This book is co-written by Tanner Grout.

Crystals of the Breeze

Chapter 1: A Sanctuary No More (written from April 8th to April 16th, 2023)

January 22nd, 2013

What do you do when a safe haven is no longer safe? Where do you go when your ancestral home is desecrated, spangled with the blood of your kin? The land of Banff was infamous for its ice. A thick layer of crystals blanketed its forests during most of the winter. Choking the canyons were monstrous glaciers that lasted year-round. It was naturally a frozen realm, and in recent times, wolves called Rogues left behind frozen blood in their wake. Inside and around the Breeze's home, pools of crystals stained with hate became markers of King's wrath. His holy war against Omegas seemed to pull Banff into a new age of misery and sorrow. Even though it was technically a victory, the Breeze's battle against the forces of Elgin delivered no glory. The Breeze was decimated. Roughly three-quarters of the population was simply gone. What was there to celebrate? What pride was there to indulge in when many who would've howled the pack's songs were mere bodies as cold as the air?

The Sky Sanctuary was a sanctuary no more. Its tremendous value as a base left little doubt that the knowledge of how to reach its entrance was going to spread and spread quickly. The famous Pack of the Breeze had to find a new home, a new sanctuary perhaps. As legions of Rogues began sweeping through the farthest reaches of Banff, The Breeze needed to disappear, as they've always done, for the sake of their survival, but where would they go? The answer came conveniently. The Pack Leader of the Breeze named Cloud was beholden to a pair of outsiders, the sagacious Oliver and brooding Abel, who saved his pack from total annihilation. The pair had sought out the Breeze's skills for a covert plan of liberation. The land to be liberated was Abel's land of origin called Yoho.

The tiny park neighbored Banff to the west. Yoho National Park, as it was formally known, was said to be a breathtaking place. Although small compared to the other parks, stories told of a land perforated with crystalline lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, a high concentration of such. Unlike Banff and Jasper whose terrain was dominated by the Rocky Mountains which created huge valleys, Yoho was said to lie at the western foothills of the range where glacial meltwater collected. Streams weaved in and out through stratum to create spectacular formations.

"The most exciting areas are the geyser fields," Abel had told the Breeze wolves.

"What's a geyser?" Echo had asked.

"It's a smoky hole in the ground where boiling water can shoot up… sometimes a hundred feet in the sky!" Cloud and his family exchanged faces of disbelief.

"Boiling water?" Cloud repeated as he raised an eyebrow.

"That means it's hot enough to burn you. You can think of it as wet fire," Abel explained. Water that shot up in the sky was not hard for the Breeze wolves to imagine, but the idea of water being hot induced skepticism. "Most geysers are small though," Abel added. "We call them 'spitters.' They can't shoot higher than a human."

"So in Yoohoo," Benny replied, "the Earth's just hawkin' up a bunch of loogies?"

"It's pronounced 'Yoho' and yes. Whatever helps you visualize it better."

Abel wanted to tell them more about Yoho's beauty. He loved his home, but every time the Breeze curiously brought it up, it reminded him of its unexpurgated reality which was anything but beautiful. The current social and political situation supported a living hell. It was, in many ways, worse than the Rogues' takeover of Banff. Most inhabitants of Yoho were brutally oppressed by a group called the Nightlanders. What the Rogues killed the Nightlanders enslaved. While the King Pack was united by their ideology, the Pack of Nightland was united by sadism. They fed off of others' suffering. They were addicted to abuse. Obsessed with forcing others to do their work, it gave them a sick thrill, and most despicably, they sought to spin it as if it was for the greater good—they were propagandists. They were not incognizant wolves, unlike most Rogues. Abel had come to grips that their leader had crafted the perfect paradoxical prison. He turned Yoho into a place controlled not necessarily by physical means but by the fear of something worse which effectively legitimized his harsh rule. Under the right conditions, fear was more powerful than any set of teeth or claws.

For instance, it was the fear of a damned eternity that blocked Abel from having a full night's rest. His contribution to the living hell made him hate himself with every cell in his body. Beset by poetic justice, the guilt abused him to the same degree he had abused innocent she-wolves and pups, Alphas and Omegas alike. It was actually when he was considering suicide that Oliver found him. The greyish-yellow senior convinced him that freeing Yoho was not impossible, that a pack said to be myth was their answer. For the past week, Abel attempted to figure out ways of divulging his shameful past to the Breeze. It was imperative they know if Yoho was going to be saved. He didn't have to tell Oliver. The old-timer was a master of reading body language. Telling Princess wasn't difficult as she had even more blood on her paws than he did. But the Breeze was different. They were noble wolves. Their efficient movements were as clean as their intentions.

