Life could be hell.

Hawk knew this better than anyone. In the span of twenty-five years, he’d had six brushes with death. He’d made a habit out of counting. He still remembered one day, two months ago. A falling branch, broken by a monkey, had sliced his right eye. He didn’t hold a grudge. That was his motto. “Peace makes more friends than vengeance does enemies.” It was something his father, the Grimfur pack's former alpha, had told him, before he’d left to hunt one day. It was the last thing he’d ever said to Hawk. The next time he saw his father, he was being dragged home, unconscious, by the sentries. He died the next day. no wolf had ever found out what had killed him. He was also an outspoken advocate for friendship between the packs. It couldn’t be a coincidence, or, so he thought. But he could be wrong, he admitted to himself today, as he laid on the riverbank and contemplated it. He’d lost his father two years ago, yet it still hurt. He’d never had proof that he was murdered. For all Hawk knew, he could have been hit by another falling branch-

“Hey, Hawk! Are you moping again?”

Hawk sighed, sat up, and turned to face the source of the voice. “No, Eagle, I’m not. Just thinking. You know, that thing you have yet to do?” he added teasingly.

“Yea, yea. I get it. I can’t help my impulsiveness.” Eagle shot back, bounding to Hawk’s side. “It’s hereditary.”

“Sure.” Hawk replied sarcastically. “You’re just impetuous. Nothing wrong with that. I used to be that way, before…” he trailed off, a distant look in his eyes.

Eagle caught the look and sighed, nuzzling Hawk. “Don’t beat yourself up about it.” She pulled away, sat down, and looked into his eyes. “You couldn’t have stopped it. You’re not as invincible as you think you are, Hawk. I’m not going to let you die like that.”

“Yea, I know.” Hawk rested his head against Eagle’s. “What would I do without you?”

“A lot worse. But you’ve got me.”

“And I’m never letting you go.”

“Darn right.”

A long moment passed before either one said anything.

“So…” Hawk lifted his head and turned to Eagle. “Did you come down here to be romantic, or did you need something?”

“Aw, do I need a reason to be close to you?” she whined.

“Eagle…”

“Fine.” she huffed. “Alpha’s calling a pack meeting.”

“What?” he yelled, startling her. “Why didn’t you say that in the first place? He could have a big announcement! Someone could’ve died! There might even be a war going on-”

“Be honest,” she interrupted him, nudging him playfully, “you’d rather be here with me, wouldn’t you?”

“I…” Hawk groaned, defeated. “Yea, you got me.” He turned serious. “But we do need to go back.”

“Yea, I know.” Eagle’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Race you back to camp?”

Hawk stood up. “You know it!”

The two arrived in camp a few minutes later, exhausted. The pack’s alpha, Snake, had already started the meeting. He turned to the two as they entered. “Where were you two?” he asked, exasperated. “Eagle, I sent you to get Hawk half an hour ago. What happened?” The two stammered, trying to find a response.

“Oh, leave them alone, Snake.” The pack’s beta spoke up. “You know how young lovers are. We were like that once, you know,” she reminded him.

Snake groaned. “I know. I do not miss that.”

“Not even a little?” This got a few laughs from the assembled wolves.

“I… Just go sit down, you two.”

“Yes, Alpha.” The two walked off and sat down on the edge of the gathering. One of the other wolves sidled up to Hawk and whispered, “You didn’t miss anything. Just the normal boring stuff.”

Hawk scoffed. “That’s what I thought. Always the same. Nothing exciting ever happens around here.”

The other wolf snorted. “You got that right. We haven’t had a good war in years-”

“A ‘good’ war...”

“-according to Beta, the last time we had a war was seven years ago-”

“...as opposed to what, a bad one?”

“-that’s four years before I was born-”

“There really is no such thing as a ‘good war’, so to speak...”

“-heck, that’s more than my lifetime-”

“We get it, Dawn, we get it.” Hawk interrupted. “No need to rant.”

