A/N: Hi, hi! Thought I'd wait an entire month or so to update? Nah. I just wanted to see if I left anyone on the edge of their seats and then make you mad. I actually would've had it up even sooner, but grandmother's funeral came up, mom wants a birthday party, and then I wasn't satisfied with how long the chapter was. Ugh.

In this chapter is a scene between Hayden and Jake that I kinda found as a waste of time, but I think it'll help those who want to get closer to who the traitor is.

Also, if I have any fellow Animals of Farthing Wood fans reading, there's a slight dig at a scene between Bold and one of the blue foxes.

So! Previous chapter: Luna's been kidnapped and taken to Southern territory where she will be killed when the full moon reaches its highest point. Or is she? And who is the traitor? (who am I kidding? My big mouth gave away we've been betrayed). I'll give you hint: expect the unexpected.

Sorry! I'm trying not to make these Authors Notes too long, but they're so important!

Kate walked through the Eastern territory. She was on her way to Salty's den. She was having trouble with Hayden's fur and needed to ask his mate what to use (she had forgotten). Kate felt guilty. She couldn't remember Salty's wife's name! Charlotte? Carlotta? No, that was their daughter. Margaret? No. Wasn't that her best friend's name?

Kate shook her head. All this thinking had nearly made her walk into a tree. Kate giggled at herself and walked around the tree. I'm sure Salty's mate's name will come back to me soon she told herself.

Kate had gone to Eastern territory to pick up some good pine-combs. From here, she had to cross the main river to reach Salty's den. But the place was creepy and depressing. Especially alone. So Kate wanted to go around it, through the forest.

She leaped over the river cutting through the center of the forest. She squeaked and then giggled after landing in a pile of dead leaves.

Kate shook the brown and red leaves out of her fur and trotted on. She couldn't help but let her eyes stray to the waterfall. It was less creepy since she didn't have to worry about Eastern wolves jumping her.

But what Kate saw was worse than trespassers. She stopped and looked at something that was beside the waterfall. It was something big and red and had sticky fur. She had to squint to see it better.

Slowly, Kate began to recognize it as a wolf. Then it started to look like Garth. Except, this wolf was smaller and both left legs were completely red and both right legs were completely white.

"Oh my…Troy!" Kate gasped, dropping her pinecone. She leapt over the bush and raced to her nephew's side. He was so messy, she barely recognized him!

Please don't let it be blood, please don't let it be blood, please don't let it be blood, please don't let it be blood! Kate chanted in her head.

Unfortunately, Kate's hopes were the opposite of the results she found. Troy was drenched with blood. Not all of it was his, but when Kate nudged him with her nose, his head limply rolled into his right paw. His other paw was covering his emerald eyes.

"Kate!"

Humphrey's voice sounded from behind her. Humphrey poked his head out from the bush Kate had hidden behind. The branches surrounded his head, making him look like he had a lion's mane.

"Kate! Glad I found 'ya. Hayden needs you to—" Humphrey cut himself off as he saw Kate, wide-eyed and crouching over something drenched with scarlet.

"Oh my gosh!" Humphrey exclaimed, racing to her side. A few bush twigs still clung to his neck fur. He finally recognized the unconscious mound of fur and his eyes widened too. "Wha—what happened?"

"I don't know! I—I was just—just walking by—and I just saw him like that! I didn't see anything!" Kate's voice became very squeaky.

"What'll we do?" Humphrey asked.

"We have to find Lilly. And Garth," Kate said determinedly. Her voice had returned to normal. "And my mom. I'll go."

"What should I do while you're gone?" Humphrey asked as she began to run off.

Kate halted and looked over her shoulder. "Try to clean up his wounds!"

"With—" Humphrey was interrupted as his mate ran off and out of sight. "—with what?"

Humphrey looked around. He then growled at himself. "Am I stupid?" he asked aloud, half-expecting Troy to answer. Humphrey dug his teeth into Troy's scruff and dragged the young Alpha into the river. "Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew," Humphrey muttered as he tasted the blood. He continued to mutter as he stood knee-high in the river and the sticky liquid washed off and flowed into his legs.

