her but not enough to penetrate her soft skin and fur.  He rolled her to the side and was on her in a flash. 

"Your duty blinds you," Damien finished, bringing his face next to hers, to whisper into her ear. "From the possibilities that are in plain sight."  He pulled back to look upon the she-wolf under his paws.  

Korra's blue eyes stared into her friend's amber depth, understanding what Damien meant; yet she could feel the warmth of his body, her heart begin to quickened. She knew what it was, but she hesitated.  She did not know if her friend shared her feelings. 

Damien saw something in his friend's eyes and he sighed inwardly.  She did not understand his meaning.  He got off of Korra and gazed off into a distance.  He could feel the she-wolf's eyes, as trying to understand his words as she continued to lay there, as if still pinned.   When he first met Korra, both of them were barely half grown, still a pups, not yet ready to eye suitable mates. However now he and Korra was half-grown and both of them should be preparing to take up their responsibility to the Orca pack.   

"I understand," said Damien as Korra rolled onto her belly.

"Damien?"

Damien glanced in her direction before resuming staring into the distance.  "You are an Alpha, Korra.  You will have to lead this pack with the others who share the same birthright."

"Damien," Korra said softly.

"I am a beta, I will follow the alphas' decisions and trust in their judgment."

"Damien!"  The name was almost shouted as she rose to her feet, fearing at what her friend was implying, but it fell on deaf ears.

"What I wish is nothing compared to the--"

Damien never finished his sentence.  Korra was on him, shoving him off his feet, He stared at her in surprise and saw her blue eyes were fury.

"Never tell me what I can or cannot do," she shouted, her body trembling.

"Those are our destinies, Korra," said Damien, his voice steady.  "You cannot deny them."

Korra sighed softly.  "You are the one who calls me blind, yet you are the one who...nevermind."  She leaped off of Damien and walked off, unable to be around her friend any longer.  She knew Damien's eyes followed her until a hill hid her from sight.

***

Legatus Augustus Centurion and his escort had barely left the borders of the Orca pack when they were met by four scouts, all bearing the marks of the 105th Legion, the legion the Centurion commanded.

"Legatus," said one of the scouts, bowing his head in salute.  "I bring word from Legatus Caesar Brutus of the 96th Legion of the Imperial Republic."

Centurion was taken aback.  Caeser Brutus was one of the Imperial Republic's honored wolves, a legendary general whose rank and experience outclassed anyone who served in her legions, including Centurion.  "Legatus Brutus is here?"

"Yes, Legatus.  He told me he wanted you to speak with him personally, I'm here to escort you." said the scout.

Caesar Brutus, Legatus of the 96th, paced in the den his soldiers had made for him, waiting impatiently for Legatus Centurion to arrive.  Born a black wolf, though the years have begun to show; grey fur now ran from his forehead and down his back.  His tail was entirely black.  But Brutus was not bothered by this change but took pride in his new colors.  Some wolves in the Imperial Republic have also given him the title of "Aiony", Night and Day.

His yellow eyes stared into the shadows of the den, trying to see how the future would play out.

  The Imperial Republic was the greatest civilization in the wolf history, its numbers increasing with each wolf pack that joined its ranks.  Its hold of land was equally as large for each pack which joined the Imperial Republic forfeited their land in exchange to be part of it. 

However, not all wolf packs gave in to bribery and the promise of protection.  Some fought back, resisting the hold of the Imperial Republic until either they were completely annihilated or all hopes of resistance was beaten out of them.  The wolf packs whose fate was the latter, always ended at the Stone Field.  Few ever lived to fight another day.   

The Orca pack was one such pack, Brutus knew.  They would fight till life left their bodies, human or wolf.  They would do anything to protect and preserve the land they had come to call home. 

The 105th had two hundred wolves, all veterans from the Youser campaign, still fresh young wolves itching for a fight of honor and remembrance. The 96th had half that number, but all of the Legion wolves under  Brutus had years of experience and the strength of wolves in their prime to make up for the loss. 

