The wolves were hard at work. We weren't made for menial tasks, we were made for stalking, hunting and killing. Cleaning has no part in our blood. . . but we would have to adapt. My orders were to clear the halls of rocks, and other damage. Together we all worked, and together we made this place more. . . home. The main halls were cleared of rocks, all the old tapestries on the walls I asked to me moved safely to the throne room

'I never lived in a fake cave before.' Ike commented.

'It's strangely more. . . comfortable than any real cave I've slept in.' I assured him.

'Hmm. . . well wait and see.' He told me.

'Chief!' a wolf came running up, 'we cleared the last of it, but we left the spots you wanted alone.'

'Thanks, gather the others in the den.' I ordered.

'Yes Chief.' He said before he bolted off down the hall.

'What now?' Ike asked.

'I set the rules and guidelines, and I talk with our kin.' I answered.

'Then let us go Chief.' Ike said, walking ahead of me.

'Right behind you.' I said as I followed his lead.

The doors to the throne room were opened, piles of stones were holding them open for anyone who enters. The great room was cleared of all the damage cause by age., the tapestries remained but all the furniture was piled in the centre of the room along with stones that fell from place. The wolves were gathered around it, around twenty all together, excluding the young blood. I climbed the pile and sat at the top. I took a breath and let out a howl, the pack joined me.

'Alright. . . this is a New World, we have to adapt. Our lives for so long were lost in slaughter and violence, we lost our honour and our titles. . . But we are here, and here we start again. . .' I began, 'but we are not alone anymore, the ponies are our allies and in accordance with out allies rules have to be set.'

'What Rules?!' Koma piped up.

'Hunting, is now restricted until I say so-!' I answered, but there was a row from the crowd.

'How long will that be?!' Rah spoke up.

'Depends, the ponies do not eat the creatures of the forest but they respect them, we will hunt again in time I promise.' I told them.

'What else?!' somewolf else in the crowd asked.

'Our customs and our code, they will be altered here and now, and depending on whether Kyre challenges me they will be changed again.' I told them, but some wolves seemed sceptical, 'Lastly. . . The Pairing Festival, its is coming up and we will go through with it, but the ceremonial hunts may not go on-'

There was an uproar from the crowd.

'BUT FESTIVAL WILL GO ON! It will be the first held in these lands and It will commence. . . anyone who seeks to challenge that step forward.' They grew silent, no one stepped forward, 'Good, we have a reserve of food we will share until another hunt is allowed, that is all.'

All the wolves went their separate ways, some stayed to talk and some. . . took one last glance at me, something dark and malicious hidden in their eyes.

'Chief!?' I looked down, Koma was climbing the pile.

'Koma, any news on Loka?' I asked.

'Nothing, she may be gone for another day yet.' He explained, 'anything you need of us?'

'. . . can you portion the food?' I asked.

'What does portion mean?' he asked.

'. . . Nevermind, just go have a break.' I told him as I started to climb down the pile.

Things were settling down for the night. All of us gathered in the den and chose a place to sleep, I decided to sleep at the bottom of the pile and Ike joined me. At a time we were all supposed to sleep, and yet all our eyes were on each other, trying to drift off but. . . none of us could sleep. . .

'This night grows long. . . and boring. . .' Ike told me.

'Yeah. . . it is. . .' I agreed, sighing.

'. . . Remember what father did when we settled to a new place?' Ike asked.

'. . . Yes. . .' I looked at Ike, he sat there waiting for me to do it.

'I'm not going to sing. . .' I told him.

'Please? You always did it with dad-' he tried to argue.

'Because sister wouldn't.' I reminded him.

'I thought it was because you sounded better.' He mused, I stared at him and laughed a little.

'. . . Maybe. . .' I said, thinking about it, 'how do you think sister is?'

'. . . I try not to think about it. . .' he said, it was clear he didn't want to talk about it.

'. . . Alright. . .' I sat up, 'Feel the cold. . . feel the cold. . . feel the winter, feel it come, remember. . . were all old. . . old and cold. . . were here again out of the cold. . .'

I didn't notice it, but all the wolves seemed to perk up to listen in.

'Anymore songs chief?' somewolf asked.

'. . . I have pony song I like, would ya like to hear that?' I asked, and a few wolves nodded and yelped.

Ponies had weird songs, but they were good and needed music. I started rubbing my paws over the stones, getting a rhythm.

'We are dead to rights morning ray, we are thick and thin 'til our last days, so hold me close and I'll surrender to your heart, you know how to give and how to take! You see every hope I locked away. So pull me close and surrender to my heart Before the flame goes out tonight. . .yeah, we'll live until we die. . . ' that wasn't the end of it, but. . . I didn't think they would like more.

'Chief!' somewolf shouted, 'Encore!'

'Yes Chief!' another shouted.

'Please chief!' another.

'. . . Guess you did have the better voice.' Ike said, laughing a little.

