Stubborn (Jenn)

((Continued from: https://incendio.rpg-board.net/t97p30-after-a-job-well-done#1610 ))

She should have been in her den, where Coven had left her only a few hours before. She should have just gone to sleep. She should have stayed put. But then again, this was Molly. She was moving slowly, though, nothing like she had before the sickness. Her ears pinned back as she limped out of the den that used to belong to her alone, and then moved carefully towards the water. She was thirsty again, and she didn't want anyone's help. She was doing a fairly good job, too, making it over half way before she needed to sit down and catch her breath. After a few moments she was on her feet again, reaching the water in half the time it had taken for Coven to get her back to her den the night before.

She laid down at the water's edge, lapping up the water lazily before resting her head on her paws and staring out of the reflection of the stars in the water as it rippled. It was a cool spring night, and she was a bit chilled, but it was calm and peaceful, something that she enjoyed. The stars were shining, the area was quiet, perfect for her to think. She didn't think of the dangers, of what could happen to her out here all alone and defenseless, but she didn't let it bother her. Right now, she let the darkness and calm of the night surround her, envelop her completely and hold her tightly.

The springtime air was still chilly, but it wasn't enough to keep the world asleep. Plants were popping up through the earth, birds were singing again, and new life had arrived throughout Silverlight. This new life meant new mouths to feed, and the she-bear had awoken from her deep winter sleep. The last year had provided meager food to stock up on, as only this past winter had the spirits truly begun blessing Silverlight again, so she was starving. And so were her cubs. The stars still shone dimly in the sky, but the gray light of dawn was slowly rising from the eastern horizon, and the bear wasn't going to waste any daylight in her desperate search that led her toward the den site, with its storage pile, of the wolves. She didn't realize the pack had grown since her sleep, or she wouldn't have tried, but now the skinny black bear was emerging from the dark, thick woods and slowly stepping into the stream, eyes on the small white weak, oblivious figure before her. Why not snack on the way to the better meal?

Pravin stirred in his sleep, dreams of terrifying demons messing with his mind. Shaking awake, he immediately raised his head from the ground. He was back to reality, and there were no demons about. Letting out a relieved sigh, he looked around him. He was still outside, somewhat near the Warrior's den. When he'd gotten there, he didn't remember. Seeing that dawn would be soon upon them, and knowing that sleep would not return to his shaken mind, Pravin stood and stretched. A great yawn escaped into the air, and his throat yearned for water. Deciding to get a very early bird start to his patrol, he walked into the woods. Luckily he'd find a stream.

A stream he did find! And by this stream he saw a white wolf known as Molly. He bent down some distance from her and took a drink. Remembering the day when she had been quarantined, he was wondering what she was doing out and alone so early. But just before he could speak to her, he noticed the pair of gleaming eyes just beyond her. She didn't know, she couldn't have known! She was with herself and Pravin didn't know if she saw even him. Narrowing his eyes, and taking a defensive stance, he walked forward in the stream. And in this action, he was getting closer to Molly, as well as the hungry she-bear.

Molly didn't notice the bear, or it's slow approach and it's hungry eyes on her form. She was still recovering, and she wasn't at full strength or ability yet. She laid where she was, her eyes now closed as she listened to the sounds of the night, surprisingly not picking up on the very faint sounds of the bear and Pravin's approach.

But suddenly the scent of the male wolf filled her nose as a breeze blew through her fur, sending her scent and most likely Pravin's toward the hungry bear. She opened her eyes, freezing when they were greeted with a pair of hungry bear eyes peering back at her. She tensed, knowing that if she were to try and flee, she'd never make it away, and now she knew she had to rely on the male wolf that she knew was behind her. Who was it? She hadn't met Pravin, had she? But his scent was familiar and he was covered in the scent of the other pack wolves. But she didn't dare move to look behind her to see who it was. If she moved, the bear might attack. "W-what do I do?" She whispered as quietly as she could, flicking one ear back towards the male wolf.

