Siera stifled a sigh in boredom as she sat on a branch of a large tree. Looking around lazily, her furry ear flicked. A noise had caught her attention. Turning in the branch quietly, she curiously looked down at the figure below her. It was another Druid like herself, in the form of a black wolf. With her boredom vanished, she used her skill of years of intense training to silently climb lower down the branches to spy on the stranger. Once she got a better look at the creature, her eyes widened in surprise. This was not one of her pack. Even though there were other, smaller packs aside from hers, it was rare that a lone wolf to travel into her territory. Hesitating, she crouched on the branch.

"Should I call my pack?" She wondered to herself. But her natural curiosity got the best of her, and she stealthily followed the creature. Not quite sure where the Druid was taking her, she constantly glanced around, making sure this was not an ambush. Once, she lost sight of the wolf, his fur blending into the dark surroundings. She frantically had searched, until she finally found him drinking water from a stream.

She let out a small breath of relief, which she regretted immediately. The wolf had heard the noise, and looked in her direction. Siera hoped that her dark brown fur would help her blend into the tree trunk. But the wolf didn't stop there. Stalking up to the tree, the wolf sniffed around the trunk. Ears back in alarm, Siera's heart pounded out of her chest. If the druid didn't see her first, surely he would hear her heart beat.

But something snapped inside of her. She shook her fear off almost immediately as the thought sunk in.

"What am I afraid of?" She told herself. "I am Siera! Ruler of the druids!"

Acting out of instinct, she too transformed into a wolf and jumped down the tree in a swift, graceful movement. Her wolf color was pure white. Siera Recklessly snarled and raised her head in a challenge. The other wolf, taken aback by her sudden appearance, took a couple steps back.

The stranger wolf saw that he was bigger than her by at least a foot. Given courage, he growled low in his throat, but remained where he was. But Siera was not willing to let this wolf go unchallenged. Fangs flashing, Siera charged the wolf, running full speed then turning to the right at the last moment to crash full force into his side. Thrown off balance, the black wolf toppled to his side. Siera landed on top of him before he threw her off. Siera lunged for the wolves throat, but the wolf dodged, and retaliated with a swipe to her side. Blood welled up from the cut and matted her fur. Siera jumped away from the wolf right before he delivered a similar blow, then struck like a snake, clamping her jaws around the wolf's back leg. Growling loudly, the wolf spun, trying to free his leg. He only succeeded in deepening the wound on his leg. When the wolf went limp for a second, Siera released him, intent on attacking his side. But the wolf jumped up so swiftly, Siera wacked her jaw on the wolfs head, knocking her to the ground. Getting up quickly, she was just in time to barely dodge the wolf as it came at her. Spinning around, she jumped onto the wolf's back.

Digging her claws into his sides, they fell together in a cloud of dust. Thrashing wildly, they brought up more dirt. Eventually each wolf was exhausted, panting heavily due to lack of air. Siera let go of the wolf's side, her bloody claws scratching at the earth as she tried to suck in a clean breath of air. Her sides heaved, and she saw the male wolf acting in a similar manner. Scrabbling at the ground, she dragged herself out of the choking air and into the fresh night breeze. Grateful, she stood up. The wind rustled her fur.

Then the smell of blood reached her nose.

Siera sat down, licking her wounds. Ignoring the rival wolf altogether, she focused her attention at the task on hand. Once her wounds were clean, she stood up and stretched. Walking forward, she eyed the other wolf. Most wolves she fought never even had a chance at beating her. This wolf seemed like a worthy opponent. The wolf looked up as she approached, but showed no expression. An emotion welled up inside of her that she couldn't even start to explain.

Who was this strange wolf?

And why was he here?