“What do you expect us to do Melodi? Just sit there and wait for him to get better? Mom is up with him, but what happens if she gets ill too? What about any of the other members that decided to stay back to help him? What if they fall victim to whatever is plaguing him too? Are we even able to return to our northern base?” The younger male all but shouted at the fluffier female who was resting on her haunches. Each day that passed they were without their father’s lead was nerve wracking. Nothing had happened to them…yet….Who knew what the future would hold for a pack without it’s head of command at the help.

“I think you are overreacting Sun…” The sister tried to reason, before she was cut off again.

“Am I though? You know some members of the pack are thinking it too. What do we do when they start to question?”

“We stay calm for once. Realize, dad wouldn’t want you to be acting this way, no matter who was ill. The pack will get through this, as will dad. Believe he will, that will help.”

Sunset scoffed. “Believe in words. Words do nothing. He needs more than words. He needs help.”


“And he has help. The healers---”

“---have yet to figure anything out! And he still is up there while everyone else is down here.”

“They will find something.” Melodic Shade tried to reason, only to have her brother shake his head at the thought. “Trust.”

Sunset shook his head. “I will trust once I see the results. Until then,” he turned away from his sister, heading towards the exit of the small den near the larger communal one.

“Where are you going?” Melodic called out with a frown.

“I’m going to find answers. I can’t wait around anymore. You watch the pack, see if Clay will help or even Moon. Maybe one of our other siblings would be willing to partake. But me, I’m going to help dad.” In his mind, the male would more useful looking for an answer, instead of giving false hope to the unknown.

“And where are the answers?” Melodi asked quizzically.

Sunset paused. “Do you think if I knew that I would be going on my own?”

“Find Cobi, she’ll travel with you….”
“Not enough time. Send her to look for me if you spot her, but…I don’t want to waste anymore time. Who knows how long dad has…”

“He will be okay Sunset.” Melodi tried to reason, however her brother was gone. Out the den and through the dying bushes that surrounded their pack lands. “He will be okay…” She found herself murmuring again, looking over to her wildlife hare companion nestled under soft fur tufts that had be collected earlier in the season. She shook her head at her companion, before heading out of the den herself. Sunset may be off, but she couldn’t just leave the pack. Their dad wouldn’t want that.

It was time for her to step up.