RIVAL

FUN FACT:

The seasons are represented by four deities known as the four siblings; Thushar the Wise, Falla the Trickster, Summar the Grand and Mahika the Pure. Each deity represents a season, Winter, Autumn, Summer and Spring.

The two companions returned to camp, pelts brushing every now and then as they trotted rythmycally into the forest. Although she was never fond of sticking this close to others, she felt quite comforted by his presence and decided to let him walk by her side. A loud yawn escaped her maw; all this traveling and worries had completely worn her out.

At last, the camp's gorse walls appeared into view, it's opening greeting the two wolves with the promise of safety and warmth. Eager to feel soft bedding beneath her paws, Lunis quickened her pace and Blaze following suit. Once she reached the mouth of the denplace's gate, Lunis paused unsure if any of her packmates were close by- if she'd walked in carelessly, her cover would be blown and Navira would learn about her disobedience. The pale colored female pricked an ear and smelled the air as the pack's familiar scent danced on her tongue. Judging by the sound of many peaceful breathes and a few chatter, the pack was settling down for a sundown nap. Lunis huffed out a sigh, relieved she wouldn't have to squeeze through that tiny opening again- her paws were tired and she didn't feel like digging her way through. The thought of sleep encouraged her forward and she mustered up the energy to walk through the denplace's mouth. Her jaw split into a wide but quiet yawn, drowsiness weighing down her eyes as she made her way through the clearing.

"And what were you doing outside the den?" Lunis froze in her steps, holding back a snarl. For Astra's sake- why her!? Gazing over her shoulder with a crossed look, Lunis faced the tall female who stood before her, bright green eyes scowling with a frown.

Lunis huffed. "Senna." Senna scowled in return, eyeing the white Huntress as if she was the scummiest filth in the land. "I simply needed to make dirt-

- Don't lie to me, Lunatic." Lunis growled at the name, her entire body rippling with angry spikes of fur. "I can smell the plains all over you- you snuck out didn't you?

- It's none of your business, flea-bag-

- Don't take me for a fool-" The snarky Huntress whirled around the smaller female, shoving her dark brown snout inches away from Lunis' face. "I saw you sneaking away like some slimey snake! What were you up too!?

- Nothing, Senna.

- A wolf doesn't simply head off to the plains for nothing. What are you up to? Talking to dead-meat again?

- Actually-" Blaze stepped forward, standing by his friend with a smile, but his tucked tail showed his little confidencea and awkwarness towards the situation. "I'm the one who asked her to tag along- I wasn't tired and felt like having company." Lunis kept a straight face, but deep down, she knew Blaze's story wouldn't work- she could smell fear reak from his pelt and noticed his paws shook anxiously, betraying him.

Senna's eyes squinted, distrust wrinkling her brown freckled muzzle. "As if! Don't think I didn't notice you going after her, flea brain-

- SENNA!" Rising from the shadows, a sandy and brown pelted wolf trotted towards the queral, bones jutting under his jagged fur. "Shut your muzzle and quit whining! Some of us are trying to sleep here!

- But Dasker, Lunis bro-

- Does it looks like I care!? Now get back to sleep before I drag you by the tail and feed you to the crows." He turned a steely eye towards Lunis and Blaze, huffing out a growl. "Same goes for the both of you- now get!"

Hurt flashed through Senna's eyes at the elder male's words, but her face quickly schooled back into an angry scowl when the old male turned his back, ignoring her words. A loud groan escaped her throat before she promptly trotted away, swishing her tail angrily in her wake. Lunis' blue gaze followed the tall Huntress, venom spewing through her gaze; since the day they have met, Lunis and Senna had always been at each other's throats. Other than calling her a freak, Lunis could never understand why Senna was so spiteful towards her. Lunis however, had developed a deep rooted hatred for the other Huntress from all the teasing and bad treatment, but part of her also resented Senna for her looks; the she-wolf had a beautiful cream colored fur, while her back and tail were stripped with patterns of silver and brown, making Lunis' white fur look bland in comparison.

She pulled her gaze away. Despite what it seemed, Lunis didn't care much about the other males swooning over Senna; she simply wished to be left alone. Besides, she didn't have any interest in finding a mate. She had reached maturity last season, but no male had tried to claim her or even seemed to be interested, which to her eyes, was more of a relief than anything else. Then again... She did have her eyes on one particular wolf... A sigh escaped her throat, pushing away the thought before she trotted to her sleeping hollow which was tucked beneath a fallen oak at the back of the denplace.

She rolled into a ball as she laid down, her own thoughts weighing down heavily on her mind. Then, a nudge on her shoulder gave away Blaze's presence as the youngster eyed his friend with a cheerful smile plastered onto his muzzle.

"You gonna be okay?"

Lunis tilted her head, arching a brow. "I'll be fine Blaze. I already told you, I'm not a pup.

- I know but... Don't want you having nightmares all the time." His eyes gleamed happily as he whispered out the words, his tail tip gently wagging.

