The Rustling of the Bush

[Eclipse]

Lumiere rolled over in her bed of moss and leaves, sighing in frustration. She focused on breathing in and out, taking deep breaths of the cold night air. She shoved her nose into her fur, curling up into a tight ball. She tried stretching out, letting the cool air seep into her bones. No matter what she did, sleep simply wouldn't come.

Finally she lifted herself out of her nest and dragged her paws out of her den. A breeze confronted her once she was outside, standing in the moonlight. She nodded to the wolf standing watch as she trotted out of camp, unable to tell who the poor sap was.

The ice camp was very well hidden deep in the snowy hills, in a valley surrounded by tall pine trees. Only the ice wolves knew the best path through the trees, and it was sometimes difficult to find even for the alpha. But her sense of direction was keen enough that she was able to pass through the thicket without trouble.

Lumiere always marveled at the forest during the night. It was a completely different world after the sun set. The long shadows cast by the full moon fell across the blanket of snow that made up the forest floor. The underbrush was scarce during this time of year; all the visible green was found in the sugar-coated evergreens that were scattered throughout the pines.

The white she-wolf wasn't headed anywhere in particular. She was mostly hoping that a midnight run would tire her out enough that she would be able to fall asleep. As she ran, she thought about all the things that were troubling her pack. The shortage of prey, not to mention the ever-increasing threat of the giant polar bear Jag.

A rustle brought Lumiere quickly out of her thoughts. She froze, thankful yet again for her white fur that blended into the snowy shadows of the winter forest. The sound came again, from a large juniper bush. Rustle, rustle, snap, crunch...

Lumiere padded silently over to the bush, taking care to remain hidden. A yelp came from the other side of the bush. Throwing caution the the wind, Lumiere walked slowly around to the other side of the bush, where she thought she'd heard the sound come from.

[Flame]

Blaze's heart leaped in surprise. He swiftly tried to dislodge his paw from the snow hare's hole he had stumbled into, the juniper branches rustling violently all around him. A clump of freezing snow landed on him, sinking through his gaurd hairs to his soft undercoat with a merciless hand. He suppressed a yelp of surprise, shaking it off, nose numb. The chilly air burned his lungs as he gulped. He tried to twist his paw out, except snow and rocks crammed and clogged his paw's escape. How will I ever get out of this? Stupid me!

Lumiere's wary eyes gleamed from around the juniper bush. Blaze froze, noting his unannounced intrusion. "Ah... erm, I know you may think I am intruding. -But I am not! I uh, I am... I need to speak to you. But I am stuck a little...." Blaze's ears grew hot in embarrassment. He tugged at his paw, which winced in pain. The snow had long since soaked into his fur. A shiver escaped him like a peeping bird.

Why must I always be caught in such miserable ways, looking totally pathetic, over the border like this? Lumiere may have begun to notice a trend.
Blaze shouldered the last bit of dignity he had left. "Help?"

[Frost]

<<If it is, I'm replying. [finally]>>

Malita froze. She heard the yelp, coming somewhat to the right. She crouched and slowly made her way towards the sound. When she spotted Lumiere, relief flooded over her; until she saw Blaze, the Fire Pack Alpha.

She slowly came out of her hiding spot: a hallow tree trunk lying on its side, big enough for almost the whole pack. "Lumiere, whats going on?" she asked quietly. Lumiere's head swiveled to Malita. She didn't hear her coming.

Blaze looked equally surprised. Not only was he across the border, and caught by Lumiere, now two Ice Pack wolves have come. He was stuck and out numbered, if he tried to fight.

But he wasn't here to fight, Malita could see that. He was here for something else. But what?

"What is he doing here, Lumiere?"

[Eclipse]

Lumiere stared stiffy at the Fire Beta. What was he doing here? She couldn't think of any reasonable excuses for his little midnight wandering.

She turned back to Malita. "I don't know." The ice beta turned to look at the fire alpha, a somewhat smug look on her face. Lumiere understood the feeling. Anything they could use against the fire pack was worthwhile.

Glancing back at Blaze, she could see his shame and guilt quite obviously. He stared down at his paws sheepishly, making a last feeble attempt to dislodge himself from the snow hare's hole.

"So, Blaze," said Lumiere causually, "how can we help you?"

Malita growled slightly. "Yes, Blaze, what are you doing here?"

[Flame]

Blaze's throat and stomach were tight, his heart hammering, feeling dizzy with cold. He uprighted himself as best he could. "I needed to speak with you, Lumiere. Something has happened in my territory and I am in need of your council." Blaze's eyes wandered to Malita, now standing beside Lumiere. "I was wondering if there was anything... unusual going on in your territory."
The memory of the diseased fish screamed behind his eyelids as he blinked, sending invisible shivers through his blood. "The trees and prey populations have not recovered from winter, and if it does not soon, I am afraid our packs will starve. In particular, the trees and prey near the river seem sickly. I believe there is something wrong with the river. Since your pack has more experience with fishing, I thought we should share observations and create a plan to ride us out of this famine."

[Frost]

Malita blinked. Something wrong with the river? Can it be? Hes lying. He has to be, she thought. But then she looked at Blaze, and she blinked again. Hes not lying.

Malita thought this over. Something had happened, something weird enough, wrong enough, to make Blaze come this far over the border. But what? What would make the alpha of the rival pack come searching for help?

Malita turned to look over at Lumiere. It was hard to tell what she was thinking.

"Lumiere, what do you think?" She asked.

[Eclipse]

Lumiere straightened her posture, thinking quickly about how best to react to the situation. She couldn't look weak in front of the enemy. Perhaps she should just deny him...? He seemed so nervous, perhaps this was all just a cover up story to distract them from the fact that he had been caught trespassing on Ice Pack territory.

