The sun was going down, the air getting heavy with the scent of night coming. The birds were quite, more so than in the day. The hoots of the owls could be heard, echoing around the woods. The swoosh of wings and the frightened squeaks of occasional mice could be hear, if you listened closely. The moon rose higher, a white giant of it's own. It might not be as brilliant as the sun, but it had it's own mystical ways about it, and it shone brilliant tonight. There was no clouds this night, allowing the prey to feel safer. But there are always those who, no matter how bright, manage to disappear from sight. Until they appear right in front of you, and you can not see anything but the harsh glint of the mother moon in their eyes.

The forest growth was dense in this part of the forest, allowing both shelter to the prey, as well as the hunter. The vines grew up the trees, winging around like lovers never to let go. The greenery was scattered with moonlight, shadows everywhere. The crickets and cicadas sounded their music into the night. The sun had already gone down. There was nothing out there to signal an attack. No swoosh of wings that would signal a flight of an owl, not thumpa thump to hail a human hunting at dark, no sound of a bark to suggest a loose dog roaming around. Of course, this predator was a related relative to the dog, but they would never admit it. This creature was not hunting a small little rabbit either, nor a sleeping doe. The beast that roamed this part of the forest at this time was looking for revenge.

The wolf had killed the mother and the pups. He had come and attacked an innocent fae, snapped her neck, then snapped the bones of the small pups. He had done something that War hated, and she would punish him. Her eyes glinted hard and cold, shifting in the shadows, as she tracked the smell of the male. Her small lithe body slipped soundlessly around, under, and through the foliage. Her fur was dark, blending in the shadows, sometimes catching on fire, a silver fire, when the moonlight smiled on her. The muscles of her body bunched and retracted. Her pace was a slow jog, for the scent she was following was clean and fresh. The wolf she was hunting was only about a few minutes away. War did not know this area, but she had heard of the pack that lived near. She was interested in them, but for now, she only had revenge.

She remembered back when she was little, and her mother had thrown her and her brothers out. Then again, when the other fae had thrown her out. She never wanted a pup to live without guidance, if she could help it. And she had vowed to look after all pups, no matter whose. This killer had robbed three pups of life, and a mother of love. He would pay. Even if it killed her. War was not afraid of death. Right now, at three years, she did not think she had much to look for. She was not interested in company, though she was interested in that pack that was located around where she was hunting. But for now, she focused on the prey. She shook her broad head, lowered her ears, and picked up pace. Soon she caught up. The breeze blew towards her, so she was safe from scent detection, for now. She saw the white of the wolf ahead of her, closer, closer, till she was about six feet away. She crouched down in the shadows of a tree, narrowed her eyes to slits, and tensed.

The wolf flicked his ears, suddenly aware. The wind had changed. It was now or never. War took the chance. She leaped, her back legs bunching, straining, then she pushed off, her teeth bared, eyes fierce, ears back, and tail up. The male wolf snarled in surprise, and they collided. Instantly, War latched on to the males shoulder, as he had turned, but not quickly enough. He snarled and whirled on her, catching her side with his teeth. She snapped her head, coming away with a bit of flesh and fur. She snarled and leaped at him, lashing out with her claws, latching onto his lower leg, as she dived when he reared up. She caught the back right leg, pulling the male down on top of her. She quickly snapped her head, hearing the satisfying snap of bone and the wounded howl. She scrambled up, loosing some fur and getting a good slash or two from the offending wolf.

She shook her head and circled the wolf, who had hobbled up, eyes filled with pain and rage. She snapped at him, and he snapped back. She decided, from how skinny he looked, that he had had enough. She snarled at him again, barking in warning, "Do not kill a mother and her pups ever again. If I see you, no matter what, I will finish what I started." She snarled again, snapped one last time for emphasis, and turned, and padded away. She only got a few yards before she heard the sound of paws behind her. She whirled, but not fast enough. A paw slashed her face, creating a gash on her brow.