Pravin flicked his eyes down to Molly's form, who was now right beside him as he creeped forward. He froze in his spot, looking back at the she-bear as it glared in their general direction. He tried to figure out the best way out of there, but his mind wouldn't allow him. Maybe it was too early in the morning, or maybe he just hadn't had enough sleep. Either way, his brain was processing the scene much too slowly for his liking. "Well..." He started quietly, "Perhaps you can try to sneak away. If she makes a move, I'll match it. You just get back to the dens." Pravin's main goal here was to protect the healer. If she went home harmed, it would be on his paws. Then again, if he went home harmed, the pack would be without a Head Warrior once more.

The bear growled low in her throat and balked for a second, half-way through the stream, as a second wolf approached. In any other circumstance, the bear would have given up, but desperation urged her to once again move forward. There were just two, and the mother bear was bulkier than both, even while so hungered.

With a lunge, the bear took off toward them in order to drive them off before they could coordinate a plan, lumbering through the water but ready to sprint when she reached land.

((You guys can totally rp the bear as well for whatever you need to happen; she's an all-player character))

Molly's ears flattened to her head as she crouched beside Pravin, trembling ever-so-slightly as the bear eyed them. When the head warrior spoke, she swallowed nervously and took a step backwards, flinching and whimpering softly as the bear took off towards them. She turned as quickly as she could, heading back for the dens, her pace painfully slow for a run, and her steps clumsy and stumbling. But she wasn't strong enough to move that fast so soon, and she collapsed with a yelp that echoed through the nearby trees. It wasn't loud enough to reach the far dens in the area, but maybe, just maybe, someone else had heard it.

((ok, time to make this complicated))

He had been wandering much too close to the den site again, but he just needed to check on Laek. It had been far too long since he had seen the female last, and he wanted to make sure that the mother of his pups was safe and healthy. He figured that the pack wolves were asleep and he could slip in and out without being noticed, this time. But as he neared the dens, he heard the rumbling of what he immediately recognized as a black bear female and the weak painful yelp of a female wolf.

Sure, he was a loner and full of himself, but that didn't mean he didn't have a heart. Immediately Cas made his decision, swerving from his path that was following Laek's scent to the direction of the yelp. He reached Molly's side quickly, not even bothering to speak before pushing her to her feet and helping her limp to the safety of the dens where he let out a soft howl to alert the other wolves. He knew it would be dangerous for him to stay, and he had howled in the middle of the den area, so he knew someone would come immediately to her aid. Or at least to confront the stranger's howl. But he would be gone, and already he made his dash for the trees, his retreating tail disappearing into the darkness as he made his way in a mixed up, zig zagged path back to the borders and safety.

Pravin side-stepped to intrude in the path of the now running beast. Growling, he heard the healer's yelp. "Molly!" he called out, telling himself to go help her. But going to her meant letting the bear out of his sight, and that was not an option. Warrior code implied watching out for the safety of the pack, and with a bear on the lands, this was a must. The she-beast was still running towards him and he allowed the full impact as he side-stepped a half second too late. He was sent crashing into the stream and rolled back to his feet growling. It'd only just started. But what was that unfamiliar voice howling by the dens?

Laek stirred awake at the sound of a familiar howl, and quickly crawled out of the hunter's den, careful not to awaken KiRae or Fallon. In the middle of the dens, she had heard Casanova, but she saw Molly. She saw Molly helpless and weak! With repeating yelps, she tried to wake the others as she went up to Molly's side. Nudging the healer in an attempt to get her up again, she whispered, "C'mon Molly, the others will come. C'mon get up, please."

Molly whimpered and limped blindly as Cas led her to the dens and safety. But at the sound of his howl, he disappeared and was soon replaced by Laek. The healer struggled to her feet as the other female nudged her, and stumbled carefully back to her den and the warmth and safety it promised. When she reached its entrance, she went inside, collapsing on the soft moss and panting softly. "Pravin....bear....." She stuttered, hoping that Laek would get the point and get help for the head warrior who was now surely fighting a full grown black bear alone.

But there was no need for Laek to go get help. Cas surprisingly found himself doubling back and circling around the bear to its flank. As the large pack male was sent crashing into the water and got back up growling, Cas used his size and speed to launch himself at the bear and latch onto it's shoulder, where it could not reach him with its fangs. However, it could reach him with its claws, and as it roared and spun away from Pravin and swiped a paw at its back, the claws made contact with his flesh and he yelped in pain. His grip on the bear loosened and he was sent flying to the side, now the bear's new target as its blood stained his lips while he lay barely conscious as a result of his head coming in painful contact with a thick stump when he was thrown.

