The middle of the camp was cleared out, all the wolves were watching from the sidelines. Soot gulped, he felt under pressure. Crooked Heart suppressed a snort, this was going to be easy. A white she-wolf came into the center between the two males:
"Fight!" She rose her tail, then ran out of the way.
Crooked Heart immediately charged. Soot was taken by surprise and was pinned to the ground, stifling whimpers as the second-in-command tore his fur and ripped his flesh. Coming back to his senses, Soot pushed up with his back legs. Crooked Heart fell backwards, but he got straight back up and charged at the young wolf again. Once again, barely prepared, Soot was pinned down to the ground. Crooked Heart brought his jaws to close on Soot's ear and snapped his head to the side, tearing the tip off. The opponent cried out in pain and struggled to crawl away, but Crooked Heart bit his tail.
Soot snarled, he needed to use logic! He needs to back up and be prepared for Crooked Heart's charge. Soot backs up and relaxes, this way it will be easier for him to dodge to the side. But Crooked Heart didn't charge, he ducked under Soot, knocking the black wolf onto his stomach. With a strong heave, Crooked Heart shoved his paws against Soot's side. Soot whimpered and rolled onto his back, not realizing what a mistake he was making.
Growling, Crooked Heart jumped onto Soot's exposed belly and slashed at it. In extreme pain, Soot howled and got up, his paws sinking into the blood-stained snow.
"I surrender!" He howled.
Crooked Heart snorted, "I knew it would be easy."
Scar looked at Soot with his damaged eye, "Young wolf," He chuckled, "We don't take surrenders, you fight until you die."
A gray she wolf yelped, "Since when?!"
Scar curled his lip, "Since now! Don't get yourself dragged into this, Willow!"
Soot tucked his tail in between his legs, "Please," he whimpered.
"That gives us a better reason to execute you," Scar calmly stated, "Crooked Heart; finish the job."
Crooked Heart snarled and started stalking Soot, his head lowered. Soot sighed and laid his head on his paws, accepting his fate.
The large gray wolf jumped, Soot embraced for his end, but he didn't get one. He heard a thump and a whimper.
Crooked Heart stared at the gray she wolf that protested against Scar, he whimpered, "Willow?"
Willow huffed, "I won't let you..." She struggled to a sitting position, "Kill an innocent being that just wants a small portion of our food and water! I'm sure we can set up rules for him!"
Scar growled, "Crooked Heart, kill her."
The second-in-command looked at his leader with astonishment, "But she bears my pups!"
"I don't care! Kill her!" Scar snapped.
Crooked Heart backed down, "I... I can't, master."
Soot stared at Scar in defiance. Master? Scar is a powerful source in this Pack, but they act like he controls their strings!
"Then you are unworthy of your place as my second-in-command. I knew Thistle was more loyal then you. Thistle, kill him." Scar snorted.
A white male wolf padded into the clearing, his fur brushed with gray. He wasn't old, he was rather young. His well-built muscles told any intruder that he was stronger than them. He was bigger than Crooked Heart.
"You traitor," Thistle snarled and leaped at Crooked Heart. The former successor just lay there, he didn't protest. Was that how Scar controlled them! Soot whimpers as he sees Thistle tear Crooked Heart apart. Gray fur was everywhere, and a pool of blood sank into the snow. The body was still and cold, patches of fur were missing. Half of his face was torn apart. Soot whimpered, scrabbled to his feet and ran away.