Libby blinked awake, the voices of wolves at the rendezvous site woke her up. The light of the rising sun coming through the den opening temporarily blinded her, and she squinted. She yawned and shook her tan fur, her dark brown ears perked. She glanced beside her, where Alex still lay curled up, fast asleep.

Libby's eyes went to the rest of the rendezvous. Her mother, Pike, Cleo, and two other wolves stood to the den's far right at the site, all engaging in hushed conversation. Judging from their body language, it wasn't just an every-day talk they were having.

Softly and carefully as to not wake her brother or draw anyone's attention, Libby moved closer to the entrance of the den. She listened.

"We have to do something! They need our help!" the voice of one of the Sentries sounded.

"We cannot just abandon our rendezvous! My pups! They'll be unprotected!" Shebina put in.

"Silence!" Pike snarled. "We have no time for this! Our Packmates are in danger, and I will not let them perish under the stranger wolves' fangs! The Sentries are coming, too."

That was enough to alert Libby. She quickly kicked her brother with one of her back legs. He let out a groan, but otherwise didn't move.

"Wake up, sleepyhead!" she said in a hushed tone.

"Lemme sleep..." Alex whined.

"Something important is going on, dumb weasel!" Libby instantly turned her attention to the talking wolves again. It seemed they were getting ready for something.

"They're going to attack the strangers!" Libby whispered, more or less to herself.

Alex's ears perked up. "What strangers?" He opened his bright yellow eyes wide.

Libby spoke without taking her eyes off her Packmates. "Pike said something about there being stranger wolves in our territory. Apparently there's so much they even have to take the Sentries into battle!"

Alex let out a scared whimper. "What if they find us? They'll kill us!"

The wolves at the site had now started to dig at a place only a meter or so away from the sandy open space.

Libby suddenly got an idea and wagged her tail in excitement.

Alex's ears flattened. "Nonono! I don't like this look, Libby. You've got an idea!"

"What if we chase away the strangers?" she barked softly at her brother.

"Libby, no." Alex's obvious fear made place for anger now. "You'll get yourself killed!"

"They need help in battle!"

"We need to not die!"

"Whatever, they're not looking. I'm going out to explore."

She tried to climb out of the den, but Alex bit her in her tail and pulled her back, causing Libby to let out a soft whimper of pain.

"What are you doing?" she whispered snidely.

"Making sure you stay alive!"

Pawsteps in the sand made Libby look up. The wolves had dug up metal helmets and fang and claws extensions for battle. Their mother was approaching the den.

"Listen, pups," she barked softly but severely, already wearing her metal fang extensions. "We are going to battle. There are dangerous wolves in our territory, and they attacked one of our patrols. They need all of us, as there are a lot of them. I'm going to have to leave you..." Her voice trailed off, before she shook her head quickly to clear it. "Whatever you do, do not make any noise. Do not leave the den. That's an order from me, and from Pike. You're in terrible danger while these strangers roam our land. So stay hidden and safe!"

That was the last she saw before turning around, joining the other armored wolves of the patrol, quickly slipping her battle helmet on and running off in southwestern direction.

"Well, come on, we can't let them go alone!" Libby whispered after they had nearly vanished out of sight.

"Are you CRAZY?" Alex barked, suddenly holding his front paws in front of his mouth when he realized he'd raised his voice. "We'll be really, really dead!"

"And I wanna really, really go out!"

Alex's eyes were wide with shock.

His sister met his bright yellow gaze for a moment, before nodding. "Okay, fine. I won't go into battle. But I'm going to have a look. This is a golden opportunity. Everyone of the Pack is fighting out there, even Alice and Elder Willow. I have to see this. It'll be the first battle I'll ever experience, and my first time exploring off-rendezvous!"

"Libby, no!" whispered Alex, his ears flat against his neck.

"It's fine." Her voice was clear as day as she walked onto the rendezvous site and stretched herself. "You don't have to come with me. I'll go alone."

She was about to walk into the tall grass in the direction their Packmates had gone into when Alex quickly jumped in front of her. "I won't let you go!"

"Stand aside, idiot!" Libby felt her hackles raise. "This is my one chance, and I won't let you take it from me!"

"You're being irrational! This is dangerous, Libby! Like life-threateningly dangerous!"

"I'll be fine! I'll be watching the Pack fight from a safe distance, remember? They're close! Nothing can happen to me!"

She walked in another direction, and Alex instantly responded by trying to grab her tail. She turned around quickly, however, and gave him a firm push. "Don't touch me!"

Desperation flared in Alex's gaze. "Libby, please! Go back inside the den with me!"

Without a moment's warning, Libby suddenly gave her brother a humongous push, knocking him over and sending sand flying. The dark gray pup started coughing and wiping at his eyes instantly, and, when he finally got up again and could see once more, Libby was gone.

***

Libby looked around in the tall golden-brown grass. She could barely see a thing, as it was too tall for her. She could only see the sky if she looked above her.

This is so cool! She trotted deeper into the grass of the Plains, excitement bubbling within her. She'd done it! She'd actually stayed true to her word and left the rendezvous. This was going to be the coolest exploration ever.

Many unfamiliar scents washed over her, scents she hadn't smelled before on the homesite. Although it was definitely tempting to go and follow the new smells to find out what they were, Libby decided to keep following the scents of her Packmates. Their scents were sharp with fear. The young pup wondered why. We are the Pack of Fading Shadows! No rogue wolves are too strong for us!

Suddenly she heard paws thumping on the ground behind her. Something was following her! Something small.

For a moment, Libby hesitated, not sure what to do. She could flee in the direction of the battle and hope for the aid of her mother and the others, or she could stand and fight.

I'll do it! I'll prove how strong I am!

She quickly braced herself, baring her teeth and flattening her ears, hackles rising and tail held high. "Come at me, you cowardly rat! Show yourself!"

Then there was a flash of dark gray. Libby instantly responded by going what she thought to be the throat of the creature that had followed her. As she bit down and drew a tiny trickle of blood, she heard a surprisingly familiar yelp.

Instantly she released and backed away a few steps from her victim. "Alex?" she said, surprised.

Her brother was bleeding from the side of his neck, though it luckily wasn't heavy. He had the most furious expression on his face as he met her dark brown eyes for the first time, but then quickly straightened himself and sat down, looking much more uncertain. "I...I can't get you go a...alone, can I?" he stammered.

"You're coming with me?" Libby felt her tail involuntarily wag.

"Well...if I can really not convince you to come back to the den with me?"

Libby shook her head. Her mind was set on whatever lay out here.

"Okay...I'm going with you, then. I can't drag you back. I'm not strong enough for that. And you are too dumb to listen to reason." He briefly bared his lips and frowned as he said the last sentence, but then regained his more submissive posture. "But we have to stay really quiet and make sure they don't spot us!"

Libby nodded curtly. "Deal. Now, come on. This way!" She led him down the path their Packmates had taken.

On their way, Libby sometimes leapt up to try and see above the tall grass, not to much avail, and Alex's annoyance. Finally, she gave up. She did spot the canopies of the forest at one jump, but decided that exploring that part of their surroundings would have to wait. First it was time for the battle.