When I woke up, Beth was missing. Everyone was frantic after I realized she wasn't at her normal spot beside me. After a quick search of the forest surrounding the camp yielded nothing Alpha organized a search party to look for her farther out. I felt paralyzed and useless. How on earth could I have let this happen?  I should have done better at keeping the bullies away, or told her one more time that she can't go past the river.  While everyone else searched, I was tasked with minding the pups because all the other caretakers were out searching too. Beth's mother Clover, who couldn't leave the camp to look for her daughter on account of a broken leg, was sat numbly weaving a basket. The pup who had thrown mud at Beth the other day, Piper, was chasing another little pup. She didn't seem to have any idea that maybe her actions had caused her to lose a pack mate. I had to remind myself she didn't know any better. She was only a young pup after all.

 When the sun was at the top of the sky everyone met back at camp for a solemn lunch. It was like a human funeral and far different from our pack's celebration of death in honor of the deceased. Everyone set out again after lunch, and day turned to night with no luck. It had rained the past night which meant it was near impossible to track Beth's scent. Alpha proposed that everyone should sleep, and try again in the morning. Clover was angry, "You can't give up! Not till my baby girl is home…" "I know," Alpha replied, "We're not giving up. We have to rest so we can put all our energy into finding her tomorrow." Even though it was obvious Clover still didn't agree, she couldn't go against Alpha's orders. And with that the day was over, and everyone fell asleep tired from searching all day, despite all the anxiety in the air.

 I didn't fall asleep though. Everyone else had taken a chance to look, but I hadn't, and I certainly wanted to try. I knew Beth better than most, and I had to hope that meant I could find her. I took a torch to the fading fire and set out towards the woods. I didn't bother with any obvious places, searching any nooks and crannies that maybe, possibly, the rest of the pack could have missed. As the trees got thicker and the light of the camp started to disappear a chill went down my spine. Our pack thrives in the night better than most species, and certainly better than humans, but that didn't mean the dark forest wasn't scary. I heard a rustling sound and turned to see that it was just a fox ducking into it's den. I walked over and stared down the whole. It was big enough that a pup might have fit inside. Could a certain pup fit inside? I peeked inside the den and saw the fox, warning me not to come in any further. Her little fox kits were curled around a familiar shape. “Beth,” I whispered so as not to anger the fox. “Can you here me Bee? Come on out of here.” Beth sniffled and turned her head to look at me. She turned her body to reveal a motionless pup. A sob caught in her throat. “Oh Bee… I’m so sorry.” “It’s not fair. She’s so little!” Beth cried. The mama fox leaves me, not recognizing me as a threat, more concerned with her baby. “I know it’s difficult but you have to leave her. We can’t do anything for her and if you stay away from camp any more you’ll get sick or starve. So come on” I give her my hand and pull her out. She leaves the kit with her mom. I hug her close and we start home.

 The pack was overjoyed and although Alpha attempted to reprimand me for going against orders, Clover told her to leave it. “Thank you for bringing my baby home.” Clover thanked me, pulling me into a hug. Beth was ushered away so that Sage and May could check her health. Everyone celebrated, eating and dancing until we went back to sleep for the night, tired and worn out. The problem was that when I woke up we realized it was much too early for celebration. Beth had fallen ill over night, and now I was sat being questioned in the supply  tent by Sage and May. “Diana, what happened when you found her.” Sage asked me. “I found her in a fox den, she was holding a dead kit.” I answered. Sage and May exchanged worried looks, “Were there any physical injuries on the pup?” May asked. “No. It looked like maybe it had died from illness.” “Shit,” Sage cursed. “Shit. Shit. Shit.” “What does this have to do with…” I didn’t finish. Beth must have caught something from the pup. I mean, it probably didn’t help that she had been gone the whole of yesterday out in the forest, but some food, water, and rest should have at least helped to see an improvement in her health. Especially because our pack heals fairly quick compared to most humans.

 Alpha called an emergency meeting, even I was allowed to attend. After we realized why Beth was sick, May and Sage had tried all the treatments they thought might help, but nothing worked. “I understand we are all worried about our young pup, but we need to stay strong for her.” Alpha addressed us. Even though she was obviously worried, she still held a solid front, comforting her pack. “Know one besides Sage, May, and Clover are to go near Beth.” Everyone nodded. Holly spoke “How do we move forward with healing Beth though?None of our treatments are working.” “I am still unsure how to move forward,” Alpha said, “Which is why, with Sage’s suggestion, I think it might be imperative to get assistance from a human doctor.” And then everything fell into chaos.