“Okay.” Dawn exhaled. “Sorry if I talk too much. I can’t help it. I have too much to say.”

“No kidding.” Eagle turned to Hawk. “You know her?”

“Well, I should. She’s my sister.” he replied.

“Oh. That makes sense actually.” Eagle studied Dawn. “She looks like you. And definitely acts like you,” she teased him.

“Oh, come on. I’m not that bad.” Hawk became slightly anxious. “Am I?”

“Relax, Hawk.” Eagle nudged him with her head. “I wasn’t being serious. You don’t talk that much, actually.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Not necessarily. It just means that I don’t know what you’re feeling.”

‘Sometimes that’s a good thing,’ Hawk thought darkly. “I can see how that would be annoying. I just don’t like to show my feelings outwardly all that often.”

A couple of awkward moments passed.

“Well, we should probably start paying attention to the meeting now. Let’s discuss this later.” Hawk spoke.

“Okay.” Eagle replied. The two turned their attention back to Snake, who was finishing the announcements.

“...no recent intrusions on our territory. See Jade if you’d like to volunteer for patrols,” Snake said, flicking his ears toward a wolf seated on the edge of the gathering. “I will personally lead elemental training today. Meet up at Ikavia Lake in two hours. That concludes today’s meeting,” he said, standing. “Dismissed. Oh, and Cloud,” he turned to his mate, “meet me in my den immediately. We have matters to discuss.” He strode down from his perch, ending the meeting.

"Phew," Dawn said to Hawk once they and Eagle had escaped to their usual hideout, a clearing out by the Ikav River. "I hate pack meetings. They're always so boring."

"I know what you mean, sis." Hawk spoke up from where he and Eagle were curled up together. "Snake is a good leader, but he can be really annoying sometimes."

"Hold on," Eagle stood, turned, and faced the forest.

"What is it?" Hawk stood and followed Eagle's stare.

Eagle huffed. "I could've sworn I heard something."

"Want to go check it out?" Hawk flicked his ears towards the forest.

"Yes, indeed, I do." Eagle turned her head. "Dawn, come on. We're leaving."

"Okaaaaay."

The trio ventured into the forest, scanning the area for any sign of life. All of a sudden, Hawk noticed a bright glow coming from the edge of the forest. "Found it," he said warily. Dawn and Eagle walked up at his side.

"Do we want to... investigate that?" Dawn asked meekly.

"Yes, indeed we do." Hawk echoed Eagle's words as they walked towards the anomaly, with Dawn trailing them a few feet behind. They stopped a couple of feet from the... whatever it was. Hawk turned to the other two. "Anyone up for finding out what this thing does?" Seeing he had no takers, Hawk picked up a rock in his teeth and tossed it into the light.

"What the..."

The rock had vanished.

Dawn backed another foot away. "I don't like this!"

All of a sudden, the light started glowing brighter.

"Run!" Hawk yelled, but it was too late. The light grew and encompassed them before winking out, taking them with it.

Meanwhile...

At Golden Oaks, Twilight was reading quietly in her library. Spike entered the room. "Hey, Twilight?"

"Yes, Spike?"

"The girls are here for the sleepover."

"Good, good! Show them in."

Spike returned a moment later, followed by five other mares. "Yippee!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily. "I've been planning this for sooooooooooo long!"

"You and me both, Pinkie." Twilight chuckled at Pinkie's enthusiasm. Just like normal., she thought to herself. "Alright, let's get started."

Suddenly, a small orb of light flew in through one of the windows. Fluttershy yelped and hid behind Rainbow Dash. The orb grew for a few seconds, then winked out, leaving three disoriented figures sprawled on the floor.

Applejack blinked in disbelief. "What in tarnation?"

Twilight approached the trio shakily. "H-Hello?"

Hawk raised his head. "Who are you?"

Author's Note

Ah, yes! Finally cranking out another story! Managed to get this out in between writing the actual novel and attempting suicide. What a cheerful picture, eh? Hope you enjoy the story!