It stung, and blood started pouring into her left eye. She snarled, flinging her head to the side to get blood away from her eye. She then narrowed her eyes, lowered her head, and charged. She went over the wolf, as he had ducked down thinking she would go for his leg again. She instead stepped on him, landed, turned around, and bit his scruff. She drew blood, and bit down harder, while he clawed at her side and struggled. She closed her eyes and bit down hard, pulling away roughly, to break skin and leave the throat open. Blood gushed out, and the wolf struggled.

After a little while, the wolf stopped struggling and the light went out of his eyes. She shook her head, panting, and cuddling one of her feet to her chest, as she had tripped and twisted it. She had a couple of slashes on her flanks, and the one on her brow. She would have a few more scars to add to her collection. But they were worth it. She had given the wolf a chance, but he had cheated. She hated cheaters. With blood running into her eye, War hopped a little ways away, laid down hard, and rested her head on the ground. She huffed out a breath, and closed her eyes. She kept her ears up, listening for any sound of another wolf. She knew this was on the border of the wolf pack, for she smelled the markers. The sky was dark. It was twilight. War closed her eyes again, and waited, her russet coat stained with blood.

Late night patrolling was most likely not encouraged in the pack, but the fae of chaos held not care for their rules. In this canine's opinion, only the worthy of loners traveled at night, ready to face the pack which haunted the area which they so leisurely approached. Emerald eyes scanned the ongoing border with intensity, readying for any who dare cross the imaginary wall. There was a rustle ahead, over the border and out into the unclaimed lands and Esmeralda did not hesitate to confront whomever wallowed at the edge of her pack's luxurious lands. Her ashen paws were careful as they crossed the safety which the territory provided but fear had never been in her company then. Approaching silently, a battle ahead caught her attention. Though the moon only provided so much clarity and her eyes could only decode so much in the continuous black pit around her, Esmeralda was able to make out two wolves in a spar; a spar to the death. She did not stick around to watch however, not concerned unless the death occurred on her pack's lands, and yearningly returned to her original post.

Sitting at the kingdom's edge, she awaited the arrival of someone, perhaps even the arrival of one of the two in combat. Her silent wish came true as the familiar scent approached but stopped out of her site range. Slowly making her way towards the intruder, her emerald eyes lit up in the abyss around the fallen figure until her body appeared under the given moonlight. Eying the victor, coat stained with victorious crimson liquid, Esmeralda said nothing at first, only allowing her body to become dominant - though not aggravatingly so. "You," the pack member spoke to the stranger, not a sound amongst them but the fleeing winds, "get up." It was a command which held no room for denial. "Get up." Had the loner not heard her, Esmeralda repeated the harsh words, as her venomous gaze stayed in tact, until the fae complied.

There was the sounds of pads hitting the ground. Lithe feet almost making no sounds. Then the face of a large fae came into view. The fae had eyes that told of coldness that did not care if you were male or female. This wolf had seen many battles and come out on top. Just like War. The wolfs body language held a position of dominance but not overly consuming. War blinked once in sign of respect then slowly got to her feet. She kept her body in a position that did not show friendliness but did not show disgust either. It was merely one that conveyed to the other that she knew she was in the packs territory and she was not in authority but if a sign of aggression was made first then she would protect herself. The piercing emerald green eyes did not sway War nor did the command in the voice. But she did not show ignorance nor denial. She merely lowered her tail a little saying she understood the other fae was authority but full respect was not gained yet.

