by Sophie Torro
Fog didn’t respond.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Aurora asked in a friendly voice. “Let’s go make some friends and have some fun.” Aurora pointed a paw. “Ooo, look over there! It looks like those wolves are having a singing competition. Want to enter it with me?”
Fog shook her head and took a step back. “I don’t think I’m ready for this yet,” she said anxiously. “I just need some time alone outside. You go on ahead, Aurora. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Aurora felt disappointed, but tried not to let it show. “I understand,” she told Fog. “But just remember that these wolves aren’t our enemies. They aren’t like the stories say.”
Fog turned around and sprinted up the tunnel without acknowledging Aurora. She quickly vanished into the shadows and disappeared.
Aurora shrugged. She then cautiously made her way into the depths of the crowd. I hope that Ember is here, she thought. Or Nautilus, that Water Wolf Blizzard keeps telling me about. Meeting new wolves is much more daunting when you have to start from scratch. Especially when you’re on your own.
Aurora’s gaze wandered around as she tried to spot someone who looked friendly enough to approach. That Water Wolf over there looks like he fights sharks for fun, she thought as she moved past him. I need somebody a bit more timid. Aurora turned to look to the side, walking slowly through the crowd. I don’t think that Fire Wolf would make a good friend for me, either. His entire pelt is on fire! Aurora kept on looking, hoping to catch sight of Ember, Fog, or anyone else who looked familiar.
Maybe she should try searching for Pebble the Earth Wolf, or Gill the Water Wolf. Those were the first wolves she had met at this place, and they were also friends with Blizzard. Pebble and Gill had been approachable enough. Perhaps they could introduce her to some potential friends.
Distracted, Aurora accidentally stepped on somebody’s tail. An Earth Wolf immediately rose to her paws and whirled around, snarling furiously. Aurora’s heart stopped beating for a moment.
It was Sandstorm!
“I’m so sorry,” Aurora gasped. “I didn’t mean it.”
Sandstorm bared her deadly fangs. They glowed dangerously in the moonlight. “Watch where you’re going, runt,” Sandstorm growled. Her light brown fur wildly bristled, making the already massive Earth Wolf look twice her size.
Aurora quickly nodded, then dashed off before Sandstorm could claw her ears. Without warning, another Earth Wolf leapt forward and blocked Aurora’s path. “Hang on a moment,” he sneered. “You can’t get out of a challenge so easily.”
Aurora’s eyes grew wide. “A challenge?” she yelped. “I didn’t mean to challenge anybody. It was just an accident!”
A third Earth Wolf prowled closer. Sandstorm and her two companions had surrounded Aurora on all sides. Their claws and fangs glinted in the moon’s silver glow. “It doesn’t matter if it was an accident or not,” the third Earth Wolf jeered. “You got on Sandstorm’s nerves. Now you must fight.”
By now, nearly the entire crowd of wolves had gathered around to see what was happening. Their eyes glowed with interest.
Aurora gave the wolves a pleading stare. Help me! she wordlessly begged them. Get me out of this nightmare! Sandstorm has lost her mind!
Sandstorm let out a rough bark of a laugh. Her shadow fell over poor Aurora. “This,” she said with a sneering grin, “is going to be fun.”
CHAPTER 6
An explosion of sandy wind and pointed rocks hurled toward Aurora. She threw herself out of the way just in time, gasping. The crowd wildly scrambled away from the vicious sandstorm before it could collide with them. With a powerful bang, the sandstorm crashed into the cavern wall, causing the floor beneath Aurora’s paws to rumble.
The crowd went wild—most cheered for Sandstorm, others shouted encouragement at Aurora. She blinked at her spectators in astonishment. Was this nothing more than entertainment to these wolves? Why weren’t they helping her? Sandstorm was going to pulverize Aurora! This was serious!
If nobody is going to help me, then I have no other choice, Aurora nervously thought. I must fight my way out of this. It’s the only chance I’ve got!
Sandstorm let out a wild laugh. She leapt into the air and shot another deadly blast from her front paws. It zoomed toward Aurora at frightening speed. She ducked her head and leapt out of the way, sliding across the ground as she landed with a thud. Or I’ll just keep avoiding Sandstorm until she gets bored with me, Aurora thought dizzily. I have a better chance of survival that way.
