late-afternoon hunt. The four wolves of the group – all of them were dark-colored females and friends of Dahlia – had caught a few rabbits and a plump beaver that was found on the river near its dam, but still there was no word on the caribou herd. The Clan had just begun to tear off their share of meat, eating together underneath the rising moon that began to rise into the gray cloudy sky. 

Aleu and Scarlet were sharing a rabbit together at a spot near the waterfall; they were so content with each other, the wolf and the quarter-wolf never noticed the gray and black she-wolf glaring at them from a low cave.

“Yes, that’s right, Aleu,” she murmured to herself, watching them exchange licks on their faces. “Enjoy your happiness while you can . . . after tonight, you’ll be under my control . . . and I will lead the Kawa Clan to the caribou! I will succeed where you have failed!” She chuckled quietly as she ripped into a share of rabbit that she had found by the entrance of her cave. Just when she had begun to eat, the light gray form of her younger sister entered the entrance of the cavern with a curious look of worry on her face. 

“Riza?” Lorna asked. “I see you found the meat that I left for you.” She slightly smiled; although her sister was against Aleu’s leadership and dark-hearted, Lorna felt that she should at least show some act of kindness, whether Riza was wicked or not. She was still family – her older twin sister. “Aleu and I caught it just by the forest’s edge a little while ago. It’s not too tough for you, is it?”

“Why?” The dark wolf queried her younger twin, ignoring the previous question. 

“Huh? What’s wrong?” The light gray was confused.

“Why?” Riza repeated. “Why are you so much like them?” She tore another piece of meat and chewed it before continuing. “You’re just as goody-two-shoes as the two lovebirds are over there! Why can’t you see that Aleu is only leading us to destruction?” 

“Riza . . . what are you –” Lorna softly whined but was quickly interrupted.

“Are you really that dense? Have you not noticed that it’s been an entire month since we arrived here and still Aleu has done nothing truly productive for the Kawa!” She let out a gurgling growl from deep in her throat; the noise alone was enough to make Lorna gulp. “She promised us caribou as the prophesized Alpha in our Father’s dreams, but has anything happened? No! Not a damn hide or hair . . . not even the scent of caribou can be found anywhere on this land!” She began to stand up, her claws already extended from her paws. “If that tame-born stays in power any longer, we’ll die out before spring even arrives!” 

“I understand how you feel, but –” Lorna was silenced by a clawed paw against her right cheek. The force of the blow knocked the light gray hard onto the flat, rocky floor of the cavern. The wound stung as the four parallel marks burned red and blood began to trickle down the right side of her face.

“How the hell could you understand, Sister?” Riza barked, her voice echoed out of the cave, causing the remainder of the Clan to take notice. “You’re on her side, just like everyone else here! You and Mother never understood me! Nobody here in this entire Clan understood me like Niju did!” Her voice now sounded like a howl as she began to exit the cave. “I’ll make sure that our little tame-born leader gets what she deserves for leading us to NOTHING!”  

She moved faster now, leaping out of the opening and through the calm water of lake. Her rage and anger caused her fur to stand on end as she finally arrived at her destination, growling as she crouched in front of the light-brown yearling, her claws extended from her black paws.

“Aleu . . .” The gray and black she-wolf growled with a smirk of revenge on her face. “You’re mine!” 

Before the yearling even had enough time to let out a surprising gasp, Riza had lunged forward at her, claws aimed for the kill.

“Aleu!” Scarlet leaped into the range of attack, standing in front of her. His claws were also out, digging deeper into the earthy ground below him. Aleu leaned backwards, surprised by Scarlet’s show of courage for her sake. 

The gray and black she-wolf landed before hitting Scarlet. Again, she growled. “Stand aside, Scarlet! This fight has nothing to do with you!”

“Never!” He growled back, crouching downward in a defensive manner. “Aleu is our Alpha! I’d do anything to make sure she’s safe!” 

Aleu’s eyes were wide, touched by Scarlet’s words of concern for her safety; however, she realized what Aniu meant for her to do now.

“Stand aside, Scarlet.” 

“What?” The mud-red lupine turned back, looking at the straight face of his Alpha. “You’ll get hurt or even killed if you fight! Besides, how can you find the caribou if you’re dead?”