Yet he seemed so genuine.

No, no, it can't be so! Lumiere thought to herself. But only half of her felt that way. The other half was already running through the decisions that would have to be made to fix the problem. That was why she was an alpha, after all. Her mind instantly made those connections.

And as an alpha, she had the duty of protecting her pack from the enemy. But she also had the duty of keeping them from being sickened from mysterious sources that caused the territory near the river to be affected. If Blaze was telling the truth, it must have been a truly terrible problem for him to leave his realm to inform her of his troubles.

Fine, she thought to herself. For the sake of my pack, I shall listen to what he has to say.

She didn't convey any of her thoughts in her body language. She wouldn't want to appear weak, after all. She flicked her tail at Malita, who instantly assumed a position close to Blaze that would keep him from getting away should he free his paw.

"So, Blaze," Lumiere began stiffly, "Tell us of your supposed river troubles."

[Flame]

"A two-headed fish was caught by the river," Blaze began. He paused; letting the statement set in. "That cannot mean water health. It looks very plain and nothing seems to be out of the ordinary with the water, but a two-headed fish does not seem to point to flourishing river health. We all need water as living creatures, but for the safety of my pack, I am warning them against ingesting it. I can only raise awareness and delay my pack members from satiating their thirst for so long, but they will eventually have to drink. If the water had somehow effected the development of a fish to make it have two heads, the water is not safe... Just imagine what it could do to a wolf!
"There arises a problem from this predicament: the only source of fresh drinking water on my territory is the river. Puddles may be found, but how are we to know if they aren't poisoned too? We are in need of a solution, and fast.
"The trees show definite signs of dishealth, particularly near the river. I think this could be contributed to the water. It would make sense, wouldn't it? Assuming the water is poisoned, then we have a major problem on our paws. If the water is causing the defective development and growth of life around the river, then there may be a wider expanse of complications yet to come up. And these are just the immediate effects! What of long-term effects or problems that will be created resulting in the current state of affairs?!" Blaze took a deep breath.
"In short, is there anything you have noticed that is out of the ordinary in your territory? And do you have any suggestions to the solution? I believe that if we work together, we can ride out these tough times as a team. There is strength in numbers, and with these circumstances, I urge an alliance."

Blaze took a huge, swooshing breath. He felt quite impressed with his presentation, and hoped the ice pack would feel impressed, too. Blaze secretly feared that if measures were not taken now to combat this enemy, then there would be no hope for the survival of their establishment later on if things got worse... for the fire or ice pack. For the good of the majority, Lumiere MUST accept his declaration. He hoped he had pulled it off and won the favor of the alpha and beta.

His legs quivered unsteadily, and the compacted snow and rocks in the hole of the snow hare beneath him gave way. Blaze yelped in shock as his leg slipped into the hole up to his shoulder. He groaned in humiliation. Now I am really stuck. Way to destroy your reputation, Blaze.

[Frost]

For the third time that night, Malita was shocked. A two headed fish? Blaze has to be lying! Hes a diversion! Right now, small groups of the fire pack are slinking past us.....

Malita shook herself. She had to get it together. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. Stupid overactive imagination...

Malita thought this over. If the river was ill, then where could it be coming from? She decided to talk to Lumiere about it later. She opened her eyes and looked over at Lumiere. Her face showed the same shock Malita was feeling.

Then she looked at Blaze, buried to his shoulder. She smirked slightly to herself. "Need some help?"

[Flame]

Blaze's underbelly soaked with freezing water and he blew chunks of ice out of his nostrils. He sniffed and squirmed, trying to free himself. If I have to ask them for help, this will be the end of me...
A huge drift of snow from a branch overhead fell onto his head.
Great.
Blaze didn't want to ask, but... how will he ever get out otherwise? He could feel Malita and Lumiere's amused looks burning at him through the stinging snow that covered his eyes. "Ugh... yeah, help would be much appreciated. "

[Timber]

"Whoops, guess I shouldn't have done that..."
Velox, having stalked Blaze through the ice, had somehow managed to get himself into the tree above the
others heads.
"Sorry about that Blaze. Maybe I shouldn't have jumped onto that branch" Saying this, he jumped from the
tree and started digging his alpha out of the snow.

[Frost]

First Blaze, now Velox?! Malita stared at the alpha and beta of the rival pack. What is going on here?! She looked over at Lumiere. She was in a defensive position.

Malita immediately followed suit. "Now there's two of you? I just knew something was up..." She growled. Lumiere signaled for her to be quiet, and she reluctantly shut up.

She didn't know how long the silence went, but finally she couldn't stand it. She had to speak out.

"What are you doing here?"

[Flame]

"He," Blaze cut in, "is... I don't know.... he is going to dig me out and help negotiate." Blaze improvised.

[Eclipse]

Lumiere's muscles were beginning to ache from standing in such a defensive position. She couldn't believe that Velox was on her territory as well.

But, she knew, the longer she sat waiting without a response, the less seriously the fire pack members took her to be. She was aware that all eyes were on her.

She straightened her back, ruffling her neck fur slightly. "This is indeed a problem," she began, "but how am I supposed to know if you are telling the truth?

"And you," she snarled, turning to Velox. "It's bad enough that we found your alpha trespassing, just what are you doing here? I see no reasonable excuse, other than you are simply a nosy little scoundrel."

[Flame]

"We will leave your territory, but I really need a reply from you. Will you become our allies or not? You can't dodge the issue forever." Blaze said sternly, as Velox dug at his ensnared leg. The rocks slowly fell free, and he stiffly shouldered out of the hole. The circulation came back to his paw. His leg was extremely sore. "Much better! Thank you, Timber."