Shadow convinced Max to wait until they come back. In the meantime, they are what they could and saved and endless amount of moose and pheasant for their friends.

Shadow looked around and wondered where they're at.....it's been a little over and hour since they came back.

"Rose, are you sure they went for a walk?"

"They told me, Gabe."

Okay.

After a while, they decided to sleep.

.....................................

"Okay Shadow, lesson one........no tears." Beta spoke.

Eleven year old Shadow stood there, shaking. "What do you mean?"

"Don't cry, especially when you're getting attacked."

Shadow gulped.

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Suddenly, Beta jumped on him, biting him hard on the ear. Shadow cried in agony. It hurt so much, that tears dripped from his eyes.

Beta sighed. "Look, the only way to survive is to not show your vulnerability. Got that?"

Shadow nodded

"No matter how much it hurts, DON'T SHOW IT!" Beta said sternly. "Ready?"

Shadow nodded again.

Beta then came in and stretched out her claws and swapped him.

..........................................

"Argggggghhhhh!" Shadow exclaimed. He got up to face his attacker, but that was then he realized that he was with Max, Zack and Rose, whom all were still asleep.

Shadow panted, he looked in front of him and noticed that a tree branch was swaying viciously in the wind. The branch itself looked like claws. He suddenly felt something wet slowly trickle down his cheek. He ran his hand over his face and noticed he could see blood shimmering under the moonlight.

Someone from the group stirred. "Shadow? You alright?"

Shadow could see that the person that was talking to him was none other than Max.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

Max stretched. "Mmm, no you're good." He looked around. "Matthew's not back yet?"

Shadow looked around too. He then looked up at the sky. The moon was almost setting on the horizon.

Damn, he thought. It's been hours!

"No, he isn't....." Which made him worry. Something wasn't right.

"Max, he wouldve been back a long time ago......it's been several hours since we came back. Look at the moon!"

Max followed his gaze, then his eyes grew big. "Oh, shit. Shadow, something's not right!"

"We need to wake Rose. We need to go find him."