“That is true,” Aleu closed her eyes, speaking calmly. “Riza is much more experienced at fighting than I am. She may very well kill me if she desires.” A smirk fell upon her face. “But this is my destiny, Scarlet, and as Alpha, I must accept this challenge alone.” She opened her eyes, seeing the sorrowful look in his eyes and reminded him of their conversation hours earlier. “Remember what Aniu told me? She said I had to be strong and prove my worthiness as Alpha. I’m sorry, but I have to do this on my own, without your help.” Aleu’s tone changed from calm to firm, trying to make Scarlet understand her reasons. “I’ll ask you again, Scarlet: please stand aside . . . and that’s an order.” She gazed at him, this time with a smile. “Don’t worry about me; I feel prepared for whatever happens. It is Aniu’s will.” 

“Aleu . . .” Scarlet let out a soft whine, but after a few seconds, he realized that Aleu was right. He had no choice but to finally give in. “I understand.” Retreating, he walked towards the cave where a wounded Lorna watched him approach the entrance; she gave him a total look of shock.

“Scarlet!” Lorna said to him when he approached her. She was lying on the ground of the cave, licking her paws and trying to clean her scratches that would permanently mark her face. “Oh, Scarlet! Why did you leave her alone? You should be there protecting her if you love her!” 

“Yes, I do love Aleu and I’d do anything to protect her from harm, but this is Aniu’s will,” He lowered his head and spoke with a slight grin on his face. “I left her alone because this is her destiny, Lorna. It’s not my battle . . . although heaven knows I’d prefer to fight in her place, for her sake . . . but she requested that I let her fight solo.”

Lorna’s head lowered, closing her eyes in prayer. After a brief silence, she looked back at the mud-red wolf. “I understand . . . and I’m sure this is the way things are meant to be.” 

All Scarlet did at that moment was nod in agreement, although his mind was flooded with worry for the one he loved so closely. He began to lick his half-sister’s wounds, helping to clean them. “So, what happened to you?”

“Oh, this?” Lorna pointed a paw to the four-lined scar that now graced her silver-gray face where her half-brother was treating it with kind licks. “Let’s just call it a parting gift from my sister. Ouch!” She let out a quick yelp of pain when her paw gently pressed against a stinging spot of her wound. “A quite painful present indeed.” She sighed as her head turned away from Scarlet, now realizing that her beauty was now tarnished for the remainder of her life. 

“Are you at least well enough to stand?” Scarlet asked, concerned for Lorna’s well-being.

She nodded. “Of course I am! She didn’t hurt my legs – just my face – so I’ll be just fine.” 

“Good,” he grinned. “We should go to your mother. She is close to delivery and she needs someone by her side. Come on.” Lorna agreed, standing up as the two of them hurried to the cave where Dahlia rested.

“Oh, Aniu,” Scarlet prayed into a slight breeze once they arrived to their destination. “Protect Aleu . . . If this is your will, may it be done.” A tear fell down his closed eyes as he hoped that the young yearling that he had admired ever since her arrival could indeed prove her worth. 

Lorna comforted him, nuzzling against his neck. “Don’t worry, Scarlet. Have faith in Aleu and Aniu, and anything is possible.”

The remaining wolves of the Clan knew that this was a fight between the two of them, so they surrounded them in a circle formed using their bodies. The only wolves that weren’t on the grass were Lorna, Scarlet, and a resting Dahlia; they watched in fear from above them in Dahlia’s cave. 

“So, Aleu,” Riza growled, smirking proudly. “Now I’ve got you right where I want you.” Her dark gray fur spiked up again on her back as she remained in her before-attacking stance.

Aleu, knowing for sure that this was what Aniu had warned her about, stood her ground; her body was lowered to the ground, prepared to lunge towards her attacker. A soft growl emerged from between her gritted teeth, although it sounded more like a dog’s playful growl. Just hearing that noise coming from her opponent made Riza burst into laughter. 

“Are you serious?” She chortled loudly. Her supporters of only a few wolves followed suit, laughing at the sound emitted from their Alpha. “That’s a typical ‘tame-born’ growl . . . which is exactly what you are, ‘tame-born’!” She continued to bully Aleu, causing her to lower her ears. “What’s the matter, tame-born? Didn’t your Daddy teach you how a wolf really growls? Oh, that’s right – he was too protective of you to teach you anything about life on the wild side!”

“Leave my Papa out of this, Riza!” Aleu growled loudly. “He has nothing to do with this! This is between you and me.” 

“Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, tame-born,” Riza replied back, still chuckling. “He led us onto the iceberg, only to abandon us to save you!” Her dark