We are racing through the forest, tracking Taisley's scent. We have left hours ago, yet we haven't found anything. I refuse to give up hope, though. I have to find her. Even though it seems hopeless. Even though I'm starting to think that I'll never find her. Even…oh, stop it, Buck! Pull yourself together!

We keep on running, following the scent. I don't notice anything else, even my own hunger, until my stomach growls. I'd rather ignore the hunger and keep on searching. Unfortunately, dad hears my stomach. "Buck, stop an' eat somethin'," dad suggests.

"No! We 'ave ta keep searching!" I argue.

"Buck, ya should eat. Yer mothah, too. I'll scout ahead an' see if I can find 'er. I'll come back ta get ya. I promise," dad replies.

I lower my head in defeat. "Fine," I sigh. Dad smiles before he runs off.

I go and gather some fruit. I set it out on a log. Mom starts to eat first. I try to eat, but the truth is, I'm a nervous wreck. My nervousness is making me feel sick, certainly too sick to eat. I place my half-eaten fruit down. Mom notices my lack of food intake. "Are ya alright? Ya didn't eat much," mom inquires.

I feel hot and cold. I'm literally shaking from anxiety. "I…I don't know…I…I don't really…feel so good…" I groan.

My stomach seizes up. When the lurch comes, I dart off into the forest. A little ways away, I stop. I collapse onto my knees and begin vomiting in the grass. I feel a paw touch my shoulder. I know that it's my mother. She must've followed me. I disregard her for the moment. I heave and retch as I continue to bring up the contents of my stomach. I cough as I begin to choke on the vomit that's rising in my throat. I feel mom begin to pat my back to help stop my choking.

When I finish vomiting, I wipe my arm over my face. I'm breathing heavily. I look over to mom. She has worry in her eyes. "Are ya alright, now?" Mom asks.

I slowly nod my head. "'m fine, mom. I just…It's too much. Th' stress…It's too much…" I mumble.

"I understand, Buck," mom replies. She wraps her arms around me and pulls me into a hug.

"If…if anything 'appens ta 'er…I'll nevah forgive myself…" I let out a whimper, while wrapping my own arms around mom to return her hug.

"I know…I know…" Mom pats my back soothingly.

I bury my face into her fur as I begin to cry. My cries soon turn into sobs. I sniffle and whimper, the tears running down my cheek. Mom strokes my back, trying to soothe me. "Shhh…don't cry. It'll be alright…It'll be alright…" Mom whispers into my ear.

I choke on my sobs. "Please…don't leave me…mom…" I whimper. I bury myself deeper into mom's arms.

"I won't leave ya. I promise," mom assures me.

After a few minutes, I stop crying. I sniffle and wipe the tears away from my face. I look up at mom, my face reddening from embarrassment. "'m sorry ya 'ad ta see me vomit…" I whisper.

"Buck, it's 'kay. There's nothing ta be ashamed of. An' before ya say anything, there's no reason ta be ashamed of cryin' either," mom argues.

I nod my head. I finally let a smile come across my face. "Thanks, mom. Um…maybe we should get back," I suggest, referring to the place that I just ran from when I had to vomit.

Mom smiles when she sees my own smile. "Alright," mom agrees. We get up and start heading back. Hopefully, dad will return with some good news.

When we return, dad isn't back yet. Thankfully, we only have to wait for a very short time before dad reappears. He has a somewhat happier look. I can only assume that he does have some good news. "I found out where Taisley is bein' held. She's tied up in a cave 'bout a mile away. I'll show ya where 't is," dad finishes.

"Did ya see Thomas there?" I ask. I can barely say his name without growling. I hate him. It doesn't matter that he was my brother. I hate him so much.

"No. I didn't see 'im," dad answers me.

"Alright. Please, show me where that cave is," I request. Dad nods his head. He runs off, with mom and I following. Soon, we will find Taisley and free her from my brother's evil clutches.

After a while of running, we make our way just outside of the cave that dad told us about. I turn to mom and dad. "Stay 'ere. I'll go inside an' get Tais out of there," I speak up in a low whisper. If Thomas is in there, I don't want him to hear me.

"But Buck…" Mom begins.

"Just think of 't this way. If ya stay 'ere, then, if I get into trouble, ya can be my backup," I point out.

"True," dad agrees.

I smile a little. I dart off into the cave, my ears twitching in all directions. I'm listening for any nearby danger. When I get inside the cave, I immediately see Taisley. Her front and hind paws are tied up behind her. Her mouth is taped shut.

I run towards her. I cut through the ropes. I take the tape off of her face. "Get out! It's a trap!" Taisley gasps.

My eye widens. Before I can say or do anything, I hear the sound of falling stones. I turn around. Standing there, with a smirk on his face, is Thomas. "Ah…so ya actually showed up…I thought ya might, considering ya 'ave a pregnant mate ta look after…" Thomas gives a cruel laugh.

I growl. I get into a fighting crouch, preparing myself to do battle with my brother. Thomas growls and lunges at me. I dodge him. When Thomas crashes into the rock wall (caused by me dodging him), I throw myself at him. I bite him in the shoulder, my teeth hitting the bone. Thomas yowls.

He reaches forward towards something that I can't see. I don't have the time to react before I feel a sharp pain in the right side of my chest. I yowl, releasing Thomas in the process. Thomas flips me over. He stabs me in the arms and stomach repeatedly. I keep yowling, screaming from the pain.

Suddenly, Thomas' weight is lifted from me. Through my blurry vision, I see dad fighting Thomas. I hear footsteps rushing towards me. I look to see both mom and Taisley coming up to me. I open my mouth and try to speak, only to yowl as more pain shoots through me.

"Buck, ya will be alright. We'll 'elp ya," mom strokes my forehead.

"'t…'t 'urts…so much…" I whimper. Tears are gathering in the corner of my eye.

"I know, Buck. Don't worry. We'll get you back home," Taisley is the one speaking now. My tears begin to fall. Taisley wipes them away with her paw. I try to stay awake, but the blood loss becomes too much. My vision starts to become blurry, before it turns dark.