Aurora stopped sliding and came to a halt near a pair of dark red paws. With a groan of pain, she lifted her head to gaze up at the wolf, hoping the fear in her eyes would convince him or her to help stop this madness. Aurora let out a gasp. It was Ember!
The dark red wolf helped Aurora rise to her paws, his orange eyes calm and collected. How could he look so relaxed at a time like this? He was about to watch his friend-to-be get shredded by Sandstorm! “Ember,” Aurora spluttered, not caring about how desperate she sounded. “Help me! Please!”
Ember flicked his ear in amusement. “I see no reason to interfere,” he responded passively. “You can handle yourself, Aurora. I can tell that you’re stronger than you think you are. You don’t need me, or any other wolf, to fight your battles.”
Sandstorm abruptly clamped her jaw around Aurora’s tail, then dragged her back into the center of the crowd. Aurora felt embarrassment flood through her. Sandstorm was treating her like a pup. The crowd was beginning to laugh at her. Aurora felt an abrupt surge of rage.
Without warning, Aurora flung open the wing closest to Sandstorm. It smacked the Earth Wolf in the face with such force that she was almost knocked off her paws. Sandstorm let out a fierce growl that was mingled with pain and rage. She rubbed her snout with a paw, her yellow eyes watering.
Aurora paused for a stunned moment, then jumped to her paws. “I… I did it!” she thought out loud. “I actually did it!” Respect was beginning to shine in the eyes of the crowd. They had never seen a wolf successfully overpower a bully like Sandstorm before. Aurora turned her head to look at Ember. He gave her an approving nod.
Sandstorm suddenly let out a dangerous snarl. “Oh, you did it all right,” she hissed. Her yellow eyes were full of blazing anger. Sandstorm took an ominous step closer to Aurora, while a gale of dusty wind tumbled around her paws.
Feeling brave, Aurora flared her massive wings, ready to defend herself at a moment’s notice. But despite her strong outward appearance, Aurora’s heart was racing. This was no longer a fun competition to Sandstorm. This was a fight against Aurora to defend her pride. What measures would this brash Earth Wolf take to ensure that she was the best? Aurora was terrified to find out.
From the distance, Ember scowled. He sensed the danger as clearly as Aurora did. This was not going to end well. Ember briskly walked to the center of the crowd and put himself between the two wolves. “Enough,” the Fire Wolf told Sandstorm. “This fight is over.”
“Stay out of this,” Sandstorm barked furiously. “Or else you’ll be next, hothead.” A few Earth Wolves began to slink away from the crowd. They stood behind Sandstorm in a jagged semicircle, baring their fangs and displaying their sharp claws. To Aurora’s dismay, an aggressive Sky Wolf and Water Wolf stalked up to Sandstorm’s side, joining her ranks.
Suddenly, a wolf broke away from the crowd to stand beside Aurora and Ember. He was a plump, dark blue Water Wolf with hints of green scales along his fish-like tail. The Water Wolf’s light green eyes were filled to the brim with nervousness, and his webbed paws trembled slightly. However, he bravely met Sandstorm’s glowering stare.
“Everyone here knows that you’re the strongest,” the Water Wolf told Sandstorm in his shy, awkward voice. “You have nothing to prove by picking on this Sky Wolf. Leave her alone. Go find someone who actually wants to fight.” The Water Wolf shrunk under Sandstorm’s sharp gaze. “But only if you want to, of course. Ju
st please don’t hurt us.”
Sandstorm released a cackle. It sliced through the silent cave like a fang. “You want me to back down?” she laughed. “I never back down! I never lose! I am the most powerful wolf in Elementa!” The sandstorm around her paws began to pick up strength. “I finish every fight that I start—including this one!”
Just before Sandstorm could use her brutal power on Aurora, Ember, and the Water Wolf, a wave of thick fog rolled into the cave. All heads turned to look in its direction. More and more fog rapidly filled the underground cavern, concealing everything it reached.
“What Sky Wolf is doing this?” Sandstorm demanded. “You better knock it off right now, or else I’ll bite you!” Aurora scanned the crowd to locate the few Sky Wolves that were present here tonight. They all had bewildered looks on their faces. It was clear to Aurora that none of her fellow Sky Wolves were causing this.