"Not all of this is his?" Humphrey wondered aloud. "Cool! Who would've guessed I'd be the uncle to a scrapper?"

Kate ran through the valley. She had searched nearly everywhere for her sister and her mate. But they were no where to be found! Kate asked everyone she saw if they'd seen Garth or Lilly. But to no avail. Kate had decided to go to her parents. She knew they were in their den because they had told her in person after Head-Alpha training.

Finally knowing someone was where she thought, Kate started running at top speed.

She saw Shakey and Janice's son, Lucas walking past her. Instinctively, she asked him while still running, "Have you seen Garth and or Lilly?"

"Yeah. Who hasn't?"

Kate sighed with disappointment. "Wait—what?" she squeaked, skidding to a halt and whipping around to face him.

Luke stopped and looked at her over his shoulder like she was crazy. "Um…yeah? Who doesn't know where they went."

"Apparently me," Kate replied. She walked closer to the young Omega. "Where did they go?"

"How have you not heard?" Luke's chocolate eyes suddenly darkened. "They heard from my dad that Luna was taken hostage by the Northern pack. They went to go take her back."

Kate's eyes widened. "The Northern pack has Luna?"

Luke nodded. "Isn't it awful?"

Kate tried to take deep breaths. "Very…okay, I want you to go to my parents' den and send them to the main river. Luna's brother is there and he needs healing. Tell them Humphrey and I went to help Lilly and Garth."

Kate prepared to run back to her mate but Luke made her stop. "Wait!" he hesitated as she looked at him over her shoulder. "Um…are you sure you want to go with Lilly and Garth? I mean…I'm sure they can handle it. After all, it is their daughter."

"But Lilly is my sister, Luna is my niece, and Garth is my friend," Kate argued. "Just do what I said. Trust me, I've got this." And she turned and fled, unable to let Luke stop her again.

"Oh dad…" Luke shook his head before reluctantly obeying his future Head-Alpha.

Troy felt something wet and soft pressed against his forehead. He felt water trickle into his mouth and slide down his throat.

Troy coughed and blinked rapidly. He sat up, feeling slightly confused of what had happened. He saw all three of his grandparents surrounding him. Eve had wet moss pressed against his forehead.

"Troy! You're alive!" Winston exclaimed.

Troy felt a little dazed. "Where am I?"

"At the waterfall, by the main river," Eve explained, trying to sound motherly. "What happened to you, dear?"

Troy's head was aching. It ached twice as much as everything from yesterday came flooding back to him. "Luna! She's been taken hostage! I have to find mom and dad!"

Troy leapt to his paws and was scrambling to run to his den, but Eve bit into his tail and Winston blocked the way with his paw.

"Easy there," Winston was cut off as his grandson growled with frustration.

"I will not be easy! My sister is in trouble!"

"Calm down!" Eve snapped. She slapped a paw on the back of Troy's neck. He yelped and finally sat still. "Now, stay still so I can work properly," Eve said, calmer now. She pressed spider webs to Troy's wounds and cooled his head with some more wet moss.

"As for Luna, don't fret my boy," Winston went on. Tony tried to make himself useful by nodding every now and then. "Your parents went to fetch her from Northern territory. Your aunt and uncle are right behind them should the Northerners react with hostility."

Troy sighed with relief and accepted his grandmother's treatments, relaxed. Then he thought about his grandfather's words and comprehended them, making him tense again. "Wait…Northern?"

Tony and Winston nodded.

"No. Oh no, no, no, no, no," Troy scrambled to stand again. Eve caught his tail again.

"Whoa, there rabbit foot," her muffled voice came through tail fur. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To Northern pack territory! It's a trap!" Troy replied in a rushed tone.

Tony and Winston stood up, fighting panic. "What's a trap?" Tony demanded.

