Nightmoon was restless, the sun would be setting soon and she and her pack would go to the meeting she announced. And she would have to speak. Had she not been so mad, the new alpha would have been terrified. But Nightmoon continuously found herself visiting the sight of the bones, which kept her anger levels high, and it kept her from backing out. One last time. She thought and slipped out of camp. Many stares followed her as she left, but no one questioned the she-wolf.

Familiar flares of anger pierced Nightmoon when she entered the clearing full of bones. The scent of StarPack still echoed in the area. It was fading, being replaced with her own, from all her visits. By a stroke of luck, NightPack managed to catch up with the herd of deer. However they weren't able to catch as many, for they had to leave a few to keep the population up. Killing off a local herd would do the wolf packs no good.

The disk of the sun touched the dark horizon, casting a golden light that slanted through the empty trees. The trampled snow began to shimmer. With one last claw swipe at the creamy bones, Nightmoon turned around and trotted back to her pack. The snow slowed her progress, sticking to her feet and ankles. She arrived to the pack to find Berry pacing back and forth.

"Nightmoon!" The slim she-wolf sprang foreword, bounded over to Nightmoon. "Where have you been? NightPack needs to leave soon!" An apologetic grin covered the alpha's face.

"Sorry, but I'm here now shall we leave?" Nightmoon turned and began to walk to Cliff rock. She pivoted and faced the healer again. "Wait, who should walk to this gathering? Less than normal I suppose." Berry laid her tail gently on Nightmoon's shoulders.

"Whoever you feel is right." The wolfess with white markings swallowed and trudged with a slower pace to Cliff rock. Throwing back her head, Nightmoon let out a howl that echoed through the air. Heads turned to attention, and spotlight on her.

"As you know I called a Moonlight Meeting tonight with the other packs. We must call out Starpack for their trespassing and prey-stealing, and on a lighter note, Nightpack will establish a truce with one of the Cosmos packs. Tonight I will be accompanied by Berry, Bat, Bloom, Light Jasper, Midnight, Rain and Stone." She nodded her head and leapt down from the rock. A miniscule group separating themselves from the rest. Nightmon assured calling the metting then appearing with a small group would be non-threatening. Not appearing meek. With a swish of her fluffy tail, Nightmoon set out to the gathering place, chosen ones following behind.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*meeting_place*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

A sea of white and gold was already milling about when NightPack arrived. Instantly, Nightmoon was able to pick out Icesun and Eaglesky, the alphas of Sun and SkyPack. With no signals, the black wolf pack charged into the crowd. Nightmoon strutted directly to the front, placing herself alongside the other two present leaders.

"Greetings. Icesun, Eaglesky." The black she-wolf dipped her head respectfully to each alpha.

"Greetings, Night." Eaglesky responded calmly. Icesun just set his icy gaze upon the newcomer.

"Nightmoon." She corrected in formal tone. The golden brute took in a sharp audible breath.

"I apologize for being so rude, Nightmoon. I'm sorry for your loss. Stormmoon was a good soul." The white-toed wolf nodded silently, memories of the late gray-eyed alpha flashed by. Eaglesky nudged Nightmoon, she flashed a smile, yellow-amber eyes shining.

"Nightmoon, I'm sure you will be a wonderful leader, Stormmoon left his pack in good paws." The black wolfess smiled at the white wolfess.

"Thank you, Eaglesky." The lean alpha nodded and opened her mouth to speak again, but stopped as she peered upward. Nightmoon followed her gaze to see a fluffy cloud of gray swarm moving elegantly to the clearing. They were all hard to distinguish, except for the eyes, bright yellow beacons in the shadows of the night. One wolf was distinct however, Featherstar, slightly taller than the rest, with a jauntier walk. The brute, kept a steely look in his blue-gray eyes. With a curt nod the jaunty wolf leapt up onto the rock with the other leader, distance in his eyes.

"Greetings. Why is my pack here?"

"Good evening Featherstar." Nightmoon chipped in quickly before the others could greet the Starpack alpha.

"Evening." Ice green eyes wide, Nightmoon resisted baring her teeth, though she could feel her ears tensing backward. He blew her off! The brute scanned the crowd, not making eye contact with the others. The fluffy male turned to Nightmoon,

"Moonpack called the gathering, why are we here? And if it's merely a ceremony to grieve Stormmoon, I shall be leaving. Do not waste my pack's time. Or mine." His ears perked up countering her suspicious set black ones.

"No one from Moonpack would dare waste your precious time. My name is Nightmoon. I have called a gathering of the pack on important business." The black she-wolf adjusted her stance, standing taller and stiffer, tail curling at the end. As a side note she added, "And I suggest you watch your tone." Her voice rasped as she held back a growl. "My pack is undeserving of your disrespect, Stormmoon especially. He was a good leader, one who all the packs will grieve." Her eyes narrowed.

Featherstar's tail curled at the end, raising up above the earth. It was slow and subtle, but his pale lips drew back into a snarl.

"You challenge me?"

Hi! Sorry this update is late... but if no one is reviewing and I don't feel panicked ^.^ Which is good because between all my other stories I could feel overwhelmed quickly. (Not to mention finding time to plot new stories which I'm constantly coming up with, and my original ideas Urg! So many!) But anyways, this weekend I decided that I wanted to update all my stories with at least one chapter. So hope you enjoyed this chapter! And review!

~Skystar