Abel then reminded himself that it was the Great Defender that had made him such a disgraceful schlub in the first place. Abel met the tawny wolf once as a Beta. The Pack Leader visited Alpha School to make a speech about the importance of the Protectors. He didn't look particularly special. He was an Alpha of average height. He was neither toned nor loud, but every promise of glory he spoke of made Abel feel so much pride in being an oppressor. It all came back to him again. In truth, they were no more protectors than a blazing conflagration. They were what the conquered wolves called them: Enforcers. As Abel looked back at that event where he and his peers cheered in excitement, he wished nothing less than the Great Defender choking on the venom of his lies.

The mission brought hope to Abel as well as the Breeze, that the best days of their lives were still ahead. Today, although the sky was clear, the booming cry of an Alpha shook the frigid air like a bolt of lightning. The Pack Leader produced a summoning howl, a call to draw in his crestfallen citizens. They soon trickled in from various gravesites that were recently created near the cliffs before a sizable assembly was formed in the center of the Sanctuary. As survivors of war, most of the Breeze were too exposed to death to respond with passion. Moving the most cautious were the timorous Omegas who were the bulk of the survivors. Two Omegas, in particular, were moving even slower.

The Pack Leader's son and his girlfriend woke up to the alert. They stretched a yawn inside the same den where they had first made their connection cataloging berries. Lying side by side, they swung their heads until their noses nearly touched.

"Well, hello, my grizzly bear," greeted Echo with a smirk. The howl had awoken Thunder but not enough to prevent him from potentially falling back to sleep. Echo wouldn't allow it. She nuzzled him until his eyes were fully open. The sight of her made him smile.

"Oh, Echo… I was having the greatest dream."

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Echo apologized. "I should've known not to poke a sleeping bear."

"Nah, it's totally okay... I woke up to something much better."

"Aww… You're so sweet," she replied. The couple kissed. "By the way… I think it was a summoning howl that stirred us."

"A summoning howl?"

"Yeah. I think it was your dad. It was really loud."

"He hasn't done one of those in a while. It must be for the whole pack. We should go." The brown wolf turned to leave.

"Wait," Echo called. "I don't feel so good." Thunder stood at the mouth of the cave and looked back inside. The grey she-wolf clutched her stomach with her paw as she struggled to stand. All four of her legs shook as if the cold of winter had suddenly engulfed her. Just as sudden was a sinking feeling in Thunder's chest. Something was amiss.

"Echo!" He rushed to her side and propped her up before her legs buckled. "Are you okay? What's the matter?"

"I… I don't know… I just feel weak and lightheaded… My stomach feels really weird… like a tickling sensation. It's hard to explain."

"Well, can you walk?"

"I'll try," she replied. The she-wolf took a few steps. She was able to exit the den, but before she could initiate a stroll, the musk ox Thunder had hunted for her yesterday bubbled up her esophagus. Thunder watched in consternation as his girlfriend discolored the snow with her vomit. "Ohhh, Thunder… I don't feel good at all," she groaned. She then collapsed despite her partner's help. He instinctively rubbed his face against hers in an attempt to soothe her. "I've never been sick before. What's wrong with me?" she asked as her heavy breaths sent huge puffs of vapor. Nausea prompted her eyes to close halfway.

"Shh, don't talk. We're gonna figure this out," assured Thunder, not wanting his worries to cause her to panic.

"The pack… the pack healers… I need to see the pack headers," she concluded exhaustedly.

"There are none," Thunder reminded. "They're all gone, remember? We need to see my dad. He has some healing experience."

"Okay," she agreed. The she-wolf had an inkling of what the cause of her ailment might be, but she was too embarrassed to reveal it yet.

"Go back inside," Thunder advised. "I'll bring him to you instead."

Meanwhile…

The meeting that the Pack Leader had called began to commence. The white wolf named Cloud stood upon his usual boulder of choice for public speaking. It rendered him briefly sentimental as he was going to make his final announcement inside the Sanctuary, but lifting his spirit was the fact that it represented a new beginning, albeit a potentially controversial one. Regardless, he was certain it was best for the pack. Oliver stood beside him.

