Author's Note: We're getting close to the movie!

Chapter Twenty-Five

Garth was woken up one spring morning by Tony. Through sleepy eyes, he asked what was going on.

"Winston has ordered an emergency peace meeting," Tony declared.

"What for?" Garth questioned.

"Well, while you were gone, there was a massive caribou herd migration," Tony began. "It appears that almost all the caribou have left the Eastern Pack's territory. So in order to get enough food for the pack, I sent in a few hunting parties on different occasions. And now, Winston is getting upset."

Garth was speechless. After he overcame his initial shock at what his dad had done, however, he said, "Dad, you can't just send a few hunting parties into another pack's territory like that."

"Did I say 'A few'?" Tony asked. "I meant thirty."

"So you're telling me that while I was gone, you hunted in Western Pack territory?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"But, this could mean a war! That is against pack law!"

"First of all, if anyone starts a war, it will be us. We're the ones who are having a caribou shortage. And second, quit asking questions and come to the meeting with me. We have to be there in ten minutes. Come on."

Garth got up and took a speed bath down at the stream. When he was ready, he and Tony sprinted to the river that divided the Western and Eastern Pack territories. Down at the river, Winston was not very happy.

"Tony," Winston began, "I am sure that you know why I called you here."

"Of course I do… Winston," Tony said. He and Winston started to circle one another as if they were getting ready to fight.

"Um, can't you guys just sit down and talk?" Garth questioned the two Head Alphas on their strange behavior.

"Don't worry, we do this all the time," Winston assured Garth. The two wolves continued.

"I suppose you aren't too happy about me trying to keep my pack fed," Tony stated.

"Tony, you know that you broke pack law. If you wanted to hunt in our territory, you should have asked. But no! You just came right in and took our caribou. And on thirty different days too!" Winston and Tony were circling each other again.

"You know there is hardly any food left in our territory," Tony said angrily. "The entire area is becoming a wasteland!"

"Well then why don't we make a deal. If your son Garth and my daughter Kate were to get married, the packs would be united and our troubles would be over. What do you say?"

Garth was shocked when he heard that his marital future was being arranged without his consent. However, given the fact that he had decided romance was not for him, he did not care. There probably was not a single alpha in the world that he could be happy with. If Tony and Winston wanted him to marry someone he did not love, he could do it. It could not be too bad. After all, Garth had heard that Kate was a pretty good looking future Alpha Female. Everything would probably be just fine.

"Deal," Tony agreed to Winston's offer.

"Great," Winston said. "They can meet at a Moonlight Howl sometime soon. How about the one at the next half-moon?"

"The sooner they meet, the better," Tony said. "The Eastern Pack is getting close to starvation. We can't go like this much longer."

"In that case, meeting adjourned. And Tony, just ask the next time you need to hunt in our territory, got it?"

Tony smiled mischievously. "Of course, Winston. Good day."

With that, the two Head Alpha wolves broke their fight circle and returned to their territories.

Back in the den, Garth questioned his father on the matter of his marital future. "So I'm just going to marry Kate, just like that?"

"Yeah. Is there a problem? It is one of your responsibilities as a Head Alpha's son," Tony reminded Garth.

"Well, yeah, but…" Garth paused. "I don't know. It's fine I guess."

"Good," Tony replied. "Because that's the way it's going to be. But right now, I think you have a territory patrol scheduled, am I right?"

Garth suddenly remembered that it was his turn to patrol the Eastern Pack's territory as a new alpha. "Oh yeah! Right! Well, I better go. See you later."

Garth walked out of the den and began his patrol through the degrading Eastern Pack territory. It really was not necessary, however. Right now, the territory was in such bad shape that no self-respecting wolf would ever try to lead his pack to conquer a territory that could not even provide a decent meal for a handful of wolves. Nevertheless, Garth worked his shift and got back to the den as soon as he was finished.

As Garth sat down alone in the den, he thought to himself, Well now I know my future. I'm married to Kate, whether I like it or not, and we're both Head Alphas of the Western/Eastern Pack Union. I wonder how that will work out?

Garth did not know that the future as he knew it was about to change dramatically.

Author's Note: I think we're now REALLY close to the movie! Don't forget to review. By the way, I don't know if I can guarantee two chapters tomorrow; they're getting happier anyway after this. So, I guess you could call this the last official sad chapter in this sad chapter streak we've been in for WAY TOO LONG! I'm just glad I can update for you guys just about every day. See you tomorrow, in chapter twenty-six!