Before I am accused of seriously anthropomorphizing the new characters to come, I would like to point out that 1) it is intentional, and 2) it's so much more fun that way. :)


The herd was on the move again. In a tidal wave of cloven hooves and shaggy blue hides, the Ordon goats scattered in a chaotic formation across the pasture, which was currently ablaze in a cloud of dust from the stampede. Unorganized trios split off, meant to confuse the snarling bandits winding around the edge of the herd. A midnight black wolf headed off the front-running goats, pearly teeth gnashing as he herded the ungulates in the opposite direction. An iron gray companion loped alongside the edge of the stampede, snapping at the heels of stragglers. Unbeknownst to the rest of the herd, an individual had already fallen, lost beneath the tumult of hooves. Whether by exhaustion or otherwise, the goat, a fledgling ram by the bony stumps that protruded from its skull, lay dying. The hunt complete, the black wolf and his gray companion trotted back to the weakly flailing body of the goat. Even when the animal lay still, they did not yet tear into its flesh, by mutual agreement. The black male lifted his muzzle to the heavens and howled, his clearly jubilant cry rumbling through the vale. A kill! A kill we have made!

Not a far distance away, the other members of the pack lumbered toward the speaker of the message, stomachs rumbling and eager to feast. The alpha determinedly strode at the lead, electric-blue eyes brightening at the sight of his beta and his companion beside the kill. Close at his heels walked a proud, though stiff-legged elder male, whose silver pelt glowed with ageless shine in the late summer sun. At the rear, meekly padding a few feet behind the others was a slender young female, of fur white as winter snow.

Argon shook his rangy, reddish brown ruff and quickened his steps toward the goat. "I see no bite marks on its body," he observed with a bemused growl.

The black beta male dipped his head in greeting to his leader. "No, my Alpha. It must have stumbled and died beneath the stampede. We waited, as we expected you would want to feast upon the liver. As is your right."

"A wise choice, Kage," Argon smiled crookedly, teeth flashing. "For your efforts in the hunt, you and Randall have the privilege to eat after I claim my share." The gray male named Randall wagged his tail and yipped, obviously enjoying the small words of praise. Kage ignored his partner and bowed his head again.

The Alpha rushed ahead of the other two pack members and paused before the goat's body, eyes scanning its abdomen for the right place to tear into. With teeth bared hungrily, he was about to do just that.

"ARGON!"

An enraged bugle shattered the Alpha's concentration. Caught off guard, Argon whirled around with a snarl, meeting the eyes of a familiar, blue-eyed canine from several feet away. Black lips curled in an irate sneer, Argon said, "Ah, if it isn't Link, the halpha. How may we be of service today?"


Link the wolf set his piercing gaze upon the russet Alpha, hackles raised. "Don't patronize me, Argon," he warned. "I'm not here for small talk. You and your pack are trespassing on village property, and have illegally slaughtered village livelihood."

Argon glanced between his Beta and the others, making a noise in his throat. "You speak such complex words; we are but simple brutes."

"Neither ignorance nor sweet words can alleviate your offense," Link growled. "I think I made myself clear when I told you that our goat herds are off limits."

The Alpha's eyes narrowed with contempt. "You do not have a pack to show for. What makes you think you can order me around?"

"You're mistaken," said Link. "I consider the entire village as my pack. I care for them as you would your fellows. Rather than hunt, we raise our livestock in order to provide food for everyone. When you steal a goat, you steal food from the mouths of a family. There is deer and other prey abundant in the forest; why do you insist on attacking the herd?"

"Why? Because the telltale deer you speak of are lower in numbers than ever before!" Argon dared to step away from the kill and approached Link threateningly. "You expect us to wrestle each other for scraps while you human folk greedily protect your wealth? Unreasonable!"

Link paused, letting his gaze rest upon the other members of the pack. He knew of the Beta, Kage, as well as Randall. He also knew that the elder, whose name was Remus, used to lead the pack as Alpha. Only when Argon, a younger and fiercer competitor, joined the band did that change. After what he heard to be a bloodless coup, Argon took control of the pack, allowing Remus to stay on the condition of absolute subordination.

But who was the white female? Link had never seen her before. Noticing her unnaturally slender, perhaps underweight condition, Link could not deny Argon's argument.

"I sympathize with your plight," Link admitted, returning his stern glare to the Alpha. "However, it is beyond my ability to help. The fact is, our ranchers would never tolerate wolves raiding the pasture. If your pack cannot find enough prey, perhaps you should consider migrating."

Argon's snarl rumbled impotently in his chest, and he could only turn himself sharply toward the kill to avoid lashing out at the other male. He stared sullenly at the body, avoiding the gazes of his subordinates. Maw opened wide, he tore into the creature's belly, relishing the taste of hot meat. He withdrew his reddened nose with a fleshy brown slab in his jaws. His eyes flying to Link once more, the wolf continued to tear at his prize. A silent challenge.

With a huff, Link sidestepped away from the pack. "Seeing as this goat is already dead, there's no sense in letting its life go to waste," he said. "See that I don't find you anywhere near this pasture or the village again. Or else Fado will want to test his new crossbow." It was not an idle threat, but a promise.