Within moments, the entire cave was filled with fog. It was so thick that Aurora could barely see her own paws. Wolves began to panic. Some howled or barked nervously, while others blindly stumbled around, trying to reach the exit of the cave.
Aurora tried waving away the fog with her wings, but it did no good. Not even the flames that some of the Fire Wolves produced was enough to light the way.
Someone suddenly screamed.
There was a terrible crash. More screams. Wolves began to run. Panic seized Aurora as the crowd nearly trampled her.
“Guards!” a wolf shirked near the far side of the cave. “Sky Pack Guards! They found us!”
A wolf near Aurora was suddenly knocked off his paws and dragged backward. He instantly disappeared into the cloudy veil.
“Everybody run!” Aurora screamed. “Get out of here immediately!” Before Queen Tempest finds you, she wordlessly added. And then Aurora ran. She ran toward the exit of the cave like her life depended on it. Aurora was too terrified to fly. Too terrified to think about anything other than escaping.
A Sky Pack guard suddenly lunged at her. Aurora dodged her attacker without slowing down. She kept pushing forward as fast as she possibly could. Her lung heaved for air. There’s the tunnel, Aurora thought with a surge of relief. I’m almost there.
Without warning, Aurora was pushed to the ground. She immediately scrambled to her paws then whirled to face her opponent. It’s Fog! she realized. “You did this!” Aurora screamed at the silver wolf. “You used me to find out where this cave was! You betrayed us to Queen Tempest!”
Fog laughed. “Of course I did,” she replied sneeringly. “Wasn’t it obvious? I don’t know how you managed to be so clueless, Aurora.” Fog pulled back her lips to reveal her razor-like fangs. “Just wait until Queen Tempest learns of your treachery! She’ll have your head!” Fog screamed out a laugh.
Aurora froze. Queen Tempest doesn’t know about my actions yet, she thought. There’s still a chance to reason with her. I just need to escape this place first. Whatever happens next, I can’t come to Queen Tempest as a prisoner, or else she’ll never listen to me.
Without warning, Aurora bolted past Fog, then exploded up the exit tunnel. Exhaustion began to grip her, but she forced herself to keep on going. Aurora quickly emerged into the moonlit prairie outside. It was total chaos.
Guards were wrestling with wolves everywhere Aurora looked… and the guards were winning. Only a few wolves were managing to escape. But how long would it take until they were found and imprisoned with the rest? Aurora couldn’t afford to find out. She needed to get out of here now. Aurora ran. She ran and didn’t look back. Just before she could unfold her wings to fly away, something slammed into her. She was knocked to the ground, winded.
Guards immediately pounced on Aurora. Fear crashed over her like a heavy rain. This was it. She was now a prisoner to her own pack. How could things have gone so wrong in only a few days? The best moments of Aurora’s life were far behind her now.
Then, suddenly, a massive sandstorm was thrown at the guards. They were immediately flung away from Aurora. The winged wolf rose to her paws in a daze. Her rescuer was none other than Sandstorm. “Don’t just stand there, featherbrain!” Sandstorm barked at Aurora. “Get a move on! Let’s go! Now!” Sandstorm ran over to Aurora and roughly pushed her forward, snapping her out of her shock. They began to run before the guards recovered and pursued them.
“Where are we going?” Aurora gasped out, struggling to catch her breath.
Sandstorm’s face was grim. “Anywhere but here,” she responded. “Sorry, featherbrain, but I don’t think you have a home in the Sky Pack anymore.” Sandstorm was unaware of how much her words crushed Aurora. Was that really true?
In the corner of Aurora’s eye, she spotted Ember and the anxious Water Wolf from earlier. They were near the ledge of a cliff and right in the open; perfect prey for the Sky Pack guards. Ember’s face was filled with anguish. His front paw was twisted. “Get out of here,” Aurora heard Ember growl to the Water Wolf. “You hear me?! Go! Save yourself!”
The Water Wolf looked rattled, but refused to leave Ember’s side. He wasn’t the kind of wolf who left the vulnerable to fend for themselves. “I’m not leaving,” the Water Wolf bravely replied. “I’ll help fight off the guards.”
Ember tried to rise to his paws, then immediately collapsed to the ground as a surge of pain struck him.
Aurora immediately halted. “Sandstorm!” she cried. “We have to help them!”
