," Melissa said, "what about them? You know that she's one of their pack?"

"Yes, I do know that, thank you," Eric replied, with a slight growl. He closed his eyes, and then walked over to Jim and Kate. "You two, this is not a good time for you to be here. You both should head home, tonight, if possible."

"What?" Kate asked, "Why? I have nothing to do with this, I swear it!" Eric nodded.

"I know," Eric replied, "and that's precisely why I can't have you here right now. It's become too dangerous for you to remain here. Go home, and we'll sort out your training when this is over." Jim was shocked. They had only just arrived, and now they were being kicked out? Kate turned to leave, and trotted off into the woods. Jim followed her, worried about her safety. When they got far enough away, he stopped her, and spoke.

"Did you know anything about this?" Jim asked. She nipped at him.

"No, I don't know anything about it!" Kate shouted, her voice faltering. "My father didn't do this! Why would he?" Jim shook his head.

"Are you going to be okay getting home by yourself?" Jim asked, seriously.

"Honestly," Kate replied, "as much as it kills me to say it, I don't think we should go anywhere alone at this point. Someone's been mauled, I doubt that whoever did this would hesitate to do it again."

"Right," Jim replied. "I'll take you home, and we'll sort out what is going on. My father's been a good friend of your father for many years, and if there is something going on, he wouldn't dare hurt me, and bring two packs down on his shoulders."

"HEY!" Kate shouted, "that's my father you're talking about, you bastard!" she began to walk away, and Jim grabbed her by the tail.

"Kate!" he shouted at her, when he released her tail. She stopped, begrudgingly, and waited for him to continue. "Kate, someone's close to dead. Someone did that. I'm not saying it was your father, but we have to remain open to the possibility that it was. I'm sorry, but that's how it is. If we split up now, we're much more likely to get attacked then if we stay together. If it was my father standing accused, I'd want to hear the same reason out of you! Think with your head, and not your heart!" Kate whimpered.

"Alright, Jim, you're right. We need to get moving, though, if we hope to reach my pack before nightfall," Kate said, looking up at the light filtering in through the trees. Jim nodded, and they set off running northeast, towards Kate's homeland. When they reached the border, they encountered a sentry, who stopped them, growling.

"Hey now," Kate said, "Stand down, it's me, Kate!" The sentry advanced toward them, baring his teeth.

"I know who you are!" the guard said. "You're the one who sent the assassins. Were it not for that you're related to me, I'd rip you apart, limb from limb. Now, get out, before I call for reinforcements."

"What?!" Kate exclaimed, shocked. Jim grabbed her by the nape of the neck, and pulled her backwards, though she tried to fight him the whole way. When they had retreated beyond the boundaries, Jim let go of Kate, and tried to stop her from running after the wolf, and also speak.

"Kate, stop!" Jim hissed. "You didn't send any assassins, did you?"

"OF COURSE NOT!" Kate shouted. "IT'S MY OWN PACK!"

"Alright, then," Jim replied, keeping an unusually cool head about this whole situation. "Calm down. We need to ascertain what is going on here, before we make any rash decisions. Let's go and see my father. He'll know what to do."

"Alright," Kate replied, after she had calmed down. "I don't know what else we can do." So, for the second time that night, the pair set off running, as fast as they could, to the west. It was dark before they reached Jim's packlands. It was darker still before they reached his den. Jim padded around the perimeter, looking for his father, but it appeared he was nowhere to be found. Jim grew concerned, when there was a large snap behind them. He closed his eyes, realizing what was happening, just as Kate stated, "Um, Jim, I think we might have a problem." Jim nodded, and turned around to face the hunting party that had trapped them between the caves and themselves. The group attacked as one, and Jim struggled to hold all eight of them off, until one knocked him head over paws, and his skull collided with a large rock. White light flashed in his eyes, and then darkness enveloped him.

Jim woke up with a pounding headache, surrounded by his packmates. "What is the meaning of this?" Jim asked, trying hard to coordinate the thoughts that were jumbled up in his mind. "Where is my father? I want to see him!" One of the betas that was watching him snarled.

"Don't worry, you'll get to see the alpha," he said, menacingly. "Just don't expect to come out of it in one piece." Jim's maw dropped.

"What is going on? Why are you doing this? I want to speak with my father! If he is not available, then ask my mother if she will come and see me!" The beta lashed out, and bit Jim on the neck, and was fully intending to break the alpha's neck, when someone shouted at him from the entrance. The beta released Jim, and when the pain subsided, Jim recognized the figure of his father, standing at the mouth of the small cave. Jim walked forward, and spoke to his father.

"Dad what in the name of all things good is going on here?" Jim asked, walking up to his father. William's paw connected solidly with the side of Jim's muzzle, snapping the younger wolf's head sideways. Tears came to Jim's eyes, as William spoke.

"What do you think you're doing here, after what you've done?" he asked.

"Dad, what are you talking about?" Jim asked. William hit him again, and Jim replied with a snarl. "Stop hitting me, or you'll regret it!" Jim threatened.

"What are you going to do about it, pup?!" William asked hatred in his eyes. "You going to kill me like you tried to kill your mother?" Jim's ears flattened.

"What?" Jim asked, backing up a step. "Dad, what are you talking about?" William growled, and advanced toward his son. Jim stopped, and hunkered down, preparing to run once more from his father.

"Don't lie to me, boy!" William shouted. "You didn't have the guts to do it yourself, so you sent your cronies to do it, but guess what, they failed!"

"Dad..." Jim whimpered, "No... I didn't... I swear!" William scratched at his oldest son, far harder then he had ever done before. Jim was knocked over, and he lay there, for a moment, tears streaming down his muzzle, before he got back to his feet.

"I'd kill you on the spot, if it weren't for your mother telling me not to. Get lost. Run away, like you did before. Except this time, don't come back!" William shouted. He stepped aside, and Jim ran forward, trying to escape the small cave, and the violence. For the second time that week, Jim ran, past oaks, pines, and every other type of tree he could name, only this time, the people behind him didn't want him, exactly the opposite. He ran to the place where he had stopped previously, and cried, the pain all over his body almost as painful as the pain within his mind. He tilted his head back, and howled, a howl of pure misery, excruciating pain, and intense guilt. He had no choice now. All the times he had thought about running away, and how good it would be to be free, and now he was, and it was the most horrible feeling he had ever felt. He howled once more, and lay down, continuing to cry. He cried himself to sleep, and didn't even care about the pawsteps that had come into his clearing to join him.