"My friends, the time for us to leave is near. As wolves of honor, we soon embark on a journey to pay a debt owed to our new friends, Oliver and Abel. It is the way of the Breeze to care for those who risk their lives for us. That is why the Sky Sanctuary will be dedicated to our fallen brothers and sisters, so anybody who may live here in the future will know about the legends who died fighting for it." All the wolves in the crowd clapped their paws. "Now… I have an announcement before we take off," he continued. "Since Cody's expulsion, I've received a decent number of nominations for the position of Second-In-Command. I will now say who I've chosen." The crowd shushed itself as it eagerly awaited the disclosure. A new deputy had not been appointed in many years. "The wolf who will succeed Cody as Second-In–Command of the Pack of the Breeze is none other than… Drizzle."

Suddenly, after a wave of gasps, clashing ripples of boos and cheers rattled the clearing. Cloud didn't wince nor beam anything resembling an emotional face since he found his choice easy. His daughter was one of the best fighters the pack had ever known. Her strength and agility were prodigious. More importantly, her intelligence and leadership skills proved superior compared to the other nominees.

The crowd became equally split. While some were able to see Cloud's reasons, others saw a weakening of Pack Leadership. The wolves of the latter were all the Alphas who had objected to Cloud's decision to defend the Sanctuary, regarding it as a strategic blunder. They believed the majority of the casualties would've been avoided if the pack relocated prior to the Rogues' assault. To not do so was seen by many as a glaring sign of incompetence, and the appointment of Drizzle as Second-In-Command only confirmed it. It was considered inappropriate for she-wolves to be deputies since it technically would make them interim Pack Leaders should the ruling Pack Leader die without immediate heirs—female Pack Leaders were against Pack Law. It was also inappropriate for deputies to be related to the ruling Pack Leader.

"This is nepotism!" an Alpha argured. Soon, many began chanting the word. Cutting through the crescendo of condemnation was another Alpha.

"You could've at least appointed your son who's a male!"

"Thunder is not an Alpha," Cloud reminded. "Only those who passed the exam could be considered. I base my choices on merit, not blood. I assure you Drizzle is—"

"A no-good leader like her father!" an Alpha interrupted. "We won't stand for it!"

Oliver then stepped closer to the white wolf.

"Cloud, sir, as much as I hate to agree with hecklers, I don't recommend your daughter. She's an extraordinary Alpha but not who we need as Second-In-Command at this time. A divided pack will complicate things."

"My daughter isn't just capable," Cloud asserted. "She's the only surviving member of the Breeze who is."

"As you wish," yielded Oliver, bowing his head. Cloud turned back to the crowd.

"My decision is final," he declared. "I would ask you to give my daughter a chance, but you all have already seen her in action. Her strength provides stability which is what we need most desperately right now."

"Maybe what we need is a new bloodline!" one wolf suggested, but the idea of treason was quickly dismissed, even by many in the disgruntled half. Cloud was still estimable. To question him was irrational, but the new period of desperation was bringing with it a new kind of attitude to many of the Breeze, one leaning toward reform; however, Cloud believed identity alone was enough to keep his subjects united. The pack had existed for decades, and he wasn't about to let these days be among its last. He knew his daughter felt the same way. Her loyalty to the pack would ensure their survival.

Benny sat in the very back of the crowd as the sole quiet one. While wolves jumped and bared their teeth in discordance, his tail was tucked between his legs as he wondered why nobody seemed to ask where Drizzle even was. His feelings about her appointment were mixed. He knew as much as anybody how demonstrably capable she was. The she-wolf and her brother had taken him under their wing, but she was no longer the wolf Cloud knew her as, Benny believed. She was not the she-wolf she was when they first met. She was different, her mind afflicted with the darkness that came with grief.

Later…

He managed to easily find her scent. Often, it was as if Drizzle left trails on purpose. Benny had found that she was always a tough nut to crack, but the death of Zephyr had caused her to cut herself off from others even more. Nowadays, she seemed so desperate to push wolves away, and yet she apparently left little trails for Benny to find. Following one, he slipped onto a thin ominous path zigzagging up a cliff. The climb was steep. It risked a deadly fall, but Benny was determined to see Drizzle. When he reached the top, the Alpha was graced with a gorgeous wide open sky. Below a ledge, he could see the ocean of trees inside the Sanctuary. The top of the ridge itself had forest upon it that was peculiarly untouched by scent marks. Despite the snow cover, it was a beautiful and sacred place, a place that, unbeknownst to Benny, the Pack Leader had brought his offspring to when they were young. It was the final resting place for Zephyr, and beside the pile of river stones was another, the final resting place for the royal trio's mother. Slumped over the graves was the depressed obsidian-colored she-wolf.

