Fern's eye flickered opened, blinded by the bright dawn light filtering through the holes in the poorly-made bramble den that sheltered the few warriors in the group.

Unquestioned tension was seen between animals, but only Fern seemed to notice it. What happened in camp between animals every time Fern left to hunt?

Timber and Whisper were already wide awake, sitting on the other side of the depression, talking with Ebony.

Stumbling to his paws, Fern slipped out of the den and shook out his thick pelt. His green eyes were dull and tired as he sauntered grudgingly over to the three.

Whisper looked over his shoulder and his eyes brightened. "Hello, Fern!" The tom swiftly shuffled over to give Fern room to take a seat.

Fern simply dipped his head and gave a fake smile. His eyes met Ebony's and Timber's paws shuffled nervously. Why was every animal acting so strange?

Ebony eventually broke the silence between the animals, "Greetings, Fern. Would you and Blue and Darkened Hope like to go hunting?"

Blue and Darkened Hope were the best hunters in the group, they didn't need his help. To be completely honest, I didn't want to wake up again to this bitter cold and fallen leaves.

"I'll go get the others." Fern replied with a nod.

Fern walked away from the nervous reck of Timber and the other three back towards the den he spent his days in.

Pale Light's head looked up as Fern padded in.

"Can you get Blue and Darkened Hope? We're going hunting." Fern spoke low.

Pale Light nodded, prodding Darkened Hope in his flank, his white shape moving sluggishly and ears flicked. Fern looked over the den, sighting Blue and stalking over to the fierce female and noses her flank.

Her crystal-like eyes open slowly and her eyes were dim. "We're going hunting. Ebony wants us and Darkened Hope to."

Blue sighed, rising to her paws and padding out of the den before shaking out her pelt. "Where is Darkened Hope?"

"Probably trying to get out of hunting. He's with Pale Light still in the den."

A few awkward, silent heartbeats passed before Darkened Hope slipped out of the den with Pale Light on his tail. "Are we ready?" He asked, Pale Light running off to notify Ebony.

Blue and Fern nodded calmly, and Pale Light came running back to the group. "You're coming with us too?" Blue quietly barked.

Pale Light gave an awkward laugh. "That's what Ebony asked. She said I could come with you."

"The more the merrier!" Fern gave a genuine laugh, one that made the whole group smile.

"We should get going." Darkened Hope commented.

"You're no fun!" Pale Light countered his brother, sounding like a young kit.

"Flame thinks I am."

"I knew it!"

"Shut up!"

Fern was too interesting in the hilarious relationship between the two, but Blue ended up dragging Pale Light away and towards the trees.

"Alright then." Darkened Hope watched his brother be dragged away like a mother to her naughty kits and laughed.

The four hunters padded in pairs, Darkened Hope and Pale Light and Fern and Blue. The two brother were inseparable.

Blue looked up at Fern. "Since they're going that way, should we go to the river?"

Fern nodded, admiring the soft color of her eyes. Between them, there was a comfortable silence as the padded with their ears pricked.

Suddenly, Blue stopped, a paw raised, sniffing the air. "Bird." She said so quietly Fern almost missed what she said.

Fern looked in the direction of where Blue was looking. His heart yearned for hers to love him.

Blue sped off into the distance, and Fern watched the skilled wolverine leap and kill the prey. She stood triumphantly over the carcass as Fern padded over. "Nice catch!"

"Thanks." Blue panted. "What did you catch?" She smiled at Fern.

Fern gave a smile back, looking over his shoulder at Darkened Hope and Pale Light padding up to them, each with a fish.

"When did you get here?" Fern turned around, Blue nudging her catch to between her paws.

"There wasn't any prey up there." Darkened Hope announced, flicking his muzzle up towards the higher part of the forest.

"That's weird." Blue commented. "There's always prey up there."

"Maybe dawn's too bright for the prey." Fern joked, remembering the blinding light when he first woke up.

Darkened Hope let out an amused snort. "We're heading back. That's why we came to see you."

"Can you take this?" Blue picked up her bird.

Pale Light nodded, taking Blue's prey in his jaws and walking off with Darkened Hope at his flank.

Fern watched the two brothers head uphill towards camp. "Should we head home?" He asked, gaze flickering over to Blue.

I don't want to head home.
I want to tell her.
I'm scared of what she'll think.
But I don't have forever.

"I bet we could catch some fish like they did." Blue replied.

Thank the stars she said no.

"The river isn't too far."

Blue nodded in reply, starting off towards the river. The silence between them made his stomach hurt and his heart burn.

Eventually he could hear the familiar rush of the river and felt warm sand beneath his paw pads. "Why did you drag Pale Light away from Darkened Hope before we left?"

Blue smiled. "They wouldn't have stopped arguing if I didn't. They're siblings."

Fern's fur pricked along his spine. He turned, seeing a mouse sat with his back to them. Blue saw it too, but instead of being stealthy, she shot off towards the mouse.

Fern raced after her, hoping that if she missed he could catch it. Blue leapt gracefully over a fallen tree and heading towards the speeding mouse, Fern a tail-length behind her.

Fern wasn't as nimble; he began slowing and watching Blue run after the mouse. Suddenly, she made a far leap and gazed down at her paws. Fern raced over, seeing triumph in her eyes.

Fern smiled, see her pride. "We should eat. You're probably hungry."

Blue swallowed, panting heavily, and nodded.

The pair slipped into a small clearing, thick with undergrowth. Fern's heart blazed as he settled down comfortably next to Blue.

After a few bites of the small creature, Fern was done. The fear of messing up filled his belly. Blue, on the other paw, finished the mouse.

When she was almost done, Fern decided to head back to camp not to worry the other animals. It had felt like moons.

The brambles rustled as Fern left Blue alone with the mouse she had caught. A branch snagged on his tail and ripped a tuft of fur off his tail.

Venom-hearted branches. Fern thought as he passed between two oaks. Bits of fur prickled along his spine. Is my instinct sensing something?

All of the sudden an earsplitting, bloodcurdling cry rang throughout the forest that could have been heard from the mountains.

Was that Blue? What had happened to her? Fern was rooted in his tracks, one paw raised to his chest.

He slowly looked over his shoulder to see . . . absolutely nothing. The great trees and thick undergrowth blocked all signs of life.

Fern didn't know where to go. Going back to camp and acting like nothing happened could result in more than serious consequences, and going back to check on Blue could meet him the same fate he believed Blue had met.

I'll go and get other warriors. Then I won't be alone when I help Blue.