"Bear....Pravin?" It took a moment before Laek realized what the healer meant. "Oh gosh! Stay here Molly." The hunter dashed out of the den and went straight to Blitz's den. He was the alpha, he deserved to know of a bear on his packlands. She tried to awaken Blitz, or his brother even. "Blitz! Molly just got to the dens, she says there's a bear. Pravin's out there alone!" Laek didn't know if she should wait or dash off to go find Pravin.

Pravin was surprised to see another wolf latch onto the bear and cause her to change targets. The other wolf now lay near unconcious with the bear still advancing. Pravin took this chance and his strong legs propelled him upwards into the air. With a bite landed just below the ear, Pravin tried to hang on for dear life as the she-beast thrashed around. Claws dug into her fur, but they kept slipping and slipping. Pravin didn't know for how much longer he could hold. He was just trying to weaken the bear as much as he could.

Blitz lifted his head quickly and got to his feet as Laek's panicked voice woke him. It took him only a moment to register what she was saying. Bear. Pravin. Go. His mind processed, and he was out of the den in moments, without saying a word. There was no time to talk or discuss or strategize. He could tell where the fight was by the sounds of roaring and thrashing, and he darted in their direction, immediately assessing the situation as the fight came into view. Pravin was dangling from the bear's head, and an unknown, yet slightly familiar smelling male lay nearly unconscious several feet off. There was no time to confront the male (whom he assumed was the male they had been trying to track down), and instead he threw himself at the black bear, his teeth digging into the flesh at the back of its neck, using his large form in an attempt to drag it to the ground.

Xerxses was woken like his brother, but it took him a bit longer to process and react to the situation. But he was soon racing off after his brother, leaping into the fight as well and latching onto the bear's shoulder to help Blitz drag her down to the ground. She might have had a chance against one wolf, and possibly even Pravin and the stranger, but against all four wolves she had no chance at all.

Cas finally managed to pull himself together and scramble to his feet, his eyes now falling on three enormous white male pack wolves dragging the bear to the ground. Now it was time for him to think. They had the situation under control now, and if he stuck around until after the fight, things might turn on him. He had done what he could to help, and now the pack had it under control. Instead of jump back into the fight, he turned the opposite way and continued his dash to the borders. He couldn't afford to stick around any longer, but as he ran off, he caught a brief glimps of Laek, and a grin crossed his face as he winked at her and disappeared.

Inferno bolted toward the dens like a hare struck by lightning at the howl so close. He had been up and patrolling already - but the opposite side of the dens. If he were any other wolf, he would have swore to himself at the bad luck, but for him, even such a short luxury was too much a waste of breath and time. As the beta ran into the den area and caught the sight of Molly, Cas's tail was just disappearing into the far off trees. Visually, Inferno never would have recognized who it was, but mistaking that all to familiar scent was impossible.

"Coven," barked Inferno, still running, to the black wolf who had emerged from his den and was quickly trying to survey what was happening, "wake up Rayne and come!" He left it to Coven to put together the purpose of Rayne being to help out Molly. Without any hesitation, the black wolf ran to the healer's den and woke up the white wolf with a hurried nip on her ear. After explaining quickly simply that Molly needed help, he turned and ran out toward the direction Inferno had gone.

Neither Coven nor Inferno had been near enough to hear Laek's explanation to Blitz about the bear, but the growls of both wolves and bears made it clear even before they reached the scene. The beta slowed, head lowered, and assessed the fight. Three of the strongest males in the pack and Laek were on the bear...they would be fine, and he couldn't miss this opportunity the rogue had given him with such a mistake. Inferno ran over to the trail of blood and sniffed it, growing in confidence and eagerness for the chase as he realized the loner was wounded. Coven had arrived, but before he could sprint toward the bear, Inferno called him over with a short howl that said everything - they were going on a chase. Having heard the stranger's howl and scented him as he ran through the woods, the black wolf understood, and both males were immediately sprinting through the trees on the easy blood-trail of Casanova.

