Dipper looked around the den. About 25 days had passed and there were many new members. There was Jay, a grey female wolf, Flake, a white female wolf, Night, a black and white male wolf, Mouse, a small brown male wolf, Aaron, a dark brown male wolf, Cream, a light brown female wolf and Scarlet, a reddish female wolf. Cream didn't real fight too well, but she knew some great herbs. Scarlet had also came to the pack, pregnant with Aaron's cubs. She was close to having her pups at the time and gave birth to them a few days after joining. She had three healthy pups now. A brown jumpy one with a few faint spots named Flash, a darker one named Howler and the auburn one named Pip.
Dipper had become a pretty decent fighter and hunter, but he still wanted to be the best he could. Especially at fighting. Dipper looked at Brooke who was laying down right beside him. Dipper was a bit bigger; he didn't think he would get any bigger now. Brooke was only a bit bigger than half his size. She was barely bigger than a fox! Yet she was amazing at everything. Hunting, fighting… Dipper looked over his shoulder. He spotted Dusk. The cub he had offered to mentor when Fade thought he was good enough. Fade had said it would be much easier for him, only having to mentor one cub. Dipper looked back at Brooke.
"Want to go on a mini hunting patrol?" Dipper asked the beautiful wolf.
"Sure," Brooke answered. "Who are we bringing?"
"Hmm…" Dipper thought for a moment. "How about Dusk and Dawn?"
"Sounds good," Brooke smiled. "Just let me get ready. I'll meet you just outside of the den."
Dipper smiled and nodded. Brooke groomed herself and stretched before padding away. Dipper turned to walk towards Dusk and Dawn but froze as he felt the cold gaze of Night staring right at him. He shivered and shook his fur, closing his eyes and walking forwards until he reached his student.
Trying to get Night of his mind, Dipper spoke. "Would you two like to go on a hunting patrol? It would be great practice."
"Yeah, totally!" Dusk exclaimed, standing up quickly.
"Sure, I guess so," Dawn mumbled at the same time.
Dipper nodded and stared down at the two cubs. They were just about Brooke's size now.
"Follow me," Dipper said, trotting out of the camp. He could still feel Night's gaze. All he wanted to do was get away from him!
It wasn't long before he saw Brooke resting under a tree with her eyes closed peacefully. Dipper and the cubs appeared through some bushes. Brooke instantly lifted her head. "Ready?" Dipper asked.
"Yep!" Brooke purred, getting up.
Dipper chuckled a bit before beckoning with his tail. Brooke walked over to him and they started looking for prey. Dipper wondered if Brooke knew how much he liked her. Dipper did not have a small crush on the auburn wolf, he loved her. Loved her till the moon and back. Dipper sort of thought she felt the same way, but he did not know for sure. Dipper stopped as he heard bushes rustling. Instantly he turned and looked. Dusk wasn't there. Suddenly Dipper's mind filled with fear but relief filled his mind when he saw Dusk reappear with a rabbit.
"Look what I got!" Dusk barked, dropping the rabbit so he could speak.
"Great catch!" Dipper complimented the young wolf.
"Thanks!" Dusk replied cheerfully, picking up the rabbit again.
Dipper set off, the rest of the patrol following him. He spotted a bird, he was going to leap forwards but Brooke was much quicker, grabbing the bird in her jaws. She brought it back to the other wolves.
"Nice catch—you were very quick!" Dipper exclaimed.
Brooke nodded and smiled.
Dipper continued to walk with the patrol until he stopped dead.
"Did you hear something?" He gasped.
Dawn instantly crouched down, scared. Suddenly a shadow moved within the trees.
"Get down!" Dipper hissed quietly.
Dusk and Dawn hid in some bushed while Brooke hid in some ferns near a tree. Dipper just crouched low in the ground, near a blueberry bush. Suddenly Dipper heard a loud roar, followed by a loud yelp.
"Dawn!" Dusk cried.
Suddenly Brooke shot out from the ferns and at the creature. Dipper raced after her, lunging at the creature. The creature turned out to be a cougar. He had seen a fight between a wolf and a cougar on YouTube before; this would not end out well. Someone would die.
The cougar dropped Dawn and growled, picking up Brooke and throwing her against a tree. Dipper bared his fangs. He was in rage mode now. No stupid cougar would mess with Brooke and get away with it! The cougar grabbed Dusk but instantly him when Dipper scratched the cougar in the face. The cougar stared at him, growling. Dipper snarled and jumped forwards, biting the cougar's arm. The cougar snarled and raised it's arm, causing Dipper to go flying into the air, crashing into the ground shortly after. The cougar snorted at him and picked up Dawn, shaking her around as she screeched and wailed. The cougar tightened its grip and slammed her against the ground. Dipper got up and looked over.
No...
Dawn's body wasn't moving at all. It was broken. Dusk screamed and bit the monster's arm. Dipper's eyes widened as the wild beast lunged for his throat. As quick as a lightening bolt, Dipper ran in and scratched the cougar's chin, giving Dusk the chance to run away.
The cougar snarled and scratched his shoulder. Dipper looked over and saw Brooke. She was limping. He turned back, angrier than ever. He pounced up into the air, claws out, jaws open, aiming for the cougar's throat. Dipper managed to scratch its chest, but when he was about to bite its chest, the cougar lifted its arm quickly, hitting him, causing him to go flying into the air. Dipper hit the ground with a loud thud. He was too weak to get up. He looked over to Brooke; she looked like she was crying.
"Dipper!" She cried.
Dipper tried to get up, but by the time he was barely standing the cougar had grabbed him by the throat and shook him. Dipper screeched as blood flied everywhere. Suddenly the cougar dropped him as Brooke lunged at the cougar.
"What are you doing?" Dipper screamed weakly.
The cougar easily threw Brooke off. Dipper was barely able to stand as the cougar turned to face Brooke. Using all his strength, he jumped onto the cougar's back biting its shoulder. The cougar, which was getting weaker, screeched and grabbed Dipper by the leg, throwing him off. The last thing he heard was Brooke screaming his name before everything went pitch black.