Chapter Five: The Ingredient that saves lives

When Winter awoke the next morning, there was only silence. There were no birds singing their lovely melodies that they had sang every morning before this one. There was no soft and welcoming breeze blowing through the tree leaves, carrying the sweet smells of the honeysuckle that was nearby.

Even the sky was gloomy. The sunrise not as full, the sky was only painted with dark and sad colors, instead of bright and happy colors that would have brought a smile to Winter’s face.

Not even Moonbell was there. It was as if all of the forest knew something was not right, just as Winter did. She decided she needed to find Moonwatcher, Luna, especially Moonbell.

She raced outside. No one. She walked up to all of the caves and no one was there. She had checked all of them, but one. She checked this one last because she knew under normal circumstances, she had to have specific permission to enter, but this was no normal occasion. That was for sure.

She quietly peeked in and found almost every wolf in the pack huddled sadly around a pallet of soft leaves and grass, but Winter couldn’t see who was lying on it. She heard footsteps behind her, and then saw Mercury loping toward her with a yellow- no, not yellow- a golden leaf in his mouth.

Winter was about to ask him what in the world was going on, but he seemed urgent and she let him go into the den. As soon as he walked in, all the wolves glanced backwards and immediately let him pass through.

As you would imagine, this is a very big cave to hold all of these wolves, in fact, so huge that Winter could hear Mercury’s panting echoing around the cave and it seemed so loud she wanted to cover her ears.

Anyhow, Winter watched intently, and saw that the wolf who was on the pallet seemed very, very ill. If he was standing, he would be tall, though. He looked very similar to Moonbell. He was a more, how do you say, masculine shade of pink than Moonbell, but he was mostly creamy white and he did look very pale.

His eyes were deep blue and his face was kind and very gentle, yet fierce and stern. He had a nasty cough and everybody seemed very sad. Winter knew she had seen him many times, but she had no idea who he was. He mostly stayed in his cave, and sometimes wolves would walk in, seeming concerned, but then walk out, looking relieved and content.

Winter thought he was a big deal and now took into account that he was sick. He could… get more sick and possibly die. This made Winter very sad and she was more curious and very anxious to see what would happen to him.

Mercury took some water and put the golden leaf in it, and mixed it, making the water turn a brilliant shade of gold as well. He took the mixture and let the sick wolf drink. Everyone waited anxiously but the ill wolf only coughed and everyone seemed sadder.

Winter suddenly realized that she recognized many people in this cave. Fang, who she thought might have even been crying. Luna, who was surely shedding tears. Moonwatcher, who was downright bawling. And Moonbell, she was sobbing. This made Winter so sad and a tear did roll down her face.

“What can we do?” asked Moonwatcher, concerned, and her voice choked by tears.

“I… Don’t know if anything can be done.” replied Mercury, looking equally concerned.

“But we must keep trying!” insisted Moonwatcher, sounding like she was going to cry more.

“I… I will try more healer’s drink. Maybe he needs more boosts. The first dose did no good.”

“You must… You must keep trying.” Moonwatcher walked over to the sick wolf and sat down gently beside him. “Oh my sweet Nova. Be strong for us. Please.” she closed her eyes and a tear came down her face. “You can make it. You can. We all know you can.”

All she got in reply was a cough and a very weak voice, “I- I am trying, darling… If I do not make it-“

“Yes???”

“I know you will be the greatest leader of the pack. You are the best mate and already… already the greatest mother. I hope… I hope Moonbell grows up to be just like you…”

Moonbell started sobbing more and so did Moonwatcher.

“You will make it! You will, father!” said Moonbell.

And now, as it started to rain, Winter’s presence was noticed because she started sobbing, too.

All of this pain was unbearable. Especially to Moonwatcher and Moonbell, for this sick wolf was Nova, Moonbell’s father and Moonwatcher’s mate. Winter had inferred this and now she was reminded of the time she lost her loved ones.

Sadness washed over everyone, like the water in the waterfall did during a hot summer day. But this was not refreshing. In fact, it was most likely the complete opposite, and everyone could understand that.

Suddenly a wolf appeared. He was black as could be and had bright yellow eyes, like his body the night sky and his eyes the two brightest stars. He looked, if possible, a wolf that resembled Winter in an opposite way. While he was dark, dark black, Winter was vibrant white.

They had a similar build. Both healthy and slender and they both looked like excellent runners and both were. They had a similar facial features, but Winter had a large scar on her ear and leg, and he had a clean face and only one huge scar on his side.

Everybody in the cave paused to look at him and everybody waited. He suddenly spoke. His voice was low and husky as he said, 

“I am aware of your dilemma. Alas, it is a sad one.” he paused and thought. “But…” everyone looked eager and desperate. “But, I have a solution. You have made healers drink from the leaves of the Healers Tree, but you have been doing it wrong.”

A choir of gasps filled the cave. 

“What do you mean??” asked Mercury, looking offended. “This is the way the Moon pack has been doing it for centuries!”

“Yes, but that is only how you have done it centuries past. This is the present and soon the future, correct?”

“Just, please tell us what we’ve been doing wrong, and the right way to do it!” Moon watcher pleaded.

“I will, but…” he thought for a moment. “But, I will need three wolves to go with me to retrieve the ingredient you have missed for so many years. Leaves from the Healer’s Tree are now abundant, but the ingredient that saves lives is so sacred and forgotten, it is often hard to obtain.”

Everybody mumbled and no one seemed to know how to respond.

“You will need three quick and agile. And of course, three who can climb. The ingredient is on top of the highest mountain, Mount Lupus.” 

The cave echoed with gasps. Now the wolves stepped backwards. But, hesitantly, three stepped forward. Fang, Luna, and Winter.

The mysterious wolf looked them over quickly, nodded slightly, and without a second of consideration, he said, “I guess it is decided then. These three wolves will come with me. There is no time to lose. Come now.” and he turned and left.

Moon bell seemed shocked.

“Winter, no! You can’t do this, it’s… It’s my dad and I should go with that guy and find the ingredient. Even if it is on…” Moonbell shivered. “Mount Lupus…”

Winter looked into her eyes with a sad and serious look, while the other two comforted and promised Moonwatcher they would save Nova.

“I am doing this for you. Because, I don’t want you to know… how it feels…” Winter said. She looked at her locket sadly and then up at Moonbell one final time. 

Then, with that, she nodded at the others, turned, and they all started their somewhat dangerous departure from the Moon Pack, and their very dangerous journey to Mount Lupus.