When we get back from the place where we received Thomas' message, we go straight to my parents. Shale watches the kits when we pull my mom and dad aside. I show them the message. "Thomas is back. He wants ta kill everyone that I love. 'm guessing that 'e means Taisley an' th' kits," I explain.
My parents both appear to be surprised. Dad is the first to snap out of it. "Buck, I know that you're afraid fer yer mate an' kits. I can see 't in yer eye. Don't worry, son. We won't let anything 'appen ta them," dad promises me.
I look down, my ears lowered. "I know ya will try, but anything could 'appen. I…I don't want anything ta 'appen ta Taisley an' th' kits. Especially wi' new li'l ones on th' way. 'e…'e already killed Silver…I…" I break off, my voice choked. Tears have begun to fall from my left eye.
Dad wraps his arms around me. I bury my face into his fur as I begin sobbing. Dad holds me to him tightly as I cry. I'm shaking with my sobs. Dad strokes my back with a paw. He's whispering soothing words into my ear as I cry. I whimper and choke on my sobs.
After a while, I stop crying. I'm still whimpering, though, as I try to calm down. Dad continues to stroke my back until my whimpers, too, begin to subside. I look up at dad, the tears still on my face. Dad swipes a paw under my eye, wiping my remaining tears away. "Don't worry, Buck. Yer mate an' kits will be just fine. We will make sure of that," dad strokes my forehead with a paw.
I look down. "Thanks. I…'m sorry 'bout cryin'…" I mumble.
"Buck, there's no shame in cryin'. Even th' strongest of us cry at times. It's alright," dad smiles softly at me.
I look over at Taisley. She's standing off to the side with a worried look on her face. "Are ya alright?" I ask.
"Yeah. I'm just worried about what he could do to us. I'm pregnant. I'm worried about our unborn kits," Taisley explains.
I wrap my arms around Taisley and hug her. "I love ya, Tais. I won't let anything 'appen ta ya. I promise," I whisper into Taisley's ear.
Taisley hugs me back just as tight, if not tighter. "I know you will protect me. I trust you," she replies.
When we pull apart, I look at my parents. "We should get back ta th' kits," I start.
Mom and dad both nod their heads. "Alright, son. Just be safe," dad replies.
"We both will," I call back as we start heading back towards our cave.
When we get there, I have Shale leave. Taisley and I need to speak to our kits alone. When the kits are sitting and able to pay attention, I begin. "Kits, we 'ave some news. Remember when I told ya 'bout Silver's death? Thomas, th' one that did 't, he's back. We got a note from 'im. Because of that, I want all of ya ta stay in th' cave fer a while. We 'ave ta take care of th' threat. It'd be easier if ya were all safe an' sound," I explain.
"We understand, daddy. Can I ask ya something, though?" Talo asks.
"Sure," I reply.
"Can ya maybe plant some flowers inside th' cave? If we're gonna be stuck inside, I want something ta brighten th' cave," Talo finishes.
"Well, that seems do-able. We'll plant some soon," I smile at our kits.
"Yeah!" All four kits squeal.
Then, suddenly, Whisper gasps. She clutches the spot where her heart is located. "Wot's wrong?" I ask my daughter.
Whisper finally looks at me, gasping for breath. "You're right! He is coming! I…I see him behind my eyes! Brown fur…light crème underbelly…blue eyes…he's coming!" Whisper gasps.
"We…we nevah told ya wot 'e looks like…" I'm completely shocked by how Whisper knows so much.
"I saw him in my mind!" Whisper wails. I see tears of fear standing in her eyes.
I pull Whisper into a hug. I feel her tears begin to dampen my fur. I stroke Whisper's back soothingly. "Don't worry 'bout 't. We'll handle 'im. Ya won't 'ave ta be afraid," I whisper into my daughter's ear.
Whisper calms down. She looks up at me. "I'm sorry, daddy. I don't want you to worry about anything," she speaks up.
"Whisper, we love ya. 'm no' mad at ya," I soothe her. Whisper sniffles and wipes her eyes. She nods her head.
I smile. I look outside, noticing just how dark it's getting. I look back to the kits. "Come on. It's time fer bed," I tell them. Taisley and I bring the kits to their nests. We tuck them in. We kiss them goodnight. It isn't long before they fall asleep.
Taisley and I curl up on our nest. I squirm closer to Taisley. I nuzzle her face. "Goodnight, Tais," I whisper into her ear.
Taisley yawns. "Goodnight, Buck," Taisley whispers back. She closes her eyes and falls asleep. I watch Taisley sleep for a while. I close my own eye. I am also asleep within seconds.
The next day, I am off by myself, catching some fish. Taisley said that she was going to have a girls' day out with my mom. We decided to leave the kits with Dad, Shale, Raven, and Splash. The only reason that we have that many to kit-sit is for protection. That way, there won't be as much danger towards the kits.
When I return, my catch of five fish hung over my shoulder, Taisley isn't there. I put the fish down and look around. It doesn't look like Taisley has been here at all since this morning. It's already in the afternoon. She should've been here by now.
I go to my parents' cave. Mom and dad are both there. Now, I am very worried. If mom is here, then where's Taisley? I go up to them. "Where's Taisley?" I ask.
"She should be in th' cave. Wait…she's no' there?" Mom asks. I can tell that she's starting to get worried, too.
"No…" I answer. I'm starting to shake from fear. I can only imagine what could've happened to my mate. With her being pregnant, I am especially worried. Before my parents can say anything else, I dart out of the cave. I need to find Taisley, and fast!
I begin to track her scent. I dart around the bushes until I finally pick up her scent trail. I run off in the direction that I know Taisley went. I hear a sound of a branch breaking behind me. I turn to see that my parents have followed me. I turn away from them and concentrate on searching for Taisley.
A mile away from the cave, I see a strange sight. It is a cage collapsed on the ground. I look around. I can clearly see that the cage was once suspended. It is a cage that was meant to fall and capture whoever tripped the trap.
I go into the cage. I sniff around it. I catch two scents. One is Taisley's scent. The other, I know, belongs to Thomas. That's when I know and understand. Thomas has my mate. She is in the sort of danger that I was hoping to keep away from her.
I look down, tears falling from my eye. I look at my parents, who are standing behind me. "She's gone…Thomas 'as 'er…" I whisper. I swallow, trying to stop more tears from falling. I dart out of the cage and begin sniffing around the area. I can feel panic rising within me. I'm breathing heavily.
Mom and dad run towards me. They grab me into their arms. I try to pull away. My mom and dad's grip tightens. "Calm down, son. We will find 'er," dad tries to comfort me.
"Calm down?! 'ow do ya expect me ta calm down?! Taisley is missing! I may nevah get 'er back alive!" I wail. I bite my lip, trying to stop crying. I let out a high-pitched whine.
Dad strokes my head. "Go ahead an' cry. It's alright," dad whispers into my ear.
I don't need anymore invitation. I begin crying, softly at first. My cries turn into sobs. I bury my face into dad's fur as I cry. I'm shaking with my sobs. I begin whimpering. Dad hugs me tighter. I cling to dad, seeking some much needed comfort.
When, finally, I stop crying, I pull away from dad. I wipe the tears away from my eye. I sniffle and look up at dad. My eye is filled with distress. Dad can see it clearly. "Don't worry, Buck. We'll find 'er," dad claps a paw on my shoulder.
I nod my head. "Thanks," I whisper. We get up from our position on the ground. Then, we continue to follow the scent trail. Soon, we'll find Taisley. I will do everything in my power to save her, even if it costs me my life.