Prologue There was a howl in the woods. Grey and orange running from yellow. The moon was up and shining its light on every dogs fur. Paws hit the ground with a force to speed up. Yellow fur blurred as the dog ran after its enemies. The grey pelt looked behind his shoulder and saw the yellow furred dog getting closer and sped up his pace. “Sandwing, don’t do this,” pleaded the dog with an orange pelt. “As 1st command I expected you to follow the pack rules,” the yellow furred dog yelled. Ahead there was a cliff that dipped down into rock daggers. The only way to cross the cliff was a thin but strong tree. The tree could only hold one dog at a time. “Get back here Springclaw, “ Sandwing growled at the orange pelt. The grey pelt stopped in his tracks sending dust flying. He turned to face Sandwing with a face ready for anything. He was really handsome and a strong body build. Sandwing stopped too wondering why he stopped. “I didn’t mean any harm. Springclaw and I just fell in love,” the grey dog said shrugging his muscular shoulders. “Forbidden love,” Sandwing growled. Sandwing looked at the grey handsome dog. Why did this dog stop when he was so close to freedom? Sandwing wondered. She took one more look at the dog and tackled him. Grey and yellow fur bundled up together in a blur. Teeth and claws were striking with every turn, dirt and grass went flying in all directions. Sandwing clawed the grey dog’s face leaving a deep mark from his left eye down the right corner of his mouth. Lashing back the grey dog got Sandwing back by opening back up a scar that was in the middle of her left eye. Blood stained the grass and fur that touched the red liquid. “MARKHOWL!” screamed Springclaw as Sandwing pinned him down. Sandwing was about to strike at Markhowl’s neck to finish him off when the bloody dog’s eyes shone bright as if the moon was in them. Markhowl’s voice changed from normal to a deeper sound as if he was giving a lecture on patrols. “Dogs will fall,” he began. “What are—” Sandwing started. “Under a dog so tall,” Markhowl got up from Sandwing’s paws,” brown, white, and grey, down goes the prey. Stalking in the night will help make right, leaves gliding down landing on the ground. Seasons rise as the dogs get the prize. Darkness will come to break the calm. Three dogs have all power, get them or in blood we shower.” Markhowl collapsed gasping for air, he looked up at the two dogs standing there with their jaws open in shock. Both Sandwing and Springclaw looked at each other. “Markhowl is a prophet?” Sandwing asked in confusion rubbing her paw on her other paw. She never heard a prophecy neither did Springclaw. They both never expected to hear a prophecy ever in their lives! It was many seasons ago before the current pack dogs had been born that there was a prophecy. Sandwing stepped forward making Markhowl wince; she growled in annoyance and snapped her jaws at the grey dog’s paw, Markhowl yelped in pain. “STOP!” Springclaw yelled at Sandwing and turned to face her friend, “Markhowl you never told me! Why didn’t you TELL ME?!” Markhowl stayed silent for a bit then sighed, “I work for the NightPoint Pack. I’m their main messenger, I tell the packs anything NightPoint lets me. I pretend to have extra fighting skills but you know how that turned out. Now NightPoint Pack wants me to join them now, I have given you a prophecy from the stars and now I must leave.” Markhowl got up and turned to Sandwing and gave her a nod. He then bowed to her ready for Sandwing to finish him off. “Tell all the pack leaders. Now you won this battle, time to finish what you started,” Markhowl howled through his paws. He looked at Springclaw one last time and smiled, “See you up there my love.” “NO!” Springclaw yelled putting a paw on his back, and started to cry. She can’t stop Sandwing from killing Markhowl, it was the pack rules. If you start a battle you must finish it either by death or peace. The orange fur colored dog then turned her back on the grey dog and hung her head. Sandwing gave Markhowl a nod telling him that his message will be delivered to the pack leaders. With a lunge at the throat, Sandwing snapped her jaws breaking his neck. The yellow, blood stained dog looked at Springclaw who had a bunch of red flowers around her from crying. More little red flowers popped up as Springclaw’s tears hit the soil. Springclaw looked up at the stars with sad eyes, “We go now and tell the leaders.” She got up and walked away to bury Markhowl’s body near the cliff. Sandwing offered to help but Springclaw growled at her. They then went back to camp and was welcomed by Wintertail, the SeasonPoint Pack’s leader. Sandwing told him what had happened and Springclaw told the white and grey spotted leader about Markhowl. Wintertail told Springcaw that she can still be first command as long if she doesn’t have another mate other than Brownnose, Springclaw accepted and left the den.
READ INSTRUCTIONS FIRST THEN | | v Wintertail looked at Sandwing and said,” We are going to war with the other packs.” Sandwing stared at her leader with wide eyes. He never called a war on any pack ever in the many seasons that he was leader. Sandwing thought that this one time when GrassPoint Pack hunted in their hunting grounds for a long time without asking Wintertail. Sandwing was sure that he was going to declare war on them but he didn’t! Sandwing nodded her head, “And we will win.” Her last thought for the day before falling asleep in her den was about the prophecy. What did Markhowl mean about “Seasons rise as the dogs get the prize”? What was the prize? Is he talking about us SeasonPoint Pack?