She could sense Benny approaching. She did not turn to see him. Rather, Drizzle continued staring at the stones when suddenly she spoke.

"You know this place is very special to us. Back when we were pups, there was a time when Thunder would feel bad for himself and how big he was, that he'd likely never be able to become an Alpha, that the odds were against him."

As Drizzle talked, Benny drew closer and eventually sat at her side. "So, one day, there was this really bad storm, and Thunder was having an intense argument with our mom. They were basically screaming at each other. My big brother then ran off… into the storm. He was so angry that he didn't care. He wandered around until he eventually found this refuge on the walls, but of course, our mother was the best tracker the Breeze had ever seen. She caught up to him quickly."

Drizzle took a brief look at the horizon before continuing. "But after she and my dad found Thunder, some flying debris, a branch or something, struck my mom in the back of the head, and my dad had to carry her to the den. As you can guess, my brother was worried sick the entire time. Her… her injury was too severe. There was no way to get to a healer fast enough in the storm and…" Drizzle started to tear up but didn't lift her head. "After saying her goodbyes to everyone, her final words were asking for Thunder to watch out for his siblings. I watched helplessly as my mother died and as my brother blamed himself. I could do nothing but watch. And Zephyr… he was also right in front of me… I was right there, and I still couldn't do anything to help. W-why couldn't I help him? Why am I so weak?" she sobbed. She rubbed an ear on the stones. Drizzle's fur was pure black except for one of her ears which was a light grey. It was a trait from her mother that was also passed on to Zephyr. It was the physical symbol that connected the three of them, a thing that had helped Thunder feel even more isolated in his puphood, but now, with both of her grey-eared companions gone, she ironically felt as Thunder did then.

She did her best to hold herself together. Tears streamed down her cheeks. With her question laid bare, she finally turned to Benny. The sight was heartbreaking to the former Rogue. All he could do was embrace her warmly. Once Drizzle had regained her composure, she said her final farewells to her beloved mother and brother, hoping to be able to see them again one day. There were no words Benny could say to make Drizzle feel better. He felt like an outsider. He didn't even know where to begin talking about all of it, but he knew he could at least provide the company she badly needed.

Later…

"By the way, it looks like your dad decided you'll be the new Second-In-Command!" After the two came down the cliff, Benny finally broke his silence with news that he hoped would cheer her up. If not, he hoped his lively energy would make up the difference. Drizzle, however, didn't respond. Her head still hung low, and after a moment of silence, Benny added, "It'll be a big responsibility. Cloud certainly thinks you're up for the job. You think you can handle it?"

"I think she'll be able to handle the job," a voice commented from behind them, causing the two to stop walking. The voice startled Benny, but Drizzle was completely unfazed. She had sensed the blackish-green wolf in advance.

"You're Abel, right? Geez, man, don't sneak up on your friends. You nearly gave me a heart attack," said Benny.

"I'm sorry if that was rude," he apologized. "I'm just now realizing how lousy my social skills are. Well... I just wanted to take the opportunity to meet the new Second-In-Command of the pack that's coming to save my home. If she's even half as good as I've heard, then she'll be able to handle the job no problem."

Suddenly, Drizzle spoke up, finally lifting her head.

"Hey, I've got a question for you." She looked the Alpha directly in the eyes. In the depths of her pupils, Abel swore he saw embers sparking into ravenous flames. It made him slightly quiver.

"A question, huh? Well, feel free to ask anything," he replied with a hint of caution.

"There's gonna be plenty of bad guys for me to sink my teeth into, right?"

With this, Abel was now sure Drizzle had the same degree of burning hatred and rage within her that Abel was so tired of, the pain of guilt that hurt him every day.

"Yes, there are more terrible wolves spread throughout the park than you can shake a stick at. I should know."

After turning back around, Drizzle continued walking but not before muttering words that reverberated with a lust for blood.

"Good... I was needing something to rip to shreds..."