But I wasn't laughing, I was more stunned than anything else.

'No, not here take it outside!' I ordered, a wolf was attempting to turn a fallen tapestry into what the ponies called a toilet.

'Ugh, ok chief!' he said, bolting away.

'Runt I don't think he'll take kindly to that. . .' Ike warned me.

'He'll take it. I'm not having them. . . defecating inside.' I told him.

'What does death have to do with it?' Ike asked.

'That's not what. . . nevermind, any news of Loka?' I asked.

'Still quiet, I put up a few wolves to watch for anyone who approaches.' He assured me.

'CHIEF!' Koma came running at us, 'some wolves got a stranger, in the den!'

He raced off and we followed him. He lead us to the den, and there was a huddle of wolves encircling someone.

'Make way!' I ordered, moving through the crowd, 'back up!'

I broke the crowd to see a cowering Fluttershy, hiding behind her hooves.

'I told you. . . ponies ARE FRIENDS!' I howled at them.

'S-sorry chief, she was. . . I kinda panicked. . .' a wolf spoke up.

'No, SHES panicking!' I told him, but I looked at him and I could see tufts of pink hair in the corner of his mouth, 'What is that?'

I asked, and he just sucked the hair in his mouth.

'. . . Alright, clear out and leave her be. . . NOW!' and the crowd broke up.

'. . . Runt. . .' Fluttershy mumbled, I leaned in and nudged her.

'I'm sorry, they are. . . still rough, are you alright?' I asked, she sprang up and hugged me.

'I'm fine, they didn't hurt me.' She said.

'What happened to your hair then?' I asked.

'It got caught on a branch, they were pretty gentle. . . but they did scare me. . . a lot. . .' she explained.

'Ok. . . I'll deal with that, what are you doing here?' I asked, finally getting free of her.

'. . . I know its nature. . . but. . . somepony's been hurt, he said. . . I don't want to believe it, but-' she tried to explain.

'A wolf attacked?' I asked.

'I. . . know you're a friend, but ponies are getting scared. . . they're starting to not. . . trust you. . .' she explained, I could tell she was trying not to cry.

Its taking her so much will to stay strong like this, I have the feeling the only reason she came was because she's a friend to animals. . . and yet we are not animals. . . we are monsters.

'Fluttershy, what colour fur did they have? Other wolves may be coming down, what colour was it?' I asked, but before she could answer a wolf ran up to us.

'Chief, another watcher came in, he saw Loka and other wolves approaching!' he told me.

'. . . EVERYONE TO THE MAIN HALL!' I ordered, leading Fluttershy to the pile of stones, 'Hide here.'

'What's happening?' she asked.

'I'll explain it later, just stay here.' I raced back to the door to the den.

A lot of the wolves came in, all of them took place behind me to face what was coming. The corridor ahead was dark, but there was movement coming down it. First Loka came limping out, she was hurt but following her was the old wolf himself, with a tuft of green hair on his head. He had the look of experience, his coat was grey and there were patches of scars running through his coat. The wolves following him were similar, but they looked younger. . . young blood.

'Welcome Kyre, I am-'

'Son of the Wolf Mother, I heard. . .' he explained, pushing Loka over, 'Your mother was. . . curious, she was so kind when younger. . . but that fire she grew. . . I liked that. . .'

'. . . Kyre, my challenge? Do you-' I asked.

'I accept!' he said, almost immediately, 'That leaves when and where, the Fang miles, forty moons from now.'

'. . . Why so generous with the time?' I asked.

'Your home is. . . nice, when I take it I would like to see it. . . properly prepared.' He said, as he turned to leave.

On his way out, he approached Loka and rushed her over. He started to stalk her as she tried to crawl away but I jumped between them.

'BACK OFF!' I ordered, staring him down.

Teeth were bared. Anger roaring. Then in the middle of it. . . he was smiling.

'There it is. . . the fire. . . you impress me Runt. . .' he turned and walked away, 'very impressive. . .'

He left, then his kin. The den fell silent and all eyes fell on me.

'. . . Make sure they do not harm anyone, ensure they return over the mountains. . .' I ordered, but none of them showed sign of moving, 'NOW!'

They all scattered, following Kyre out, and I turned to see Fluttershy and Ike standing there.

'Kyre wanted to see you mad. . . why?' Ike asked.

'. . . He wants to see my fury. . . he will see It in full. . .' I answered, I turned and saw Loka on the floor still.

I ran up to her and helped her up.

'Chi-!' she gasped out.

'Breath.' I told her, 'are you alright?'

'. . . I'll live. . .' she said, freeing herself from me, 'I'll help. . . get them over-!'

She was going to collapse, but I threw myself under her and carried her over to the others.

'Fluttershy. . . she needs help.' I was about to ask her, but she beat me to it.

'I'll need to take her back to Ponyville.' She said.

