A/N: This was a fun one.


"I don't like this…" Sharp said slowly as he and three other clones stepped into the narrow valley.

"It's fine," Howl assured him.

Click.

Wolffe froze and shushed them. Nobody moved for several minutes, but the strike of metal against stone wasn't repeated.

"It was nothing," Wolffe eventually said. "Move-"

Boom!

An explosion threw the clones into the air, slamming helmets against stone and turning everyone's visions dark.


"...olffe! ...on, wake… Wolffe!"

A muted voice penetrated the ringing in Wolffe's ears, dragging him back to consciousness. He forced his eyes open to see Sharp's blurry form leaning over him.

"Wolffe!" Sharp said. "Can you hear me?"

Wolffe groaned and nodded. Relief filled Sharp's eyes.

"He's awake," Sharp said, looking to the side. "How's Tinker?"

"Nothing, this looks bad-"

Howl's worried voice jolted Wolffe fully awake. He sat up, ignoring Sharp's protest, and twisted around.

Howl, his arm in an improvised sling made of a couple utility belts, sat against the wall. Beside him, Tinker was flat on his back near a pile of rubble. The valley wall had collapsed on both sides, blocking the group inside.

"It was a trap," Sharp said. He glanced at the top of the valley. "We haven't seen any droids yet, though."

"Whoever left it probably thinks we're buried and left already," Wolffe said.

"How do you know?"

"Because otherwise, they would have finished us off by now." Wolffe stood slowly, holding onto the wall for support. "Have you notified the others?"

"Can't," Howl said. "All the comms are down. Either the stone is blocking signals, or the knock to the heads broke them."

"Are either of you able to climb?" Wolffe asked.

"I can," Sharp said. "But there isn't a way up. The walls are too steep."

Wolffe looked at the collapsed valley. Ahead, a huge chunk of the wall had slid into the valley, creating another sheer wall. Behind, however, the rubble was heaped haphazardly in a way that Wolffe thought there would be enough hand- and foot-holds.

"We can make it," Wolffe said. "Commander Cody's team is in the area, and we can… what?"

Howl was shaking his head. Wolffe stepped closer, then he realized what was really wrong. Tinker wasn't lying beside the rubble, he was half buried by it!

"If we climb, we could shift the rubble and bury Tinker completely," Wolffe realized aloud.

"Howl and I tried to get him out while you were still unconscious, but the whole thing is too unstable," Sharp said. "We're going to need help."

Wolffe studied the unclimbable walls. "The generals must know something happened to us by now, and they'll be looking at our last known location. They'll probably be nearby."

"Think they'll think of looking into the valley?" Howl asked.

"Doubt it. We never mentioned the valley when we last talked, so they'll assume we're somewhere outside."

"We could yell," Sharp suggested.

Wolffe shook his head. "Battle droids could still be in the area, and they'd know exactly where to find us."

The three thought for a minute. Then, Howl grinned.

"Battle droids wouldn't have any reason to investigate wildlife, would they?"

"No," Wolffe said. "Why?"

"Time to earn my name."

Howl took a deep breath, threw back his head, and howled. With a grin, Sharp joined him, though his howling was softer than Howl's deep-throated ones. Wolffe looked at the top of the valley, sighed, and began howling as well.

They weren't called Wolfpack for nothing.

The trio howled for a minute, then paused to listen. Instead of voices from above, however, a weak voice came from below.

"Wha's happ'nin'?"

"Tinker!" Howl said happily.

Tinker stared up at them, a weary and confused grin on his face. He shifted his elbows under him and started to sit up, only to wince and fall back.

"Just hold on," Wolffe said, kneeling to put his hand on Tinker's shoulder. "Comms are down, so we're trying to get the attention of the others."

Tinker blinked slowly. Wolffe wasn't sure if he understood what was going on until he spoke.

"Can I join?"

Wolffe huffed out a laugh. Howl responded by howling. Sharp and Wolffe joined back in, Tinker's higher, wavery howl threading its way into theirs.

The second time they paused, Wolffe heard calls from above. He scanned the top of the valley until familiar yellow armor stepped into view.

Cody stared down at the trapped group, then turned and called, "I found them!"

Wolffe narrowed his eyes. Though Cody's helmet hid his expression, Wolffe's ears were keen enough to hear the laughter in his voice.

The generals, Obi-Wan and Plo Koon, joined Cody. Plo Koon quickly jumped down, landing in a light crouch beside Wolffe.

"Is anyone hurt?"

"Howl's arm, and we can't get Tinker out without burying him," Wolffe said.

Plo Koon looked at Tinker, then called Obi-Wan down. "We'll hold the rocks. When I say, pull him free."

Wolffe nodded. He and Sharp crouched and put their hands under Tinker's arms. Plo Koon and Obi-Wan put their hands out and, after a few seconds, Plo Koon nodded.

"Pull!"

Wolffe and Sharp dug in their heels and pulled. At first, Tinker didn't move. They pulled harder. Tinker shifted, then gave a bark of pain.

"Wait," Plo Koon said quickly.

Wolffe and Sharp released their brother and stepped back. Tinker clenched his eyes for a second, then opened them.

"I'm okay," Tinker said. "But my foot's pinned pretty tight."

"Hold," Plo Koon said.

He turned one hand upside-down and lifted it. The rubble shifted. Tinker gasped, then relief filled his face.

"Pull him, now!" Plo Koon ordered.

Wolffe and Sharp did as told. This time, Tinker easily slid free. Everyone pulled back so the Jedi could release the rubble, which rattled down to cover several feet without Tinker's body underneath.

"That was close," Tinker said.

"We're lucky you found us," Wolffe said gratefully.

"Yes, well, Howl does have a rather impressive set of lungs, doesn't he?"

It took all of Wolffe's willpower to not double-take at Obi-Wan's statement. Cody, still atop the valley, turned quickly away. His helmet was off, though, so Wolffe could clearly hear him laugh. Plo Koon looked too amused for the whole situation. Howl, for his part, beamed proudly.

Only Wolfpack could be complimented for their howling capabilities.

"Eh, what of it?" Wolffe told himself as he began to climb, watching the Jedi help Tinker and Howl, "Wolfpack's just unique."


A/N: I'm not sure on the next chapter yet. I've got a few ideas, but I've been distracted with Bad Batch recently. :D