Chapter 17

A Plan of Attack

"Is that her?"

"I thought she was dead!"

"Talon will be so happy!" These and many more words created a small roar throughout the pack. To quiet them Sariah howled softly and the valley became silent again. A large male, seeming leader of this group stepped forward.

"Is it really you? Talon and Chase's pup?" He asked in a gruff voice. Sariah nodded, and turned to address her fellow wolves as we watched in awe.

"Snow Pack! I am Sariah. I am the rebel female that disappeared many years ago. I've been living in this mountain since I went into hiding. But just recently there was a conflict with a lesser pack and my new friends were trapped in there with me. I never planned on returning to the surface, but these birds behind me gave me a reason to believe you would forgive me.

"I am truly sorry for what I did and I only want to right my wrongs. As much as it kills my pride to admit, I missed you guys." She smiled as the pack laughed. "But now on to more important business; where are my mother and father?" She called.

"You don't know?" A young she wolf called.

"In case you didn't hear me earlier, I have been living inside a mountain." Sariah chuckled in a good-natured way. The pup sat down and tried to hide among the pelts of her pack.

"They've been captured." Another voice called out.

"By Rafael and the Black Moon pack." The leader male told her. "Your clan has been reduced down to a select few. Raphael thinks that you have been hiding in Gongmen City and has told your parents that he has found you and will kill you if they don't comply with his every command."

"No!" All three of us stepped back as we watched, the normally calm and collected, Sariah bristle as rage filled her. She bared her teeth and I watched her eyes narrow into icy slits. "Rafael will pay dearly for this."

"Sariah, if I may," I stepped forward to stand by her side and the teens followed, right on my tail.

"Who is this?" The burly male asked suspiciously.

"This is Shen, Genji-Feng, and Bo-Chen. Their sister, and his fiancé, is in the city right now, completely un-aware of what is coming for her. Shen is pretty good when it comes to these matters, and he knows Gongmen City better than we do." We each nodded our heads as she introduced us.

"Oh, then continue." The male said.

"Right. First off, how are there so many of you? I thought you were just a single small pack." I asked Sariah.

"There are many clans within the Snow Pack and each has their own territory. We like to keep our forces spread out, and secret, so that if something like this happens, we are able to fight the Black Moon Pack, as they are few and we are many." The male explained. "It's been our destiny for hundreds of years, so we must keep it true."

"It's a perfect strategy, now all we have to do is catch Rafael before he gets to the city. Then we will easily be able to overpower them and keep your people safe, Shen." Sariah elaborated.

"Perfect." I sighed inwardly. "But I'm sure that since they have crossed over the peaks in broad daylight they want to be seen. Therefore they think they have an advantage. Why would that be?" I placed a wing under my chin to think.

"Because they think they far outnumber your forces, and that your queen is weak." A new voice sounded behind us and we whirled around. A majestic, muscular young male with a sleek pelt and soft emerald green eyes padded up to Sariah.

"Garrett?" Sariah gasped. "I…I thought," Somehow a blush worked its way into her cheeks and she stepped back. Genji and Bo-Chen giggled at seeing Sariah so shook up. I was a little surprised myself.

"Nope. I played dead when Rafael attacked and got about ten of the hunters away. I was going to come back for you, but, well, my parents sucked me back into the clan and I couldn't. Now I'm the alpha male of, what is now, my clan."

"You always were good at acting Garrett." Sariah mumbled and stepped across the circle to stand next to Bo-Chen. Her fur was standing on end and she couldn't seem to look Garrett in the eye. I remember feeling the same way after I had first met Lien; so nervous, and not want wanting to let on that I was falling in love. It was rather comical for me to watch though.

"Excuse me sir, but you have obviously never met my queen-to-be. She is far from weak." I told the dog with a half glare and a smile.

"No, you miss-heard me Prince Shen. I don't think your little peahen is weak. I've heard many legends about her. It is Rafael who has made that fatal mistake." Garrett smiled back. He was an interesting fellow, I'll give him that much.

"Well played." I nodded.

"Weren't we talking strategy?" The first male asked, clearly annoyed that Garrett had showed up.

"Of course." I spoke to drop any tensions that were rising. "Now, there is a huge field between here and the city walls. If we can stop the black wolves before they get to the walls Lien should be able to rally her friends and meet us there." I drew in the dirt with a pointer feather.

"That's perfect!" Genji agreed. "They are so far ahead, though. How do we catch them?" I beamed at the young peacock. Seemed he paid more attention to the talk than I thought. He noticed and smiled up at me. I shot him a wink and he ruffled his feathers to look bigger.

"I know. We can use the tunnels!" Sariah perked up.

"Right! We can cut right through the mountain and cut them off!" Bo-Chen hopped up and down excitedly.

"Aren't they still sealed off?" Genji asked.

"There has to be one that isn't so tightly packed that a few of your wolves can't break through Garrett." She looked up to him with confidence, but when she met his eyes she immediately looked back at her feet.

"That would be fine. I'll bring five of my strongest wolves and you can lead us to a tunnel." Garrett replied and went to talk to his clan.

"You," She turned to the first male.

"Simon, ma'am." He bowed to her.

"Thank you." Sariah sighed and seemed to have relaxed since Garrett left. "Divide the rest of the pack in half. Have half come with us, and the rest follow the tracks. That way we can have them surrounded if they should try to escape."

"I'm on it." Simon saluted and took off to address the Snow Pack.

"Alright peacocks," She then turned to us. "You have to fly ahead and warn Lien-Hua. She has to know that she can't meet Rafael in a frontal attack without us."

"But I can't fly." I said with a false pout.

"Let me see it." Sariah motioned for me to stretch out my wing. I did and she ran her paw over it. "It should hold until you get there. Now go! Get back to Lien. Wait for my signal then lead them in an attack. We'll meet you."

"Thank you Sariah. I will not forget this." I told her in a most heartfelt way.

"Thank you Shen. You re-kindled my need for my pack. See you on the other side." We shared a smile and she turned away.

"Come on Shen! Lien's waiting for us!" Bo-Chen called, already in the air.

"You don't have to tell me twice!" I tested my wing and followed when it didn't hurt to fly. "I'm coming Lien! I'm coming!" I cried at the top of my lungs.

YIPEE! NEXT CHAPTER SHEN'S COMIN' HOME! I KNOW YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR THIS AS LONG AS I HAVE! OOOOOHHHH but the drama rises! Battle is eminent! Hehehe XD