Chapter 2

It was almost dark when Lincoln and Luna came back home. Home was a gorge with several caves. The gorge wasn't far from the forest where the pack hunted so it was perfect. Plus it was big enough for all thirteen members of the pack. Plus, there was a spot on the gorge that looked over the whole territory, so it was used as a lookout. All the older members would take turns standing watch for invaders. But the pack only had a watch at night, so during the day, the pack just went on with normal activities.

As Luna and Lincoln walked in, they looked around and saw their pack spread out throughout the gorge. In one part of the gorge, they saw a silver she-wolf, Lori, resting in the shade next to a light gray she-wolf, Leni, who was sleeping. In another part in the camp, they saw a light brown she wolf, Luan, and a dark brown she-wolf, Lynn Jr., eating some leftover deer from the day before. In one the caves sat a black she-wolf, Lucy, who was watching the bats that lived in the cave. Near one of the entrances of the camp, two identical gray she-wolves, Lana and Lola, were currently playing with a small wolf pup, Lily, while a small dark brown she-wolf, Lisa, was sniffing the nearby flowers.

As Luna and Lincoln walked into the camp, they were greeted by a large brown male wolf, Lynn Sr., and a slender silver she-wolf, Rita.

"Welcome back pups." Lynn Sr. greeted.

"How was the forest?" Rita asked. "Quiet?"

"Yep." Luna answered. "All quiet and peaceful. The only thing that I really had to worry about was a certain little brother attack." Luna chuckled at the last part while Lincoln looked a little embarrassed. The Alpha and Beta could only laugh when they heard that.

"I take it you were practicing your stalking Lincoln?" Lynn Sr. asked with amusement.

"I wanted to be ready for my first hunt." Lincoln answered proudly. "So I went into the forest to get some practice in. So, when I saw Luna I decided to try to sneak up on her. I would've had her if the wind hadn't changed direction."

"Well Lincoln, that's something you have to be careful of when hunting." Rita told him.

"I know." Lincoln said.

"Good to here." Lynn Sr. told him. "Now why don't you two go rest. We're going on a hunt tomorrow morning." Lincoln couldn't hide his excitement as he jumped up and down with excitement.

"I get to go on this one right dad?" Lincoln asked.

"I did say you could join us Lincoln and that decision still stands." Lynn Sr. told. Lincoln quickly nuzzled his father who licked him between the ears. "Now run along now."

Lincoln and Luna walked off to join their siblings. Luna went over to join Luan and Lynn in eating the deer while Lincoln went over to play with Lana, Lola and Lily.

"Hey guys." Lincoln called as he padded over to them.

"Hey Lincoln!" Lana and Lola cried in unison as they ran over to him and tackled him while Lily barked with excitement. After a few minutes of wrestling, Lana and Lola let their older brother get back on his feet.

"So Lincoln how was the forest?" Lana asked. "Did you see anything cool out there?"

"Did you see any coyotes or cougars while you were out there?" Lola asked.

Due to the rules made by their previous Alpha, Albert, the pups had to be a certain age to enter the forest alone. So Lucy, Lana, Lola, Lisa and Lily couldn't leave the camp unless one of their older siblings were with them. The reason Albert made that rule was because of the constant battles for territory between the pack, the coyotes and the cougars. However, according to their parents, there was something else out there that was much more dangerous. Something that their parents didn't want to talk about. So the kids didn't question them.

"Well guys, to be honest, I didn't find anything cool out there." Lincoln told them. "And I also didn't see any coyotes or cougars while I was out there. The only thing that I saw out there was Luna." The twins couldn't help but look disappointed. They really wanted to go out and see the forest by themselves, but due to the rules of the pack they had to ask one of the older members of the pack to take them out.

"I wish we could go out." Lana said sadly.

"Yeah. I really want to see what's out there." Lola agreed sadly. "I wish Pop Pop didn't make that stupid rule."

"I know, but he made that rule to protect us."

The three turned around and saw Lori padding up to them.

"When Pop Pop made that rule, he did it to keep the pack safe and sound." Lori told them. "That's why he was such a great leader. He knew that there were a lot of dangers in the forest and he wanted to make sure that we were ready before he let us go into the forest alone."

"We know Lori." Lola sighed. "But, it's still not fair."

Lori looked down at the two pups and nuzzled them affectionately. "I know. But rules are rules and these rules keep us safe. They have for as long as I've been around. So just try to respect the rules. Ok?"

"Ok Lori." Lana and Lola said in unison.

"Good." Lori said satisfied. She then turned to Lincoln who had Lily climbing on top of him. "So Lincoln, I heard you will be joining us on the next hunt. Are you excited?"

"You bet!" Lincoln answered excitedly. "I've been looking forward to this since I was a pup. I finally get to help provide for the pack."

"Good to here." Lori told him. "But, remember, it's a very important job."

"She's right Linc. It's a big responsibility to provide for the pack." Luan told him.

"Yeah bro." Lynn agreed. "I remember when dad told me I could help hunt for the pack. I could hardly breathe I was so excited."

"You can't breathe!" Leni cried with worry. She quickly sprang to her paws and ran over to Lynn to check on her. "Are you ok? Do I need to get mom and dad?"

"No Leni. It was a figure of speech that humans sometimes use." Lisa said from where she was examining the nearby plants. "Humans are such weird and fascinating creatures."

"Well, I'm glad that we're not human." Lucy said as she suddenly appeared out of nowhere, startling her siblings.

"Lucy, you have to stop doing that." Lori growled.

"Yeah. If you keep doing that, you're going to make us look like Lincoln." Luan joked.

"Sorry." Lucy apologized.

"It's cool." Luna told her. "But we should probably get something to eat." She then turned to her brother who still had Lily perched on his head. "Especially you Lincoln. You got a big day tomorrow. So get something to eat and then get some rest."

"Ok Luna." Lincoln said. He then walked over to the fresh kill pile and grabbed some leftover elk.

"Yo bro." Luna called. "Mind if I share that with you?"

"Sure." Lincoln answered.

After the pack finished eating, they all went to their respective caves, with Lori heading up to the lookout to keep watch for the evening. Before Lincoln went to bed, he took a quick look at the moon.

I promise that I will do whatever it takes to provide for the pack. Lincoln promised. I'll make you proud Pop Pop.

Lincoln then felt exhaustion creep up on him and decided that it was time to get some sleep.

However, unknown to the pack, a dark figure was standing in the shadows, watching. And before Lori could see him, he turned and ran into the forest without a word.

Hm, the dark figure appears again. And it appears he is interested in the pack. Well, until next time, Peace.