Benny's wariness rose even higher. Abel approached him upon noticing his distressed reaction.

"I know we don't know each other, and we both have our own circumstances, but a word of warning, my friend. Drizzle is going to a place where you can't follow, and if she is to come back, then it must be by her own power. Don't think you must be the one to save her. Simply stay by her side. That should be fine. Obviously, you care enough to do that."

Benny was embarrassed by the implication Abel made. The strange-looking wolf then walked away in his own direction. "I'm rooting for you guys!" he shouted.

Now left alone, Benny appreciated the kind words and encouragement from Abel. He chuckled and shook his head before running to catch up to Drizzle.

"Looks like there's a couple wolves I can't disappoint now. Guess I've got some work to do."

Meanwhile…

Thunder returned to the storage den with his father close behind. They found Echo shivering in the farthest nook. The Omega had snuggled underneath layers of bison pelts. Bison fur was incredibly thick, often so much so that wolves attempting to sleep in it were expected to wake up multiple times, sweating through their paws and panting. For that reason, they were typically used as a last resort, the preferred blanket during long blizzards. To see a wolf shivering under a bison pelt was an alarming sight that tripled Thunder's heart rate.

"Echo!" he yelled before running to her side. "Oh, Dad, she's getting worse! I've never seen anything like this!"

"Hmm… I might know what it could be," Cloud replied. He stepped into the den. The old wolf's casual pace bugged Thunder. He wondered why his father seemed so relaxed, given the situation. If there was any time his calm demeanor wasn't suitable, it was now. "The Sanctuary usually protects us from terrible illnesses. Perhaps Echo caught something from a Rogue during the battle. Or… perhaps not."

"Perhaps not? What else could it be?"

"I have a feeling we will see." The Pack Leader neared the Omega. "Stand up!" he ordered.

"Dad, she can't—" The white wolf suddenly shot his son a serious face, shutting him up instantly. As per ritual, Thunder submitted. He tucked his tail between his hind legs and lowered his head, but it wasn't so low that he couldn't see the corners of Cloud's mouth lifting to form a smirk.

"Oh, son, if this is what I think it is…"

"Huh?" The mountain of fur tilted his head sideways.

"Stand up," Cloud ordered Echo again. This time, it was his usual tone. The she-wolf shook the pelt off before standing like a teetering log. "Come closer," he encouraged. Echo lumbered forward until she was in between the two males. "Hold her up."

His son situated his head under her chest and pushed upwards. "Alright, Echo," said Cloud. "Stay calm. I'm just going to examine you."

"Examine me?!" The Omega exclaimed. She crossed her hind legs and blushed hard. "Are you sure there's not any female who can do this? What about Drizzle?!"

"It's okay, Echo. I'm right beside you. My dad always knows what he's doing," Thunder assured with a particularly sonorous voice. He knew the deepness of his words had a calming effect on his girlfriend. It worked like a charm.

"And here I thought I was just going to get a tonic or two," she remarked. The she-wolf took long breaths and relaxed her hind legs, giving the Pack Leader access.

"It's a standard procedure," Cloud informed. "Healers do it all the time… especially in the spring."

"The spring?" his son murmured quizzically. Suddenly, a thought crashed into his brain. The pieces were beginning to fall into place.

Cloud dropped his shoulders and looked up at Echo's underside.

"Let's see here… Hmm… One, two, three, four… five, six, seven, eight… Yep, all of your nipples are dilated."

"Ooo!" Echo then exclaimed. She nearly jumped as she felt Cloud's icy nose touch her vulva. The Pack Leader closed his eyes and sniffed her private area thoroughly, looking for any new smells. Seeing his father do this made Thunder the most embarrassed he had ever felt, but if it meant getting a clue of what was going on, it was worth stomaching.

Next, the Pack Leader removed himself from under her. He sat down in front of the cave's entrance to the couple's surprise. With a paw on his face, he shook his head which was accompanied by a lengthy sigh. Confusing Thunder additionally was his father's smile. It seemed as if he was struggling to be disappointed.

"So… when were you guys going to tell me that things were getting this serious?"

The couple blushed immensely. An overbearing silence filled the cave. Thunder slowly swung toward Echo who seemed to read his thoughts. She gave a nod to him, confirming to Thunder that what Cloud implied was likely true. He gasped. His ears slammed into each other as they stood up at the speed of a blink. Suddenly, Thunder burst into a brown blur that circled the room in ecstasy. It seemed too good to be true.