Sandstorm paused for the briefest of moments to gaze at Ember and the Water Wolf. She then continued to run. “Sorry, but I already did my good deed of the day,” Sandstorm called over her shoulder. “If you want to help them, you’re on your own. I’m going home.”
Aurora let out a furious growl. Don’t worry about Sandstorm, she fiercely told herself. Ember and this Water Wolf are the ones that matter right now. I can’t just leave them here. I need to help them! Aurora immediately ran over to them. Her eyes suddenly grew wide.
A winged guard was diving straight toward Ember and the Water Wolf!
Aurora leapt into the sky and cannoned into him, driving the guard away from her friends. He let out an angry growl. “Traitor!” the guard yelled. “You’re going to pay for this!” With ferocious strength, the guard pushed Aurora backward. She immediately lost her balance and plummeted to the ground—and straight into Ember and the Water Wolf.
The three wolves were sent tumbling backward. Without warning, the ground disappeared underneath them. They plummeted down the side of the cliff. Up and down rapidly swapped places, over and over again, until finally they crashed. The wolves were too dazed to move. Aurora nearly blacked out. Searing pain gripped the side of her head, making her feel sick.
The winged guard was about to dive to the three wolves, but stopped when a low howl filled the air. “That’s all of them!” a gruff voice declared. “Let’s take these prisoners to Queen Tempest.” The winged guard hesitated as he suspiciously peered at the three wolves below.
Play dead, Aurora wordlessly pleaded to Ember and the Water Wolf. Don’t move even a muscle. We can’t let the guard see that we’re still alive. Luckily, her friends seemed to have the same idea as Aurora. They didn’t even breathe.
The winged guard shrugged and flew away. Aurora remained still until the chaos above the cliff faded away. Only after the world was silent did she rise to her paws. Ember slowly blinked open his eyes, looking like he was about to faint. His twisted paw had been wounded even further in the fall. Aurora felt dizzy. He needs help, she thought numbly. But how am I supposed to help him? I don’t know the first thing about healing.
Aurora turned her green-eyed gaze to the Water Wolf. He hadn’t moved. “Hey,” Aurora said, prodding him with a paw. “The guards are gone. It’s safe to move now.”
The Water Wolf trembled as he forced himself to stand. His light green eyes were filled with fear. “We escaped,” he breathed. “I can’t believe it. I thought the guards would have gotten us for sure.”
Aurora
flattened her ears. They were some of the lucky ones, but not everyone had been fortunate enough to escape. The thought sent a slash of guilt across her heart. It was best not to think about that now. “What’s your name?” Aurora asked the Water Wolf.
He shyly looked down at his paws. “Nautilus,” he responded in a small voice.
Aurora gave him a nod of acknowledgement. This was the Water Wolf that Blizzard wanted her to meet. Her brother was right—Nautilus is a friendly wolf. If only they could have met under better circumstances.
“I’m Aurora,” she replied. “We have to get away from here before the guards come back. And Ember needs our help.”
At her words, Ember’s orange eyes filled with anger. “I don’t need help,” he snarled aggressively. “I can take care of myself!” Ember struggled to rise to his paws, but managed nonetheless. He shook the sand off his black cloak.
Nautilus anxiously fidgeted with his tail. “Now what?” he asked sheepishly. “Should we all return to our packs?”
Now Ember looked really angry. “I’m not going back to my pack,” he growled. Nautilus gave the Fire Wolf a startled look.
Yeesh, Aurora thought. What rubbed him the wrong way? Ember is normally so calm and collected.
“I can’t return to my pack yet, either,” Aurora said, deciding to break the awkward silence that had briefly loomed over them. “Some of those guards saw my face. They’ll recognize me and arrest me. I need to wait for everything to settle down before going home.”
Nautilus gave Aurora a sympathetic nod, while Ember silently looked to the side. The Fire Wolf tried to walk away, then let out a gasp of pain. Ember lifted his twisted paw with a hiss, studying it angrily.
Nautilus and Aurora exchanged a knowing look. “We should find shelter before doing anything else,” Aurora told her friends decisively. “After that we can think of a plan.”
Ember let out an uneasy sigh. “You’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry for lashing out at you both.” Although Ember remained silent after that, Aurora could tell that there was a lot of things he was thinking, but wasn’t saying. Aurora sensed that he was angry at himself and not at his friends.