War stood on all four legs. The wounded front did not ache so much but she knew she could not run on it. War did not let the discomfort show. She knew that this fae was a night wanderer like her. The wolf did not care for those who showed her disdain it was clear from how she had barked at War two times for her to get up. War stood silently studying the she wolf with a keen eye. She marked th strong muscles lying beneath the colored fur. She noted the emerald gaze once again and that the only other wolf who she had known or seen before with eyes quite like that was her mother. War tilted her head at that. It seemed that this wolf would be a worthy apponent in a fair fight. War wondered if she would get a chance to find out. Of course it would have to wait as she knew she would not win with her foot like this. She would need her full strength to take on the bigger wolf as well as wits. She knew the wolf was not all brawn. War straightened her head and met the clear gaze head on. She was not frightened nor did she mean disrespect. She was curious why this wolf in particular had approached. Her tail and body language was the only signal that she did hold the other fae higher than herself in this time and position. It was the respect to a wolf whose land she was on. It also had a mix of respect for the wolf War suspected the fae was.

Esmeralda cared not for how this stranger saw her nor the assumptions she made in that little time. As long as respect was held and she kept Esmeralda's interest, she didn't care what the fae made of her. She was thankfully, silently, that this wolf was a female instead of male for she already had enough disdain for loners as it was. Emerald eyes remained unfathomed by emotion as the previous orders were followed. It was after the movement the fae gave her a look which showed she would become aggressive if her safety was threatened, the pack member held little concern and simply chuckled beneath her breath with amusement. "You are stuck with me for your judgement," the harsh tone came again as her tail curled until it hit her back, though no other sign of over dominance occurred, "but you have no right to object."

"We will begin with your abilities, as it is custom in this pack," Stepping nearer to the loner, the emerald hues narrowed with annoyance, awaiting an answer. What skills could this fae provide? Though Esmeralda knew she had won the battle, that simply was not enough. For the pack's Alpha it probably was, but he was no where to be found. If Esmeralda's reign was to come fourth, she needed worthy pack members to persuade to her side. Not the pansies which remained in her mist now.

War laughed inside of her head. This wolf was very interesting. Cold and calculating and uncaring. War instantly liked her. She made her eyes go blank though a hint of respect of position remained so as to not make the fae need to prove her dominance. War made sure mot other emotion was seen though she kept her head lower than the other as well as her tail lowered but nut curled under. She met the cool green eyes. What her skills were. War could answer that. It was not a hard question and did not need a hard answer. She knew she was good at fighting using wit, speed, surprise, and her bite. For her, her bite was worse than her bite.

War answered. "I can fight using speed. I am a fast hunter, I have a strong grip with my jaw, good endurance, and most of all, I have an exceptional instinct for my own survival." The last was sometimes not the best to have and she knew the fae would know as well. But it would not do well to lie in this situation. War simply gazed back with little submission but nothing else at all. She was relaxed. Her paw did hurt a little but it was fading. War turned her head and yawned. It was impolite to yawn in the face of a higher rank. In her opinion that is. She then went back to looking at the other far.

Esmeralda silently listened, not letting her strict aura lighten in the slightest. As the fae began to uncover her abilities, Esmeralda's ears flung forward to not miss a single detail. Not much could be proved by words but this intruder seemed more reliable than the average visitor. It did not matter much to the pack's Alpha anyway, or so Esmeralda guessed, a wolf was a wolf and as long as they loved they were enough. Sickening. She reflected. Again he female began to be assuming things though Esmeralda had no gateway into other minds. "The former seems fitting, the latter I, personally, too find important." After she spoke her opinion, Esmeralda watched with interest as the fae avoided yawning in her presence. Though she respected it, she was unfamiliar with such honorific ways.

"Now, speak your name or I shall go on calling you Warrior." Esmeralda was deeming judgment quickly, not sensing anything questionable about this night traveler. Also, Warrior, do not allow others to kill even on the outskirts of our lands. If you catch such an act, you direct them to me." Speaking of the previous incident the fae might have thought unnoticed made Esmeralda give a toothy grin. War had been let go on the matter but others would not be so lucky in the future for she doubted they'd have the backbone of this female. "You are to follow Alpha Azul..." She told her, hissing beneath her breath, "for now." Esmeralda then left without another word.