"I'M GONNA BE A FATHER! I'M GONNA BE A FATHER!" he hollered.

"It certainly seems so," said Cloud. Thunder came to Echo's side. They exchanged wide grins before kissing passionately. Cloud chuckled. "Welcome to the family, Echo," he added.

After knowing for sure that it was due to something marvelous, the she-wolf's pain suddenly became much more bearable. She stood up without difficulty and tackled her boyfriend, wetting his cheeks with a rainstorm of licks.

"Oh, Thunder! We're gonna have pups! Oh, my gosh, this is the best day of my life!"

"Mine too! We're gonna be a family! And I just know you're gonna be the best mother!"

"Oh, just shut up, and kiss me again, you big furball!" Echo began to lie on his chest. Thunder was overwhelmed by the amount of affection slamming into him, but he didn't care. He surrendered to it, but soon, he noticed his father not sharing the same glee.

"Oh, Dad, aren't you happy?"

"I'm going to be a granddad. No wolf of my years wouldn't want that. I am happy for you, Thunder. I am happy for both of you."

Thunder's ears flattened as he could see a sign of apprehension.

"Then why don't you look happy?" he whined.

"The love between you two is strong and healthy and good for the Breeze. After all, what Echo has growing inside her are potential heirs. This will almost certainly solve the succession issue, but more importantly, Echo is a fine wolf who served the Breeze well during the battle against the Rogues. There is little to make me disapprove of your relationship. That being said, I am concerned. You were egregiously careless with the timing. It's far too early for a she-wolf to be pregnant. We're in the middle of winter, and we're about to take on a long journey that will lead us through perilous landscapes. I just need to know what you were thinking when you decided to mate with her."

"I know! I know! I'm sorry... It was the night before the battle… Since we're Omegas, we didn't think we'd survive long when the Rogues would make it through the gate. We just… did it. We never thought about what would happen later. Tending to all the wounded I think made me forget completely that it even occurred."

"But this isn't a fling," Echo clarified. "We do really love each other, sir! We're sorry!"

"Oh, who am I kidding? I should've known that asking a young couple to abstain would be a fool's game. Forgive me. It's the parent in me talking… Obviously, we can't undo what's been done. I can't ask for too much when I have the best pups I could ever ask for. It'll take me a moment to fully feel it, but I know in my heart that this is one of the greatest days I've ever experienced." For a while, the Breeze had nothing but bad news after bad news. Finally, something good had come which made Cloud relieved. The Pack Leader then beckoned to the couple. "Come. Give me a hug."

Cloud opened his arms for Thunder and Echo. The three of them ardently hugged. Past a few seconds of bliss, Cloud began to head back to the center of the Sanctuary. "Follow me. Joy such as this has to be shared."

Later…

Drizzle, Benny, and Oliver were busy hashing out the details of their upcoming journey when Cloud and the couple came to them. Drizzle and her father noticed each other first. "Drizzle. There you are. I'm sure you've already heard, but I've decided to make you Second-In-Command. I'll be counting on you."

Drizzle gave only a single nod. Cloud quickly followed it up. "So give me an update. How soon will we be ready to leave?"

"Oliver is looking over my record of food supplies," she answered dryly. "We're making sure everyone has something to last them the whole trip."

"Lucky for us," said Benny. "Elgin's forces abandoned their base which let us take all their leftovers. We reached our food goal, and it saved us a lot of hunting."

"Once Oliver is done reviewing my bone, we're good to go," Drizzle informed. "We should reach Yoho without issue."

Cloud then gave a chuckle. His daughter stood confused by her father's laughter.

"You'll learn that when you're in command, there's always an issue."

At that moment, Abel arrived with what appeared to be a white orb in his mouth. It caught Benny's eye and made him curious as it was passed on to Oliver.

"Oh, glad to see you, Abel," said Cloud before beckoning to the whole group. "Everyone, come closer to me, please. I have my own update." The four of them could all see a large smile on Cloud's face and could only guess what this news could be. "I know that the timing of this is not ideal, but this is an incredibly joyous day. I'm happy to announce that the issue of succession has been resolved."