Cas ran as fast as he could, but he was dizzy and slightly disoriented still from the head wound he had sustained by distracting the bear from Pravin. But he could hear the pursuit behind him, and he pressed forward, zig zagging and dashing for the borders, his pace gradually loosing its speed. He knew they were closing in on him, two males, one of them likely the beta that had been on his tail lately. He pushed forward, his ears pinned back as he let himself panic. What would happen to Laek if they caught him? What would happen to his pups? These thoughts gave him an extra burst of energy, but it died out quickly as exhaustion began to increase his dizziness and disorientation.

Soon he was stumbling and falling as he ran, the sound of the pursuing males growing closer as they closed in on his weakening form. Damn, there was no escaping this one. But he wasn't one to give up that easily, and he stumbled and pressed onward, now only several yards from the pack borders. He could see them now, in front of him, just out of reach as his ears picked up the sound of Coven and Inferno right on his heels.

Inferno sprinted as if Death was on his tail. Cas was fast, even injured, but the beta had long legs, stamina, and a one-track mind. No way was this wolf getting away. Coven was shocked at the pace Inferno was taking, and fortunately his extreme competitiveness and pride kept his legs a blur.

The chase was long, but while the pace of the two strong, rested males was unchanging, Cas was most definitely slowing. Finally, they broke past hearing him and had the odd-looking...wolf?...in their view. Upon seeing him, Inferno's determination became iron, and simply leaving the pack lands would not be enough to save this wolf. Coven's resolution to hold out was perhaps even stronger than Inferno's, though fueled by the fact that he would /not/ be outrun by this puny...canine? 'Puny' was the key word.

With a leap and grim snarl, the beta ended the chase, crashing down on Cas and sending both of their bodies skidding on the ground. Fur bristling and tail straight up, Inferno sprang to his feet, the rogue under him, and spent half a second searing Cas in the most venomous look and aura he had ever conjured. Half a foot away, bearing his teeth and too spewing hatred toward the loner, Coven read Inferno's mind. Before the beta could make the killing strike, the black wolf interrupted swiftly, unconsciously thinking of Laek. He knew, he was sure, and Laek was enough of a friend that he couldn't let Inferno do this now.

"What?" snapped Inferno at Coven in annoyance, leveling him with a still-potent glare. Ears flicking back in honest, shocked dread that the other male might actually attack him as well, the black wolf slowly explained his thoughts on Laek, subtly suggesting they take Cas back to see Blitz.

Now blazing, Inferno shifted his gaze back to the wolf underneath him, demanding in heated silence whether Coven's speculations were true. Though Inferno had been thinking the same...suddenly, he didn't want to know and snapped before Cas could say anything (though whatever Cas's face displayed could not be helped), "Blitz will see you." Getting off, the wolf motioned to Cas to get up and follow, warning in a low growl, "You run, I or Coven will kill you. Understand?" He shot a look at the black wolf to confirm that Coven understood that order. The black wolf rumbled a low growl toward Cas in response; no way was he disobeying Inferno, even for Laek.

He ran with all his might, but he stumbled again, and suddenly he felt nothing searing pain and a huge weight bringing him to the ground. There was no mistaking it, it was the form of the beta tackling him to the ground and pinning him down. Cas yelped in pain, his small body now pinned to the ground and pain from a twisted leg beneath him making him wince and whine painfully. His eyes were narrowed in pain, but as he looked up at the wolf that pinned him down, the look that he was recieving chilled him to the bone. He knew what was coming next, and as Inferno prepared himself to deliver a killing strike, Cas closed his eyes, wincing and waiting for the end.

But suddenly the other male stopped him, and Cas opened his eyes in surprise. He was grateful and overjoyed at first, but then as he listened to the conversation, he understood why the black male had acted. Damn, they knew about Laek. His ears pinned back and he whined submissively, knowing that there was no getting out of this one as Inferno spoke to him again. He swallowed fearfully, nodding mutely and rolling onto his stomack as Inferno released him. But when he placed weight on his right leg, he collapsed with a yelp. Inferno's form had brought him down hard, and right on his leg with sent constant searing pain through his body. But as Inferno turned towards the dens again, Cas forced himself to painfully limp after him, fearing that if he fell behind the beta would get angry and kill him without a second thought.