Lunis rolled her eyes, her lips lifting into a soft, grateful smile. "I'll be okay. Promise."

-*-

"Lunis, Rodwen, Senna, Sunny and Kora- you five head towards the ravine, I'll take the rest of the group North to the plains. Lunis, you're in charge. Meet here before Sunpeek*."

A few Suns had passed when at last, Navira and Rohan had agreed to relieve Lunis, allowing her to return to her duties within the pack. Excitement tingled through the youngtress' paws and nipped at her skin like thousands of tiny fire ants when she received the news, feeling more escthatic than a pup on its first hunt. She craved this moment with a fiery passion, eager to escape into the lively woods of the territory and stretch her legs again. Without a trace of hesitation, the Huntress volunteered herself into the first available given task; a border patrol.

With Summar's reign over the forest in it's final suns, prey would become scarce as Falla settled in to replace his brother; with the elks gone from their usual grazing grounds, the pack had no other choice but to settle into the South side of their territory, where smaller prey was more abundant. Every season*, Navira would send extra patrols to track down the remaining herds.

Confidence in her step, Lunis set off for the first hotspot she could think of; the watering hole. Elk wasn't the kind of animal to linger long into the thick greenery and pines of the north forest however they'd go through anything to get a drink of fresh spring water. It was only a matter of time.

She trekked off in the right direction, senses sharp for any signs of the herd's passage when a howl rose from behind.

"Why are we headed to the watering hole? Everyone knows elk herds rarely leave the plains." Lunis halted, gazing over her shoulder to glare at a whiney Senna, the cream she-wolf lingering lazily at the back of the group.

"Elks have to drink every know and then. It'll be easier to track their scent from there than in an open field." Lunis growled crossly, holding back the venom in her voice.

"I'm not a flea-brain!" Snarled back the tall female, curling her lips. "All I'm saying is I don't think they'll be any elk; they must already be at the plains by now. Right Rodwen?" Senna turned to the dark brown masked wolf who stood between her and Lunis, his deep blue eyes settling calmly upon her.

He tipped his head. "I think it's worth a shot. If the herd did pass to the watering hole, we'll be able to catch them. If we head to the plains now, we'll risk losing it.

- Isn't Rohan already there with his group?" Added in a young golden she-wolf, her eyes quivering with anxiety. "They'll let us know if they find anything-

- No one asked you, Sunny!" Senna snarled, glarring at her younger counterpart.

"Hush everyone, hush!" The booming howl came from Rodwen, his broad and muscled build towering above his packmates as he growled. "We aren't going anywhere with these needless querals. The pack always comes first and now, Lunis is in charge so we obey her orders. Understood?"

The wolves nodded at their superior's words, some with a little more annoyance than others, but the message had been received. Blue eyes filled with wisdom, the broad male turned to Lunis, ears pricked and alert for her commands.

She dipped her head thankfully in return. "Thank you Rodwen. As I was saying, we will split up to search the area. Report anything you find and catch any small prey you come across." She paused, thoughtful as an idea came to mind. She hid a smirk in the corner of her lips, turning to Senna . "Senna, you'll guard the area."

Immediately, the entitled Delta dug her claws in protest, ears flat. "What!? I have the sharpest senses of all the pack! Why should I be the guard!?

- Surely, with eyes and ears as well trained as yours, you'd be perfect for spotting any danger that may lurk!" Lunis replied smugly, enjoying the pang of jealousy emenating from her rival.

Senna huffed crossly. "But-!" A growl rose from Rodwen's throat, enticing her to stay quiet and obey when he walked by her side. With a grumble rising from her throat, she sat down and turned her head away.

A chuckle rose from all present wolves' throats, amused by the young Delta's attitude to her dismay. After their laugh, the wolves focused back onto the task ahead, clinging their snouts to the damp earth. As he padded by Lunis, Rodwen purred. "Guard duty, hey?

- Thought she needed a little reminder." The female snickered, a prideful glow shimmering in her eyes.

Rodwen smiled under his dark mask and trotted away. Lunis felt a small warmth bloom in her chest. Although they never really spoke that much, she always felt a form of admiration for the broad Beta. He was always the wolf to go when she needed advice, calm, collected, wise...

Handsome. The last word bloomed in the young Delta's mind, making her fur stand with a shiver. She ruffled her pelt, chasing the thought away. This was no time to gawk over a packmate. She had a herd to track and mouths to feed. Lunis lifted her head to the sky, taking a good whiff of her surroundings.

Rocks, moss, the river, trees, squirrel... Elk!

A trail headed into the brush, passing through a set of thick gorse and brambles. As instincts kicked in, she trotted towards the brush and peaked her head through the bush, blinking away the leaves.

A howl rose from behind, alerting the entire group. "LUNIS! BEHIND YOU!"

*Sunpeek/Moonpeek = Noon and Midnight

*Season/s = 1 year