'I'll carry her.' Ike offered.

'No, I'll take her-'

'Brother. . . they were hesitating, you need to stay when they return. . . the chief needs to maintain control. Be the alpha.' He told me, as he carefully slid under her and took her from me.

'. . . Why does it seem you would make a better chief?' I asked.

'No better. . . I just know what power does.' He said, 'I'll be back as soon as I can.'

'And I'll take care of her.' Fluttershy promised.

'. . . Thank you. . . both of you.' I thanked, bowing my head before they left.

As they vanished, I was alone again, left to ponder in my. . . desolation.

It was quiet, the night set in and all seemed calm. There was tension in the air, thick enough that a blade could pierce it. I felt as if all eyes were on me, waiting. . . waiting for me to faulter, to fall. . . to give up. . . they expect me to die. . .

'Whoever wishes to. . . speak!' I said aloud, calling out to anyone, 'who doubts me?!'

There was no movement for a moment, but then a wolf stood up and approached me.

'Speak, Sigma.' I told him.

'. . . Chief. . . you are a fool.' He told me.

'. . . And?' I asked, expecting more.

'You want to challenge one of the most ruthless of our kind. . . alone at a place of his choosing, at a time he decided. That makes you a fool.' He told me.

'Do you expect me to die?' I asked, and he nodded, '. . . then if I die. . . I die.'

'. . . That can't be all of it. . . THAT CAN'T BE!' he yelled at me, 'we do not know what Kyre will do when he wins. . . what will happen to us. . . I. . . can't let that happen. . .'

I stood up and stared at him.

'If you won't allow it. . . challenge me. . .'I told him, 'take control, and refuse the challenge and let the ponies die.'

'. . . I'm no fool, with your magic-!' he tried to say, but I shook my head and flung off the neckless.

'I have no magic. . . I cant control it and I do not need to. . . CHALLENGW ME!' I demanded, '. . . fine, then all of you. . . ALL OF YOU!'

I started to call everyone out.

'THINK ME WEAK. . . THAN TAKE MY PLACE. . . ALL WHO C HALLENGE ME. . . KILL ME. . . KILL ME NOW!' I was calling the mall out, but. . . none of them were moving, '. . . why aren't you killing me?'

'Brother!' Ike called, 'why do you think? They wanted you to lead.'

'Some are a little. . . edgy, but most of them want you to lead.' Loka limped beside him.

'How are you feeling?' I asked her.

'I'll live.' She mused, I turned to sigma and the others.

'I follow the path as it unfolds, and I do not want. . . blood to be spilled needlessly. . . but if I die. . . please defend the ponies. . . will you promise me that on my death?' I asked, afraid of the response I would get.

'. . . I'm with ya chief!' Koma piped up.

'So am I!' another wolf called, then another.

Before long they all called out, or barked, in agreement.

'I'm with you brother.' Ike said to me.

'Me too. Win or lose.' Loka told me.

'. . . Sigma.' I called, 'should it come to it, only one should die. . . and that should be me.'

'. . . On your death. . . I will defend the ponies, chief.' He promised, and I nodded.

'Then we will build our home. . . our fortress. . . and we will defend it. Now. . . GO TO SLEEP! I'm tired, and I want you all to stop staring at me.' I said, and the crowd started to disperse.

'Well said brother.' Ike commented.

'Yeah, and chief.' Loka began, 'the. . . nice pony, said she wanted to have a teeee party tomorrow, and she wanted to invite you.'

'It's said as just: Tea.' I told her.

'. . . Te. . . Tia. . . Tea. . . weird.' She said before she limped off.

'. . . She's as stubborn as ever.' Ike told me.

'Yeah. . . I can't help but admire that.' I told him.

The calm came and the judgmental feeling in the air faded. . . I was no longer being watched. We all picked our spots and started to drift asleep, eventually I drifted away as well. My dreams of late were pleasant: I was on the ice slopes over the mountains again, basking in the warmth of the rising sun. I was alone. . . and that was fine, for I could the very world I wanted to protect before me. I felt. . . like how my father must have felt, looking out for what he cared for.

'Its cold up here.' A familiar voice told me.

'Well I guess I don't feel it. . . I grew in places like this.' I told her, 'how are you Luna?'

'I'm fine, but the same cannot be said for Fluttershy, she's having terrible nightmares.' She told me.

'what about?' I asked, out of concern.

'One of her friends. . . dying for her.' She told me, and I can't help but feel responsible, 'so much for your negotiations.'

I could hear her walking away, her hooves crunching through the snow before I heard her opening her wings.

'I didn't tell you all. . . because I didn't want you all to worry.' I told her.

'. . . That's not what friends do Runt.' She said, before she took off.

I didn't look at her once, I merely heard what she was doing, but then again that must make me not be a good friend. I lied to them. I avoided them. . . and I refuse to shed tears before them. What kind of friend am I?