"Luna! They took her to Southern pack territory! Who told mom and dad to go to Northern?" he asked, wondering who would be so stupid!

"Luke said he heard it from his dad," Eve seemed to be addressing Winston and Tony.

"Who's his dad?" Tony didn't exactly remember too much when it came to Omegas.

"Shakey, Humphrey's friend," Winston answered before turning to Troy. "How do you know this, Troy?"

"Because I was there!" Troy's voice was rising from the fear he felt for his family. "I was there when they took her! I tried to help her, but they just threw me away! Literally!"

"How did they take her? When was this?" Eve abandoned the moss completely as her claws slid out.

"They—" Troy cut himself off. Should he tell them about Logan and Luna's meetings? No. Not now. "Er…we were exploring the forest above the waterfall. Not even that near the border. They jumped out of nowhere and just took her. They told me I had to tell my folks to go to Seth's mother's den to get her. And I had only until the full moon tomorrow to get her before they killed her!" It hurt Troy's head even more to remember all of this. He blamed the bump he could feel on top.

"Was Shakey with you? Or Luke?" Winston asked.

Troy shook his head. His expression gave away he didn't even know how that was involved.

"Then how did they hear…" Winston shook his head. "Never mind. Obviously one of these is a trap. Eve, you, Tony and I will take Candu with us to Southern territory. We'll have to do our best to get Luna back. We'll send Hutch to warn Kate and the others."

Eve nodded and flexed her claws.

"Troy," Tony continued for Winston. "You will stay here with Hayden and watch over the Omegas. Eve, you're the fastest here. Go gather our Alphas. Former Eastern ones go with us. Former Western ones will go with Hutch."

All these orders so fast was making Troy's head spin! Ache or no ache!

"Wait—what do I do?"

"You stay with Hayden—"

Troy cut off Winston again by holding up a paw. "Oh, no. I heard you. Do you expect me to stay here?" Troy tried to ignore the tearing of his heart as he reminded himself of his sister. For all he knew, she could be getting tortured and pulled limb from limb just for Seth to have a decent laugh!

"Yes and you must," Eve declared.

"No way! That's my sister and my parents and my uncle/aunt. My family! As well as yours," he added, remembering these wolves were related to all of them too.

"Troy, Hayden needs someone to help her guard the pack," Tony argued. "You and your former classmates will be the only Alphas left in the pack."

"Start going, Eve," Winston told his mate. "We don't have much time! The full moon is tonight!"

"Wha…I thought it was yesterday!" Troy exclaimed.

"No. It's been tonight. You were out all night yesterday," Winston replied.

Then why had Luke asked Luna yesterday?

Eve jumped over Troy and disappeared in the trees. "Troy, you find Hayden," Winston ordered. "Tell her and your friends that they will be guarding the pack from a possible attack by themselves tonight."

Why not just tell them to stay calm after saying they're each having a stroke? Troy thought bitterly.

Winston and Tony raced after Eve. They were probably going to fetch Hutch and Candu.

Troy sat there, staring at the shadows where his grandparents had disappeared. He was torn. He knew it was his duty to obey his grandparents and care for the pack while they were gone. But he had to care for his family too! Sure, he had his cousins there still and they felt like an extra brother and sister, but it wouldn't be the same.

But Troy wasn't alone. That was Hayden and Jake's family flinging themselves into danger as well.

Troy finally made a decision. He stood up determinedly before darting towards the Hunting Valley.

Luke pawed through the bush branches. The sun was setting at last and he had been sent out to find pine-combs for his friends since they were too lazy to do so themselves.

Luke jerked his head out of the thorns and branches when he heard paw steps coming at him at top speed. It was a red and white wolf with completely red left legs and completely white right legs. Troy! What did the future Head-Alpha want now? Be nice to him, Luke told himself. He's Luna's brother. And a protective one…

Troy skidded to a halt in front of the gray-brown Omega, panting like crazy. "Luke!" he breathed. "Have you seen Hayden anywhere? I need to see her. Fast."