Inferno moved on quickly back toward the dens, grimly satisfied by the uneven thumping of Cas behind him. If he wasn't going to kill that dastardly rogue, at least there was some triumph in him being in pain. After all this time, Cas had finally been caught, but while Inferno did feel something at having caught the stranger, it wasn't relief. He'd been too late to avoid infiltration...and not only that, but now it was almost certain that Laek had not only betrayed her pack by being with this wolf, she'd also lied to all of her pack mates in her silence.

The trio moved on at a brisk pace, Coven growling and snapping every once in a while from behind to make sure Cas kept moving like he should. Also, a lot of it was just to keep himself from thinking about Laek's involvement in this. He almost didn't have any doubt what was going to happen - Laek would be at least exiled from the pack, Cas probably with her. If Inferno had any input as to what would be decided, that was going to be the case. The black wolf, though still trying not to think too far ahead, had a shred of hope for Laek's future: Blitz. Coven himself knew full well that Blitz was inordinately merciful...and now was the time to see.

The beta led the small group from the shelter of the trees into the clearing of the den area. He wasted no time in calling out for Blitz, certain the ordeal with the bear was over and that the wolves had returned to the dens.

Cas limped as fast as he could, and he knew that Inferno was purposely moving quickly to cause him pain. There were times when his pace slowed, and each time it did, Coven would snarl and snap at him, making him yelp and scramble painfully forward to avoid the black wolf's sharp fangs. Soon they neared the dens, and Cas's head lowered and ears pinned back against his head, coming to a stop behind Inferno as the beta called for the alpha. He swallowed anxiously, sitting down and cautiously daring to turn his head to lick his bleeding shoulder, his eyes remaining fearfully on Inferno.

They had finally brought the bear down, and now Blitz sat near his den, catching his breath. But he was not to sit there long, for Inferno's angry howl had him on his feet and heading in its direction. When he spotted the beta, he was not at all surprised to see Cas with him, however, he was surprised at the little loner's condition. "Inferno, what did you do to him?" Blitz growled, angered by the beta's lack of self control. But he did not approach Cas, nor call for the healer or for help. Instead, he sat down, surveying the three males silently, knowing that Inferno would break the silence with either an excuse or an accusation.

At Inferno's howl to Blitz, Fallon's attention was piqued. She'd been sitting with Eve, pointing out the pack members to her and chatting softly while eyeing the males and Laek worriedly as they'd returned from the fight with the bear. None seemed injured, but she didn't have a moment to even greet them really before she was drawn to the spectacle at the center of the dens. With Eve trailing loosely behind, the female sat down near Inferno's den to watch - close enough to see and hear but far enough to not be in the way or noticed, hopefully. Well, Coven did notice her, and they exchanged a quick glance before both turning their gaze to Inferno, who was responding to Blitz.

"I caught him," replied the beta in a voice like stone, unyielding and cold. His naturally stoic demeanor didn't allow him to flinch at how that must have sounded to Blitz (the tone was a reflection of how he felt about Cas), but he did flick his ears back in an apology to the alpha. As for Cas's condition, there really wasn't much else to say. Sure, he'd been dragged back pretty quickly, but the only reason he was injured was because he was so...delicate. Inferno was pretty sure he owed Coven now, though, after seeing how angry Blitz was just because of Cas's slight injuries...he could have been dead. "What should be answered is what he did to Laek," the beta growled, mostly to himself, looking back at Cas instead of Blitz. What Inferno might have done to the rogue was a small issue in comparison.

Cas remained painfully still and maintained an almost deadly silence as Inferno and Blitz interacted. It was as if he feared that one move or noise from him would end his life instantaniously. But there was a small ounce of hope at the alpha's reaction to his injured condition. As Inferno mentioned Laek, Cas's eyes flicked across the den site to her form, a soft whimper escaping his muzzle unintentionally before he cut it off and bit his tongue. But his eyes never left Laek's form. It was almost as if the sight of her was keeping him from collapsing.