Yet the Orcas outnumbered both Legions, Brutus knew.  The scouts who survived venturing into Orca territory counted nearly four times as many wolves, young and those in their prime, capable of fighting.  The reason for their numbers was simple and  Brutus shook his head in frustration because of it.

The Orca females fought alongside males.

It was simple.  Allow females to fight and suddenly a pack's fighting strength multiplied. However such a thing was unheard of in the Imperial Republic, moreover it was banned. Something about females being inferior then males-- Brutus rolled his eyes at the notion. 

Damn fools in the Senate he thought.  But what could he do?  He had tried to petition for females to enter the service and his motion was denied in great numbers.  And because of the male pride and the old fools in the senate, the 96th and the 105th may face their first epic defeat in the Imperial Republic history.

And then there was Legatus Brutus and his famous 96th legion.  Brutus did not like the younger wolf, solely because of how the younger wolf achieved his rank.  Unlike himself who had gained his title and rank through honor and blood on the battlefield, Centurion was given the rank of Legatus because of his father.  Or rather, his father's inheritance and will.  Perhaps the old wolf knew what his son would do with his inheritance, spend it all on useless endeavors, for in his will, Centurion was forced to be conscripted into the Legions.  However Centurion proved himself to be a smooth talker and handing out his father's wealth in bribes.  Within a year the young wolf had achieved the rank of Legatus.  Brutus suspected murder and wolfnapping to be the young wolf's tools in elevation but Centurion's reputation and constant bribes ceased any true investigation.  Though he shared the same rank as Brutus, the older wolf did not respect Centurion and he planned to put the younger wolf in his place.      

   "Legatus Brutus?"

Speak of the devil

Brutus turned to see Legatus Centurion entering the cave.  "Centurion," he replied in a cold nod.  The grey wolf watched his superior with unblinking eyes, unafraid.

Foolish thought Brutus.

"I hear you requested to see me," said Centurion.

"I did," growled Brutus.  He turned to the escorting scouts.  "Leave us."

Centurion felt a growl of frustration at being escorted like a prisoner of war.  "Was that really necessary?" he demanded.  Brutus turned a single yellow at the grey wolf.  "I am summoned to my own camp like a common slave!"

"You will be summoned in the way I see fit," snapped Brutus.  "I daresay, I do believe it worked.  You're here now, are you not?" said Brutus.  "But enough of useless chitchat.  I have come here bearing the will of the Senate."

Centurion growled at being spoke in such a way.  "Brutus, I am your equal!"

"If you were Larka herself, I would not care!" snarled the older wolf coldly, though in his mind he begged for pardon to the wolf goddess.  To invoke her name in such a way was sacrilege but Brutus saw it drove its meaning into the young wolf.  "You are beneath me!"

Centurion backed away.  This was not how he wanted to meet the famous Brutus.  What had he done to deserve such manners?  Did he know about the bribes he gave out or the murder of numerous high ranking wolves he committed to achieve the rank Legatus? 

Impossible.  Centurion himself had dispatched the last loose end who knew of his plans.

"But again, I bring word from the Senate?"

"The Senate?" Centurion felt his heart race. 

"Is there an echo in this den?" growled Brutus, silencing the younger wolf.  "They believe your single legion is not enough to conquer the Orca tribe.  They have sent me--"

"To assist me?" growled Centurion.  The damn fools of the Senate.  Once they sense failure, they always saw failure.

"No!" snarled Brutus, charging at Centurion and pinning him against the wall.  "Interrupt me again and I will tear your tongue out." 

Centurion felt his anger rise but as his eyes met Brutus's, he saw a wolf who would do whatever it took to achieve his goal.  Even if it meant harming his own men.

"Am I understood, Legatus Centurion?" growled Brutus.  "I assure you, your tongue won't be the first I've torn out."

It took all of Centurion's will to