it.

            “Watch where you’re going pup!” the fox shrieked as it chased Bear out of the bushes.

I laughed and turned to see Talon’s reaction. Talon had wandered off again. I strained to listen and walked slowly. Oh well.

                        “Leader! Behind you!” Bear yelled.

Something landed straight on my back and sent me tumbling. I slipped back onto my feet and growled at my attacker ...Talon? Bear jumped out of the bushes and growled at Talon.

“Stay out of this Bear. This is our fight” I said low in my throat.

Talon grinned and crouched.

“So you’re the one that’s been sneaking off!” I said darkly.

“Never thought you’d pick it out” Talon shot back.

Bear looked between us, confused. Talon grinned again and leapt at me. He might have been older and more experienced, but I had size and skill on my side. I flipped him onto his back and pinned him with a paw on his chest. My side burned but I hid any emotion besides rage from the disgraced wolf in front of me.

“Get out of here right now. You’re a traitor and wolves like you have no place here”

I stepped off of Talon and let him get to his feet. The grey wolf shook off and grinned at me again.

            “Do you really think that I’d want to stay here? Until Aniu was born, I was going to be alpha. At least then I was beta… then you were born and Tundra came back with Aniu, you found Bristol and got Kaya to be you’re mate. Plus, my new leader is much smarter then you. And he’s going to let me be beta when I tell him about your pups”

My blood started to run cold.

“I’m going to give you two seconds-!” I started to thunder.

            “Who are you kidding” Talon snorted. “Since when have you ever tried to kill another wolf?”

“I can make exceptions” I said quietly.

Talon dived for Bear, open jaws aiming for Bear’s neck. I grabbed the scruff of Talon’s neck and threw him to the ground, jaws wrapped around his neck. Talon still smiled.

            “Go ahead! I dare you” he wheezed.

My conscience fought with my instinct but my jaws loosened and Talon squirmed out of reach.

            “I knew it! You’re a soft leader” he spat. “Soft leaders never last”

He turned tail and ran into the neighboring territory. Bear, still perplexed and clearly in shock, wrestled with what had just happened. I still watched the spot where Talon had disappeared. The sky thundered and I looked up. This was going to come back to haunt me…

Buck, Kaya, Dakota, Anyu, Sitka, Talon, Nero, Yukon, Atka and Bear (c) me

Bristol (c) Anileu