Moss-covered stones of all sizes lined the ground. Gnarled, twisting branches allowed only a small amount of sunlight to peek through. Large leafy plants were dwarfed by the sheer enormity of the ancient trees. Exposed roots formed complex mazes. The entire forest had an ethereal green glow that took Ren's breath away.

Leaves rustled in front of them. Ame and Ren froze. A gray squirrel darted across their path. Ren chuckled. Despite being away from the city, they were both still nervous and jumpy.

"What do we have here?" a deep voice said, cutting through the quiet forest. A large wolf stepped out from behind a tree. Huge muscles rippled beneath his tawny pelt. His shoulders were broad, and his eyes were strikingly light, like chips of ice.

Ren felt her fur bristle, rising up along her neck and back. Fight or flight! her instincts screamed. They were trespassing in another pack's territory. This wolf had every right to shred them to pieces. Ame's tail flicked back and forth anxiously. He was ready to attack in order to protect Ren.

Ren steadied herself, trying to appear confident. "My mother sent us here. We don't want any trouble."

"Mizuki sent you here?" the wolf asked.

"Yes! I'm Ren," she said.

Recognition flashed in his eyes. "We've been expecting you. Who's your friend?"

"Ame," Ame said with as much aggression as he could muster. His body was still tensed, ready to leap onto the other wolf.

"He doesn't get out much, does he?" the wolf said. "Anyways, I'm Taro."

"It's very nice to meet you," Ren said as she kicked Ame with her back leg. "Relax," she mouthed to him. Ame gave her a dirty look.

"You two can just follow me," Taro said. He abruptly changed into a human. He was just as muscular as a man as he was a wolf. His icy blue eyes met Ren's and he winked.

"You're completely naked!" Ren choked. She averted her eyes and Ame stepped in front of her, blocking her view.

Taro was unaffected by her reaction, clearly very comfortable. "Nudity isn't an issue here. Clothes are just a nuisance when you're constantly shifting between forms."

"Well, it's an issue with me!" Ame growled. "Especially in front of a girl that you just met a few minutes ago!"

"I'm sure she doesn't mind! Most women find me very attractive."

"You're insane! Would Ren be looking away if she didn't mind?" Ame looked like he was ready to bite Taro.

Taro put his hands up, as if surrendering. "Just calm down, buddy."

"'Buddy'? Did he just call me 'buddy'? This guy's unbelievable!"

"Taro, could you please change back into a wolf?" Ren asked, sensing a fight about to begin.

"Anything for you, gorgeous," Taro said, winking again before shifting into a wolf.

"That's it!" Ame yelled. He launched himself on top of Taro. They rolled across the ground in a flurry of snapping jaws. Taro pinned Ame underneath him, but Ame snarled and kicked the massive wolf off of him. Taro was stronger, but Ame was more agile.

Ren rolled her eyes. Men, she thought before forcing the fighting wolves apart.

Taro led them through the forest, snaking his way through paths that Ren and Ame wouldn't have noticed on their own. Dried blood caked Ame's flank where Taro had raked him with his claws, and Taro's ear was torn. He occasionally flicked it with annoyance, and chattered incessantly about everything from his favorite spots to nap to where the fattest squirrels hid. Ame's nostrils flared, but he otherwise managed to control his temper.

The trees began to increase in size, their roots now forming caves large enough to live in.

"This is our home!" Taro said. "I'll give you a tour!"

Ren was excited to see this wolf community, but she had something else on her mind. "Is my mom here right now?"

"No, she's not back yet. Neither are the others...hopefully they'll be here soon."

"What was she doing with the other wolves?"

"Ah, well, Mizuki specifically told me that I wasn't allowed to say anything to you about that. She wanted to tell you herself."

"Oh...okay."

"Anyways, just step in here!" Taro led them through a gaping hole amid the tree roots.

"Whoa," Ame whispered.

"This is amazing!" Ren said.

Inside was a hidden world. Tucked behind draped curtains of moss were dens of all sizes. High above, the ceiling was lined with glowing mushrooms that cast everything below in soft light. A clear stream cut through the center of the the cave. Children, in both wolf and human forms, splashed in the water, barking and laughing. Some grown pack members watched the children while others played chess or read books. Men and women alike sat stark naked, casually going about their day. Ren winced. Taro hadn't been kidding. I better get used to this, Ren thought. Judging by his pained expression, Ame looked like he was thinking the same thing.

"This is where we all relax," Taro explained.

There were at least ten pack members in the cave, and there were more on their way with Ren's mother. "I never knew there were so many other wolf spirits," Ren said.

"Me neither," Ame said.

"Well, we never realized that there were so many wolves outside of our pack!" Taro said.

Ame stared straight ahead, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular.

"Anyone home?" Taro teased him.

Ame's voice broke. "My father believed that he was the last of his kind. I wish he was here to see this..to see me."

Ren had never seen Ame so vulnerable, his pain so exposed. There was nothing she could say to bring his father back, nothing she could do to change what had happened in the past. She pressed close against Ame. "Your father is always with you, Ame. And any father would be proud of the person you've become."

"Thanks," Ame said quietly, blinking back tears. His expression hardened as he pushed his emotions deep within himself. He needed to be strong. He was a wolf.

A chorus of howls echoed outside. With each passing second the howls grew louder and louder.

"They're back! They're back from the city!" Taro said.

The pack members around them began to chatter, their excitement filling the cave.

"I can smell my mom! She's back too!" Ren said.

The pounding of many paws approached them. Wolves began streaming into the cave. Ren noticed a slim black body among them.

"Mom!" Ren yelled as she ran towards her.

"Wait," a shaggy brown wolf commanded. His pelt was streaked with white.

"That's the alpha," Taro stage-whispered, his tone still casual, as if this was part of Ame and Ren's tour.

The alpha wolf glared at Taro before continuing. "Everyone, gather close. I have important news to share."