The dirt felt heavenly compared to the hard, burning pavement. Running in the summer was not exactly my most favorite activity. I slowed down to a trot and then a light jog, taking in the forest around me.

"Umie, fall in." My leader ordered me. I had no choice but to rejoin the pack. I pushed myself back up to a comfortable running speed and easily passed the slowest members of the group. I was by far the fastest-and only-girl in the pack, but you wouldn't hear any of the boys admitting that out loud. Don't push too hard. I shook my head violently, causing myself to trip over my own legs. I rolled head first into a tree. I recovered quickly and glared at my brother, Lucas. Don't do that when I'm running. I sent back, still glaring. I pushed hard and moved ahead of him, I was almost to the front of the pack now. The leader, Alcane, stopped suddenly. Of course his second knew what was happening and loped gracefully to a stop next to him. The rest of us were left to stumble over each other.

"My pack," Alcane started once he had shifted. "My brothers, my sister." He looked at me, "I have called this meeting to warn you all. Not only is a new pack moving in on our home, but there is another close group moving quickly towards us. We know not if either group is peaceful or vicious, but it would be best to avoid them nonetheless."

"But what about you? Don't you have to formally introduce everyone?" I asked. I immediately regretted my decision. Talking meant shifting back, and that meant I was vulnerable. Cook wasted no time in pouncing on top of me and pinning me down to the ground, snarling in my face. I broke rank, and I deserved to be punished.

"Cook, get off." Alcane commanded. Cook was off of me in less than a second and back at our leaders side.

"Umie, you know better than to break rank like that. Come now, you are no longer a pup!" Alcane had a way of reprimanding you, but making it soft and easy to swallow. I think thats what made him such a good leader.

"But sir, if I may that is.." I ducked my head and looked straight down, hoping my show of submission was enough.

"Continue."

"Thank you. Sir, if we ignore them, they could think that we're the hostile ones. They could form an attack based off of the wrong assumptions. Maybe if we meet these new packs, let them know we're here and this is our home, maybe they'd pass through quietly?" I finished my speech and instantly phased back, frightened of further punishment from Cook.

"An interesting point you bring up, Umie. We should allow you to speak freely more often, as I've never heard anything but good come from you and those you speak of you. You'll do well in this pack." I smiled to myself, but got a low growl from Cook. He was afraid of me overthrowing him from his spot. I sent back a blatent refusal to that. I wasn't interested in politics.

"Now, all in favor of meeting these groups?" A unanimous howl from the pack was our way of saying 'Aye'. Alcane shifted back and took the front position, howling himself once and running off at an alarming pace. Great, we were training now. I sneezed my distaste and pushed myself so that I was behind Cook the entire time. I could feel his anger and competitive side seeping out of him, if I wasn't careful, I would get bit. I fell back a spot or two and I felt his emotions calm down and his mind clear. He was refocused on the goal, our finish line.

I got an idea in my head. It was crazy, and I would most definitely get into loads of trouble for it. But I knew I could do it, and I had something to prove. I dug my nails deeper into the soft ground for better purchase and I shot off with everything I had. I passed the two members I had previously drifted behind until I was right on Cooks tail again. His attention diverted back to me, and I could feel his anger rising again. That was the wonderfully awful thing about being part of the pack: you could hear everyones thoughts. Nothing was private or secret; we knew literally everything about each other. I guess thats why our bonds were so strong with each other. Each member was a part of me, just like I was a part of each of them. I apologized to Cook mentally and pushed harder. We were neck and neck and I was moving ahead, I stole a sideways glance at him. Even in form I could see the determination set in his features. I thought once more about abandoning my mission and then a wave of power came over me. I took a deep breath and burst ahead of Cook and now I ran neck and neck with Alcane. I didn't dare look in his direction for fear of him turning his gaze to me. For some reason, he didn't tell me to fall back, he didn't say anything at all to me. He let me contest him, he let me push ahead. I broke free of the pack and raced forward; I had never gone this fast before. The trees and foliage whipped by my head at lightning speeds, but I dodged them even faster. I passed the finish mark but I couldn't stop, I wouldn't stop. I kept pushing and going until I could finally feel the anguish and pain in my muscles, my shortness of breath, and I had cut my pads. I wobbled over to a soft patch of moss and collapsed in a heap.

It was a long while before I felt anyone looking for me, and that suited me just fine. I let my eyes close against my better judgement and fell into a long, deep sleep.

When I woke up, there were six pairs of eyes glaring at me.