Mountain air filled my lungs as I dashed through the darkened wilderness. An ebony star filled night paired perfectly with the moons lunar brilliance enveloped me as I ran. My legs pumped fast beneath me but there was no strenuous pain accompanying it, just the familiar thrum of my paws against frost bitten soil. I felt utterly weightless, as if I closed my eyes I would no longer be running, but flying. I would be in my own world, no longer a well groomed prisoner, but free.
Wanting to escape reality, I put in another burst of speed. Kicking my legs to move faster. My breath came in white puffs with each pant, leaving a quickly dispersing trail of clouds in my wake. I only slowed when I reached a trickling stream that cut through the mountain side. Icy water streaming over countless eroded pebbles, twinkling stars dancing along its mirror like surface as it pooled forever downward.
The chilly waters soaked the silver coat of my legs as I came to a stop at its muddy shore line. I bent down, my muzzle grazing the flowing surface. A brooding grey wolf stared me down through the moving water, its mossy green eyes distinct even in the darkest of nights. I pawed the watery mirror sending the ashen colors of the wolf swirling like a ruined painting, disrupting my reflection.
I lapped up the icy liquid, my parched tongue relishing in the new found drink.
The sound of a twig snapping pulled my head up. My eyes darting around the forest that surrounded me, though there was no one in sight a slow growl rumbled through my chest. All my senses were on high alert as I surveyed the winter bare trees. I lifted my snout and tested the air for game, though I knew already that the culprit hadn't been an innocent wandering deer or fattened hare.
I caught the sent as a slight breeze stirred through the mountainous air, an unfamiliar fragrance filling my nostrils. It was the smell of heady leather and sandalwood, distinctly wolf.
I howled into the night, making my presence known to all things living.
An answering vigor cry of an Alpha wadded through the woods, its closeness raising my hackles. My ears twitched back and forth as they focused in on the direction of crunching leaves. The sound getting closer and closer as the lone wolf followed my scent. My snarl echoed through the night as I spun around to face the wolf who'd emerged carefully into the clearing behind me. The charcoal black wolf bristled and bared his teeth at my hostility, his dark eyes glinting like angry black diamonds in the faint moonlight.
I bared my own canid fangs, a low steady growl filling the air between us as I stood my ground. He raised his muzzle high and low, testing the air of my scent, no doubt. His dark eyes glued to me as he paced deliberately forward, closing the great distance between us.
I gave a ferocious bark and snapped my teeth in quick succession not moving from my spot but showing I didn't like his proximity. Come one step closer and I'll rip your fur from your flesh. I thought. Though I wouldn't mind a good bloody fight with this lone wolf, I just didn't really feel like killing a ignorant animal because he got too curious.
He froze mid step, his flickering gaze narrowing slightly.
You're a Guardian.
The thought wasn't my own, but instead came from the wolf in front of me- Guardian in front of me. My rumbling growl ceased as I caught his words, and I cocked my head to the side as I eyed him from ears to tail. As are you, apparently. I thought wearily. Who are you and what do you want?
Who I am isn't important. He hunched his back and gave off a low warning growl. I'm the Alpha and your on my turf. Leave now or I'll be forced to attack, leaving your blood to coat these grounds.
I yawned and stretched my body out in a show of blasé. Somebody's a little to egotistical. I sniffed. I might just have to dull that down for you. You know, show you who's really the boss. I jumped up with a challenging snarl.
He licked his barred fangs. I have no qualms with fighting a girl.
Is that so? Well why haven't you attacked me yet? I pawed the ground. Afraid it'll be your blood that coats this ground? I met his black eyes with my green ones unflinchingly, portraying my fearlessness. Because it will be.
With a booming snarl he lunged at me, fangs glinting a bluish white in the ebony night. He sailed past me as I rolled easily out of the way, my paws lithe against the slippery mud. He spun around to face me eyes set with bloodlust as he snapped his chops in raging succession.
Adrenaline slithered like an angry snake through my veins, an always familiar feeling in the heat of battle. Though my heart was racing, I pranced in taunting circles around the Alpha making him angrier with each passing second. His next lunched aimed for my hamstring, his dagger-like teeth threatening to rip the muscle from my limber bones.
I danced backwards out of his reach, and gave a provoking wag of my tail. Come on Alpha, you can do better than that. I sent a bitter laugh with my thoughts.
Quit avoiding me and fight. He snarled.
Have it your way. I thought. Pressing my belly low to the ground I tensed my hind legs in an awaited launch. I sprung forward barreling into the wolfs furry body sending us sliding waywardly in the cool slick mud. His teeth sank into the flesh of my shoulder the same moment my own tore into his. His blood filling my mouth with the essence of smoky honey as I bit down harder, ignoring the pain of his fangs in my own flesh.
He released his hold on me first, trying instead to get an angle at my throat. That was a big mistake on his part, for I darted sideways in a quick bound and came back with a blow to his flank. Slipping on the watery soil he toppled over on his back giving me the advantage. Without hast I flung myself on top of him, pinning him to the frostbitten earth as my jaws clamped firmly around his windpipe. It wasn't his claws that dug painfully into my abdomen, or his whimpering snarl that stopped my last killing blow. Instead it was a distant howl that pulled my head up and unclenched my teeth from his throat.
Well that was fun, Alpha. But it seems my times up. I thought, with a wistful laugh. I rolled off of him in one swift movement and shook out my muddy grey fur as he scrambled to his feet. Until next time. I let out an answering howl, piercing the night with my skyward song. The black wolf raised his hackles but didn't pursue me as I bolted into the now silent forest.
High on lingering adrenaline of the fight, I ran faster then ever. The icy air flattening my silver fur against me, wind blown. I bounded over jagged rocks and fallen trees as I made my way toward the call that summoned me. It only took me what felt like mere fleeting seconds before I busted through two biting pines, entering the clearing of a ragged drop off.
An ashen brown wolf sat at the cliffs edge, watching the tip of the rising sun on a distant glowing horizon. He glanced at me curiously as I trotted over to sit beside him. How was your hunt?
Better then I expected. My tongue lulled out as I gave him a wolfy grin.
He leaned his muzzle towards mine and licked clotted blood off my snout. I grumbled as he cleaned my fur but didn't pull away from him. Doesn't taste like venison. His ember eyes assessed me, and he caught sight of the wound at my shoulder. Your hurt. He whined, pawing the earth.
I sniffed the bleeding gash on my side unconcerned. Just a little cut, nothing to fret over.
Nothing to fret over my ass. He glowered and turned his chest towards me. Go on, drink. He ordered.
I let out an exasperated huff but nicked is bare chest with my fangs, drawing a trickling stream of crimson. I know it's your job to protect me, but lets get real. I thought, lapping up his blood, the taste of biting honey filling my mouth. I can take care of myself. I'm not just some incompetent pup.
He gave a barking laugh and nudged the underside of my jaw affectionately. You know it's the Keepers orders Koda. He licked the rest of the blood from my muzzle. I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn't mean I wont help you any chance I get, even if it weren't demanded.
Yeah, yeah. I get it. I touched the tip of my nose to his. Speaking of Keepers, An annoyed growl rumbled through me. We better get going. You know how Efron gets when I'm not on time.
He let out a viscous snarl at the keepers name, but gave a solemn nod. Turning away from the purple and orange hues of dawn, we bounded down the mountain side, towards our awaiting master… and our new home in Veil.