Daisy blinked.
“As I was saying,” continued Xavier, the leader, “Those bunnies have been stealing our prey. I have spotted them multiple times stray into our land for a good amount,” He let his piercing gaze sweep over the group.
Great, thought Daisy, flicking her fluffy tail. Here comes their regret. Why couldn’t they stay awake? She exchanged a glance with Alex, her best friend.
“What’s the point of putting you on watch if you can’t spot a clumsy bunny?” spat Xavier, and then he started talking about how it’s because of him that the pack was alive and how they were supposed to pay him back somehow. At last, he described the punishment. “Each of you will stay on watch from dawn to midnight. The rest of the time? I will give that shift to the pack members who didn’t fall asleep during their watch time and actually cared to inform me on any signs of unusual behavior,” His gaze swept over each and every member, and Theo flinched.
Poor Theo, thought Daisy. He must be terrified! Theo was always afraid of the pack leader and tended to stammer or slip up in front of him. And now he’s getting yelled at!
Xavier then said, “Me and Willow will discuss who will get each shift, and don’t you dare whine on what you get. Whine, and you’ll get the long shift and clean each cave every day. Is that clear?”
“Yes, leader,” the pack responded.
“Good. You are all dismissed.”
Xavier went into his cave, with his mate Willow close behind.
“Are you on morning shift?” Daisy turned to Alex.
“Yes. Are you?”
“That’s why I asked.”
“Good,” sighed Alex, “I couldn’t stand Scarlet bossing me around.”
Daisy gave her a questioning look. “She’s on morning shift too?”
Alex nodded. “Sadly, yes. Anyway, I suppose we should get going? Xavier hates when we are late.”
Daisy nodded, but her mind was somewhere else. Would she get the longer shift? Would Alex get the longer shift?
“I’ll do the beds if you like,” said Daisy. The beds were made up of any soft material the wolves could find - grass, feathers, moss, and even sometimes cloth from the hunters that lived nearby. Those disgraceful humans don’t deserve the cloth anyway. How dare they harm an animal?
Alex gave her a desperate look.
“Oh…Scarlet…” Daisy murmured, “Alright, I’ll stay.”
“Phew,” Alex sighed.
“Who’s getting the bedding?” Scarlet asked in a deep, raspy voice as she poked her head into the cave. Some said that her voice sounded like that because there was a scar on her neck, hiding under her messy, maroon fur.
“Uh…” Alex began. She hadn’t even noticed that Scarlet had walked into the cave.
“If you don’t mind, we were thinking you could get the bedding, Scarlet,” Daisy replied. She was never afraid to state something out loud, even to the most creepy wolf in the pack.
Scarlet narrowed her eyes, but Daisy held her unnerving gaze. At last, Scarlet grunted, “Alright.”
Once she left, Alex sighed, “Thank goodness,” which made Daisy giggle.
The morning shift of cleaning out the caves and getting them rid of cobwebs was long. As last, they managed to sit by the fire in the middle of the camp with their work complete.
“Everyone, gather at the fire!” howled Xavier, “I will now announce who got which shift for the watch.”
“Alex!” Called Daisy, “C’mon! Stop chewing on that rabbit bone.”
At last, each member of the pack gathered around the fire, nervously exchanging glances with one another.
“The ones who got the long shift are…” Xavier began, “...Juniper, Theo, August, Scarlet, and Alex!”
Daisy whipped her head to stare at Alex, who looked like she might faint. “Were you reporting to Xavier on your shifts?”
Alex gave a small shrug and sighed, “Sometimes I forgot…”
“B-But Xavier I-” Juniper quickly slapped her tail over her mouth, remembering the punishment for objecting.
Xavier concluded, “The one’s whose name was not heard have the shorter watch. You are dismissed, and shifts start tomorrow!”
Daisy heard Willow say to her brother, “Sorry, August. I’d change it if I could…”
Daisy and Alex trotted toward their cave. “Don’t worry, Alex, it’s just for a week,” Daisy soothed.
“How short,” muttered Alex, curling into her bed.
Daisy woke up with a jolt. Alex was still asleep, and the sun hadn’t set. She noticed someone had poked their head in the cave, which nearly gave her a heart attack.
“North!” She hissed, careful not to wake up Alex, “What are you doing? You scared me!”
“Sorry,” North whispered back, twitching an ear, “Xavier wants you to meet him in his cave.”
Daisy flicked her tail in both interest and surprise. “Why?”
North shrugged, “I don’t know. Either way, he said not to let anyone know.”
“Uh…okay, I’m coming,” Daisy blinked, and North silently left.
Daisy slowly got up and stretched, shaking the grass clinging to her fur. Then, she stifled a yawn and swiftly exited the cave. The afternoon sun gleamed brightly; Daisy couldn’t wait for night hunting.
Daisy finally reached the leader’s cave, which was across the camp. Softly, she called, “Xavier?”
There was silence. At last, a voice commanded, “Come in.”
Daisy entered the cave. Xavier was sitting neatly with his tail wrapped around his paws, and Willow quietly sat off to the side, only looking up once Daisy stepped in.
“Ah, Daisy,” Xavier began, “Good. You came.”
“Why am I here, may I ask?” Daisy said slowly.
“Good question. But first, you didn’t tell Alex, did you?”
“No. You told me not to.”
Xavier paused, as if trying to detect whether Daisy was lying. Then, at last, he continued:
“You don’t know why you’re here,” He didn’t wait for a response, “So I’ll tell you.”
Just tell me! Daisy silently urged on, although she didn’t want to say it out loud, otherwise she’d sound rude.
“I wanted to ask you something, Daisy.”
Huh? Daisy blinked. Ask her what? He seemed to be choosing his words carefully, as if he didn’t want to upset Willow. However, Willow didn’t look upset at all.
“Do you want to be my second-in-command?” Xavier asked.
Daisy was startled. Me? Second in command? “Wh-why…I mean…” She spluttered.
The leader of the White Moons tipped his head, “I see you are confused. Allow me to explain…”
Xavier took a deep breath, then let it out. At last, he began, “I knew you were the perfect choice. Yes, I have never had a second-in-command before, but you really do set a fine example, Daisy. Sure, Willow is also a perfect choice, but she’s my mate. You see, if she’s expecting kits, could she possibly be my second-in-command? No, she-” the wolf broke off with amusement at Daisy’s widened eyes. “She’s not expecting kits, I was just using that as an example. Anyway,” He flicked his tail, “You don’t fall asleep on shifts, you report even the slightest things, and you aren’t afraid to stand up, even against me. I was thinking you could, say, help me lead? Of course, Willow would still help, but again, she’s my mate. Say, Daisy, do you accept being my second-in-command?”
Daisy’s head was spinning. He was talking so fast, yet it was nearly nighttime. She had to act quickly, before the pack woke up. Well… Daisy thought, Nothing could go wrong…
She took a deep breath. At last, as the pack began to stir, she replied, “I would be honored to serve as your second-in-command, Xavier,” and she bowed her head.