"Okay eager beaver," Luke muttered. To Troy, he said, "Nope."

Troy growled and clawed at the unfortunate grass below him. Something snapped in his mind. "How did your dad know about my sister getting attacked?"

Luke seemed shocked at the question. Troy noticed he was being oddly fearful. In fact, now that he'd given it some thought, Luke had been jumpy around all the Alphas that day.

"Do you know something we don't?" he asked the Omega suspiciously.

"Me? I'm nothing but a useless Omega," Luke rolled his eyes. "What secrets could possibly be shared with me?"

Troy still couldn't help but feel that something wasn't right within his pack…

"So…is your sister alright?" Luke fretted.

Troy sighed. "I wouldn't know," he responded crossly. "For all we know, she could be used as a Seth's chew toy." Troy shuddered at the thought. Luke did the same.

What am I thinking? Troy growled at himself in his head. I can trust my packmates! If not, who? Besides, if I had any reason to be suspicious, it couldn't be Luke. He likes my sister! As in…like, like. It was tough for a brother as protective as Troy to admit that his sister was involved in a love triangle.

"Thanks for your time either way, Luke," Troy dipped his head before bounding away. At the last moment, he slowed to a stop. He thought about something before turning to look at Luke. "If you see Hayden…" he seemed to be regretting whatever he'd decided. "Tell her she's in charge of the pack until I get back."

Luke looked puzzled, but nodded and dashed away.

"If I come back…" Troy murmured before turning and hared off in the opposite direction.

Hayden walked up the hill. She saw where there was a whole stash of logs. Great for log sledding.

Tonight was her first Moonlight Howl. It made Hayden feel like she was growing up…and too fast. The idea made her sentimental. Whenever she was sentimental, she would walk around and look at decent logs to remember the good times when she was younger and carefree and could log-sled with her family willy-nilly.

Hayden suddenly saw a gold-tan form at the bottom of the hill, opposite of where she had just came. She immediately recognized the light gray chest/underbelly and black ears.

"Jake!" she exclaimed. Her brother came up across from her, panting his heart out. "You okay? What's the rush?"

"Urgent stuff!" Jake barked. "Luna's been kidnapped! Troy ran away! Mom and Dad are about to fall into a trap! You're the only one who can protect the pack!" he panted some more before shaking the terrorized look in his eyes. "So how was your day?"

"What?"

"I thought so." Panic returned in Jake's dark blue eyes.

"How—how did this—?"

"I don't know!"

"And mom and dad…?"

"I know!"

"But—!"

"Exactly! But rumor has it there's a traitor in our midst. And that uncle Shakey set them up…" Jake said softly.

"Why would—?" Hayden loved the idea she didn't even have to finish a sentence for her brother to get what she was saying.

"Don't know," Jake shrugged. "But how else would he tell Aunt Lilly and Uncle Garth that Luna was captured?"

Hayden shook her head and thought carefully. Shakey would never betray his best friend! "Uncle Shakey's been framed," she decided aloud.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, why would he threaten the lives of dad? They've been best friends since…well longer than he was with mom."

Jake's eyes widened. "That's a long time."

Hayden nodded in agreement. "But I do believe someone's betrayed us. Someone had to set up mom and dad…"

"I love how your mind is so smart!" Jake commented. He flopped into a laying down position and watched his sister think with his head on his paws.

"Well…" it had been a long time since Hayden had helped solve a mystery. "Who did you hear this from?"

"Maggie. Who heard it from Carlotta who heard it from Delilah who heard it from Brock who heard it from Lyra who heard it from Jen who heard it from Angie who heard it from Dixie who heard it from Brad who heard it from Sarah who heard it from—"

"Okay I get it!" Hayden snapped. "It a rumor that's been spreading…hmm. Well, who did Uncle Shakey tell first?"

"No one knows. My guess is Luke. He is his son."

"Huh…"

Something is not right here! Hayden thought. It's time to question other witnesses. Hayden turned to find Luke.