All of them except for Oliver seemed confused by what Cloud was trying to say, but before Cloud could explain further, Thunder and Echo noticed that someone from the group had suddenly disappeared. The couple looked at one another and smirked as a shadow sneaked between their bodies. A certain someone was behind them. The Alpha lunged as the two both effortlessly stepped to the side, moving out of the way.

Drizzle couldn't help but giggle as Benny flew between them and landed in a dune of snow.

"Nice try! You almost had us that time," said Echo.

"Really? What do you think, zombie?" Benny asked Thunder as he shook off the powder.

"Ha! I thought you were the zombie."

"I'll have you know that I've outgrown my zombie-ness. You on the other paw… are an Omega. I'm an Alpha; thus, you are beneath me!" Benny playfully lunged at Thunder again. The big wolf simply dodged.

"Not even close, buddy, but you are getting better. You've been picking up our lessons well. Just give it a couple more decades, and I'm sure you'll get there."

Everyone in the group enjoyed Benny's escapades as even Oliver couldn't help but crack a smile at the pleasant exchange. "And while it's good you're practicing your stealth," Thunder added, "you probably shouldn't be practicing on a pregnant wolf."

Oliver chuckled as Abel and Drizzle's eyes widened. The surprised wolves realized what Cloud was going to announce and turned to him. Cloud didn't say a word but silently nodded his head in confirmation, that what Thunder had just said was the truth. Oliver appeared unsurprised, but Benny needed a minute to put two and two together.

"You're pregnant, Thunder? I mean, I know you're kind of chunky, but you shouldn't put yourself down like that." Thunder shook his head before he gestured to Echo. The truth hit Benny like a freight train. "Wait… Echo is pregnant?! You're gonna have pups?! Oh, wow, that's great! Wow, Congratulations! Oh, my gosh, you guys so have to get a huge den for them to run around in!"

"Thanks, Benny," said Echo whose cheeks were sore from blushing constantly. Benny turned to her.

"Echo! I don't know if you noticed, but Thunder is huge!"

She had become accustomed to Benny's silly sense of humor.

"Oh, thank you for bringing that to my attention, Benny!" she exclaimed with heavy sarcasm. "You know, I never noticed how big Thunder is. It's good you pointed that out!"

"I just wonder if you've considered how Thunder's size may affect the pups. I mean, you're going to be pooping out some big ones. Imagine, Echo, fifteen Thunders!"

The she-wolf then gulped. Benny was right. She hadn't considered that.

"Okay, Benny, that's enough," Thunder recommended. He softly elbowed her foreleg. "Don't worry, Echo. Fifteen's a super rare little size. It's probably gonna be like fourteen," he teased.

"Ha, ha. Very funny," she replied flatly. "You know what? Fifteen Thunders doesn't sound too bad. Who wouldn't want fifteen more of this furball?"

"How the heck are we gonna handle a horde of zombie pups running around?" Benny continued. "The sheer amount of food you'll need is making my head spin. Wait, do zombies even need to eat?"

"Well, Thunder, you heard the Alpha," said Echo. "There won't be enough food for everybody, so I guess you'll have to starve. That should be fine, right, Mr. Zombie?"

"Hmmmmmm, I don't know," Thunder replied with a grin, "If I get too hungry, I might just take a bite out of you instead."

Echo caught Thunder off guard by kissing him again.

"You know, for some reason, I don't think I'd mind that."

"Come on, guys, no one wants to watch you two make goo-goo eyes at each other," said Benny. "Seriously, get a den."

For the next few minutes, the three of them told jokes and laughed, but to their surprise, Abel stepped forward.

"Hello, Thunder and Echo. I know we haven't had a chance to talk much yet, but I just wanted to say that, while I might not know you well, what you have blooming here is a beautiful thing. I truly wish for your new family to be prosperous and kissed by days of sunshine, not in any hell or nightmarish autocracy."

While unexpected and a bit more serious than what they were used to, Thunder and Echo could tell there was sincerity behind Abel's words, and the couple considered themselves so lucky to have such supportive and loving wolves around them. Next, Oliver approached Cloud and gave his own congratulations.

"It looks like the issue regarding the line of succession truly has been resolved. That's wonderful news."

Cloud could not help but be on guard whenever Oliver opened a chat. The newcomer still seemed unnervingly perfidious. Cloud's instincts instructed him to be careful around the frail-looking Alpha to avoid the risk of ending up as Elgin.

"You don't seem to be surprised by the news at all," Cloud pointed out. Oliver grew a smug look.

