Prologue

"RabbitFoot are you sure you can make it by the morning?" asked the bigger of the two wolves.

"Are you doubting my abilities, HowlingWind?" replied RabbitFoot. "I will not fail you"

"Howl when you get to the border. I need to know that you made it half

way." HowlingWind finished. And then with a nod RabbitFoot was off into the

night.

Dashing in and out of the pine trees and through the undergrowth. Ignoring all the little prey and scaring all the elk, RabbitFoot came to a halt when he stood looking down a 50 foot straight drop into more trees.

RabbitFoot stood stiff legged, held his head high and let out a deafening howl that pierced the night silence. He lowered his head and sat waiting. As the howl was replaced by more silence, another cry came rolling through the trees. HowlingWind got the message!

As the brown grey wolf turned to face the drop a third howl was heard. This one much closer than HowlingWind. RabbitFoot looked down the cliff and saw an enemy patrol!

He should not have bothered them. Messengers are allowed to cross borders if they are carrying a message. That's it! They didn't recognize him. But if he went with the patrol they would take too long to get to their camp and he would be late returning to his camp. It has already been 4 hours. He couldn't spare any more time.

Out of the woods another wolf with a familiar scent came trotting along. RabbitFoot looked to the right and saw the patrol climbing the hill to the top of the cliff. He looked back and saw GoldenClaw, the pack omega, still trotting as if the enemy patrol didn't faze him. When he was not even close to their rank, speed, or strength.

"What are you doing GoldenClaw? Get out of here! If they see me it will be fine. If they see you, we are both in trouble!" RabbitFoot growled. GoldenClaw just chuckled, "You think these pups can harm me? You still don't get it do you. I'm the omega because of a different reason than being the weakest. If it wasn't for my brother I would be the Alpha here. Now go. I can handle the patrol. Go before they spot us both. They only saw you and if you are not here they will think i was you."

RabbitFoot looks confused at GoldenClaw. "Go!" growls GoldenClaw. "Where?" The only response was a twitch of his tail towards the trees off the face of the cliff. The idea dawned over RabbitFoot like a wolf pack over an elk.

RabbitFoot ran towards the cliff and took a leap. As he fell he thought GoldenClaw is nuts. Just before he hit the ground a vine swung from the cliff. GoldenClaw! He had clawed a vine that grew at the top of the cliff down and it swung down to catch him. What a sneaky wolf.

As RabbitFoot swung to the ground the vine snapped and he rolled to a stop in the snow covered soil. He stood up and shook the snow and dirt from his pelt, and rushed off again towards the enemy camp.

HowlingWind uncurls as the sun rises over the pine trees. He stretches out his paws and looks at all of the sleeping wolves. There! RabbitFoot's brown-grey pelt was spotted among the rest. He has made it after all. What information had he brought back with him? What had Moonrise thought of the signs around the forest?

He would hate to wake a messenger after such an exhausting journey, but he had to figure out what to do for the packs safety.

"RabbitFoot, what did Moonrise think?" HowlingWind whispered in the messenger's ear. Just after he finished talking RabbitFoot's tail started to wag. "I was waiting for you to come ask." His tail

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