"Where are you going?" Jake jumped to his paws.

"To find Luke."

"He's not here."

Hayden stopped. She looked at her littermate over her shoulder. "What?"

"Yeah. Luke went with Troy to assist Grandma and Grandpa. Not that they need it. They took half the Alphas with them!"

Hayden thought this over for a moment. Luke was her only hope of stopping whoever was disturbing her trust in her packmates. What if it's Jake…?

With one look back at her brother who was scratching behind his ear, Hayden stomped down hard on her own paw. How could she think such things? Not even Jake was crazy enough to betray his fellow traitors. Hayden shook her head.

Am I the only one who suffers from being smart? she wailed mentally.

The white wolf shivered as bitter wind sliced through her open wounds like icy claws. She whimpered.

"It's okay," assured a voice near her. A gentle mass of fur crawled on top of her and tried to be a wolf blanket for her.

The female tried to thank him, but all that came out was a sneeze as a sole water droplet dropped onto her nose.

"Bless you. Stupid leaks. Mother never did have a good parental sense," the male joked. "I was born here you know. Ma was desperate."

"It's lovely…in a way."

"Only if you tilt your head and close one eye and cover the other one."

The female laughed. But it was more at herself who'd actually obeyed.

The male turned his head to the cave entrance and saw a light gray wolf with a black head replace the current wolf sitting there. He nudged the white wolf. "Hey! Look. There swapping guards."

The female looked at the entrance with gloomy eyes. "Logan, what's so great about that?"

"It's Roger," Logan replied. "He's one of the most naïve wolves here. Just watch."

Logan waited for the first wolf to leave earshot completely before letting out a long, mournful howl. Luna jumped with surprise.

"What's up with you?" Roger asked, sounding a little annoyed.

"It's the prisoner! She's dying!"

"I am?"

"Shh!"

Luna clamped her jaws shut and watched.

"Dying? But how?" Roger was standing up now. He looked into the cave, but it was too dark for him to see them clearly.

"Seth must've wounded her too badly. She's bleeding her life away!" Logan yelped dramatically. He stepped on Luna's red tail, making her howl with pain.

Roger was surprised. "Her life? But…but can't she wait? At least until Seth comes back? He's only gone to Northern pack territory."

Luna was finally catching on. "I…I see something…bright! And Grandma!"

"I think he'll be too late…!" Logan whined to Roger. He whispered to Luna, "When I say go, you run like a mad moose! Got it?"

"Only if you're behind me!" Luna whispered back, determinedly.

"Fine."

Roger was starting to put cautious paws into the cave.

"I think she's…going…" Logan said dramatically.

Roger was moving closer, faster. "Going where?" he asked.

"To heaven, you stupid dimbo!" Logan snapped.

Luna's eyes widened. She might've not been the best actor, but she knew that wasn't the best thing to say!

Luckily, Roger didn't hear much past 'heaven'. "But…can't you just hold on? For at least two more minutes? He should be done killing those Alphas by now."

By now, Roger was dangerously close to seeing Luna tense and slide her claws out.

Logan elbowed her roughly. "Not yet," he hissed.

"I…I'm losing her!" Logan wailed. "Stay with us Luna!"

"Can't…resist…grandmother…" Luna rasped, lying down on her side.

"Don't push it," Logan muttered.

"Sorry," Luna whispered back. She let out short, ragged, gasps for breaths. Logan was so convinced, he thought she really was dying.

Roger was walking right in front of them by now.

"She's…gone…" Logan breathed as if seeing Luna die was the most beautiful thing ever. Logan scratched at the floor anxiously as Luna didn't get that that was the signal.

"As in…you're going! Right now!"

"Oh!" Luna finally got the message. She leapt to her paws and raced out of the cave in the blink of an eye. Logan was hot on her heels. Roger yelped with surprise as he was toppled over by Logan, who had pushed him.

The pair disappeared from the cave. Roger appeared in the entrance. He growled. "Hey! Hey!" He yelled to the other Seth followers. "The prisoners have escaped! I repeat! The prisoners are escaping!"