"Well, love and the threat of death is a pretty potent combination for activating one's natural instinct to procreate. I knew something like this was a possibility, but to be honest, I'm a little surprised it actually happened."

"Something surprised you? That's a bit shocking. You always appear to be ten steps ahead."

"Thank you for the compliment, but it's not like I'm all-knowing. At the end of the day, I'm only a wolf. I can miss things, and I can make mistakes."

Surprised at Oliver's humility, Cloud wondered if it was a reflection of Oliver's true personality. The white wolf then became silent as he looked over to Thunder and Echo. It didn't go past Oliver. "Don't worry. I know just how important those pups are. I'll be sure to adjust the plan accordingly."

As Benny continued to lighten the wolves' moods with his ideas about an elite unit of zombie pups, there was one in the group that felt left out. Drizzle wanted to be happy for her brother. She wanted to run right up to everyone and boast about becoming an aunt, but the pain she had due to Zephyr's absence wouldn't allow her to experience any enjoyment. She wondered why nobody but Benny seemed to notice her sadness. It was as if she was the only one who missed Zephyr. Why? The pups weren't even born yet, and they were already swallowing everyone's attention. More tears of hers fell. She thought of herself as the snow she sat on: frozen. She was unable to move or say a word.

Later…

The Fellowship of the Breeze was born. In an effort to promote camaraderie, Cloud decreed himself, Thunder, Drizzle, Echo, Abel, Oliver, and Benny as a formal band. They led the thirty or so remaining Breeze wolves out of the Sky Sanctuary. Their journey now began. It was a two-week-long hike to Yoho. Their itinerary, arranged by Oliver, included crossing numerous valleys and circumventing numerous bodies of water in order to find one of the western corridors of the Rockies. They had to find the correct corridor, or else they risked ending up in Kootenay National Park, or worse, human territory. All the while, they would be traveling at the peak of winter and had to avoid patrolling Rogues.

The disgruntled Breeze Alphas were put in charge of escorting the infamous Rogue commander, Elgin, who had been taken prisoner after the great battle. Since then, without his knowledge, he had been steadily fed the stomachs of prey that were purposely stuffed with bessalshrooms. Found throughout Banff, bessalshrooms were poisonous mushrooms that the earliest Breeze wolves had managed to take advantage of. Because they were moderately toxic, if a low quantity was eaten every day, it could keep a victim in a weakened state indefinitely. This made it perfect for subduing a Thunder-sized warlord such as Elgin. The toxins attacked a victim's skeletal muscles, making them indefinitely sore as if one could not recover from a long exercise. Every step taken gave Elgin a sting. It dissuaded him from attacking his captors and made him think twice about disobeying their instructions.

With the Sky Sanctuary now a fair distance behind them, Drizzle and Benny slowed to the tail end of the traveling pack to check on the Rogue. Despite his impairment, Alphas surrounded on all sides just in case. He shot Drizzle and Benny his usual face of haughty disdain. As they approached, they could tell that the pain Elgin endured was so severe that he was shedding a few tears.

"You better not whine, or I'll give you something to really cry about," growled Drizzle. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Easy to say that... when you aren't in such agony," he replied through clenched teeth. Drizzle wanted to savagely tear the Rogue limb from limb and leave his corpse to the vultures; however, out of respect for Benny, she didn't want to make a mess. The time for execution had to wait, but she wasn't sure how long she could tolerate the repulsive clod.

"Listen, you ingrate, you don't know my agony!"

"His name was Zephyr, wasn't it?" The black she-wolf then gasped. "Such a pity he had to die."

Benny decided to intervene before the Second-In-Command acted on her feelings.

"He's just trying to get in your head, Drizzle. Let's go back to the front," he advised. Elgin soon recognized him.

"I remember you! You're one of mine! What are you, her dumb little student?!" he yelled contemptuously. A frightened Benny hid behind the she-wolf.

"As a matter of fact, he is," Drizzle informed. "And as my first act as deputy, I hereby place him in charge of you and your entourage."

"Wait, really?" Benny remarked.

"You got to be kidding me!" Elgin exclaimed.

"He's all yours, Benny." The she-wolf scurried back to the front.

"Ha! We're gonna have so much fun on this trip!" said Benny.

"Great... I'm getting bossed around by my own fighter... How humiliating," groaned Elgin.