Luna and Logan were both surprised at how many of Seth's followers had been so close. They were all hot on their tails in a matter of seconds after Roger's call.

But Luna was faster. She managed to slow down enough for Logan to pull ahead of her. She'd be fine if she could sprint at the speed she could. Logan was slower. She had to keep an eye on him.

Logan had panicked when Luna willingly slowed down. But he quickly caught on that she was only worried about him. He tried to flee as fast as he could to encourage her that he was fine. It was her they wanted!

The enemy wolves were following them frightening close. Most of the Southern wolves had dark colored pelts, making them look like shadows coming alive to team up against Logan.

Why did everything in the world have to be against Logan? He finds a girl that makes him happy and then Seth always swoops in and claws the happiness away like an eagle. Logan was sick of it! He'd rebel against Seth. He'd get Cheyenne back. But first, he had to make sure Luna was out of harms' way.

Logan led Luna into the dense woods. It was easy to lose someone in there (Logan would know). Logan tried his best to keep himself in Luna's sight but the trees and shrubs were packed so tightly together. He was getting farther from her, but her bright pelt was hard to miss. He hoped that wouldn't be a giveaway to Seth's followers too.

Logan panted. He was running very fast now. He was getting carried away. His mind was overtaken by memories of being a pup. Racing his brother, who was good back then. He picked up speed. He did fancy leaps over tree roots and rivers (so that a splash wouldn't giveaway his position by making noise).

It wasn't until Logan heard a scream from behind, that he remembered that this was the present. He had to protect Luna! Logan slid to a halt in the center of one of the few clearings. The rising moon shone on his gray pelt. It only reminded him of how beautiful Luna looked in moonlight…

Luna! Logan had thought she was still beside him! But she was gone!

Logan growled and stamped a paw on the ground with frustration and anger. "Stupid! Stupid! You stupid pup! Stupid memories, distracting me! I'm so stupid!"

"I'll say."

Logan whipped around. From the bushes emerged a red and white wolf. Logan's age.

"You! Troy, is it?"

Troy only snarled and crouched, ready to pounce. His claws gleamed in the moonlight.

"Now, now, I know you're upset, but—"

"Upset?" Troy spat. "After all this, you think I'm upset? No. I'm furious. I'm outraged. I am going to kill somebody—!"

"Okay…I get that you might think this is all my fault. I admit that—"

"Shut up!" Troy snapped. He wasn't in the mood to hear something he didn't feel would help. "Where are my parents? Where are my grandparents? Where is my sister?"

"Hey now," Logan held up a paw. He tried to keep Troy calm. "I know this looks bad. But believe me, I'm on your side. Luna certainly trusts me."

That made Troy hesitate to say more threats.

"And you trust Cheyenne, no? What makes me any different?"

Troy growled suspiciously, but sat down. "Your Seth's brother. But…Luna loves you. Knowing her, her judge of character hasn't failed. So what're you doing out here?"

"I was trying to help Luna escape," Logan sighed with disappoint with himself. "But Seth's followers came out of nowhere and I guess they caught her. I lost sight of her when we hit the heart of the forest."

Troy nodded in understanding. He looked up at the sky and saw the full moon. His emerald eyes widened.

"What? Missing your Moonlight Howl?" Logan asked. He felt bad. With all this going on, the event was most likely cancelled.

"No…" Troy's voice shook with something beyond terror. "It's the full moon. It's reached its highest point…."

Actually, it's 1:15 a.m. where I am, but I appreciate the concern! So? Who's the traitor? Give your opinion on my new poll on my profile!

Next chapter: Is Luna doomed to die? Who's fallen into a trap? What's happened to Cheyenne? Will Troy ever trust Logan? Will my Chihuahua ever learn to say more than 'huggles'? Whoops, gone off subject haven't I?

Look for the next chapter to find out! Except that last part. That you can learn in Chihuahuish Language class.