Blitz did not need Inferno's declaration to know that Cas had been caught. That fact was obvious. As Inferno continued to speak, Blitz remained silent, looking from Cas to Laek, and then back to Inferno. It seemed like forever before he finally spoke, his voice calm and steady, which although he hid it well, still looked like it took some work to do. "Inferno, we aren't barbarians. Laek is not harmed, she will survive. And I do believe if you were to ask her, it was likely consentual." He said softly, taking a deep breath before continuing, but before doing so, he leaned forward slightly so that only Cas, Coven, and Inferno could likely hear him. "What kind of example are you setting for the rest of the pack? There are better ways of dealing with these things." He said, obviously working hard to keep his own emotions in check.

Now he sat back up straight, his voice a bit louder than the slightly hushed tone of a moment ago. "Last time I checked, I was the alpha of this pack, not you." He said, a flash of anger passing through his eyes and harshening his tone slightly, even with a hint of a snarl. But he took a deep breath, swallowing it and continuing on with a calm, patient tone. "Inferno, please tell me, are you angry because of what happened to Laek, or because your own pride took a hit because he eluded you?" He asked, tilting his head slightly, his tone calm and not at all mocking. It was obviously a serious question.

Inferno held stock-still as Blitz addressed him, the only movement being his jaw grinding together in an attempt to hold his tongue. He stoically kept a slate-like facade, but inside the beta was reeling. Was Blitz honestly concerned about Inferno's example? And the fact that Laek's condition was consensual was actually Inferno's issue. Was Blitz even slightly concerned that Cas was up to something, that the structure of the pack could fall apart, that the wolves were at risk of being swayed from one another? Obviously, Inferno's example was much more of an issue.

By the end of Blitz's final question, Inferno was ready to snap. Yes, he was angry right now, but it currently had nothing to do with either of those things. The coppery wolf raised his head and gave a response just as serious as Blitz's question, but there was an uninhibited sharpness underneath it. "No, actually. I am angry because this wolf traipsed all over our territory, caroused with one of our pack members, and has somehow still managed to receive your sympathy. You are continually evading problems, Blitzen, and not stepping up. This pack has fallen apart before, and you seem to be deluding yourself that it can't happen again. You may be alpha, but I haven't been seeing it." He didn't even bother lowering his voice. Constantly, he felt like his was nosing Blitz around, directing him like a pup. Already ablaze with anger at Cas (Blitz had been right, as well as currently wrong, in both suggestions about Inferno's initial anger), the tall wolf had no longer any patience or will to keep this thoughts inside. If the white wolf seriously decided that now was the time to talk to Inferno about anything other than the trespasser who had blatantly mocked the pack for the last few months, then the beta decided his doubts were valid.

Cas's eyes were on Blitz, now, and even he could tell that the Alpha's patience was slipping. Even as Inferno spoke, he inched slightly out of the way, knowing that if he got caught in between the two, he wouldn't survive. Yet at the same time, he was careful not to make it look like he was making a run for it. He simply inched a bit away from the pair and stopped moving.

For so long Blitz had been the calm one, the forgiving one, the patient one. But now his authority was being threatened, his decisions questioned. By his own beta. The carefully controlled breathing, expression, and posture vanished almost in an instant to be replaced with a threatening snarl. He was on his feet in a moment, his head held high and his tail arched over his back in dominance as he took a threatening step towards Inferno. "Would you rather me use your methods, Inferno? Would you rather I punish every offense and kill an intruder without a moment's hesitation?" He snarled, taking another step closer to the other male, the fur on his neck, shoulders, and back standing on end as he bared his teeth. "Would you rather I let my anger control me? Well, what is it? Should I be punishing or merciful? I cannot be both, and you know that. If you think you can run this pack better than I can, why don't you prove right here and now that you deserve the position." He threatened, his hackles rising and eyes narrowing in anger.

No one present except for Xerxses had ever seen Blitz angry like this, and even he found himself taking a step back from the infuriated alpha. But he knew that his brother could only take so much, and he honestly couldn't blame him at all for snapping like he had.

Inferno snarled as Blitz lost his composure. The coppery wolf bristled and raised his tail, holding his position as the white male advanced, in defiance. It was all or nothing, and Inferno was not at all alright with submitting right now, so his response to Blitz's challenge was offensive. "In many cases, yes, I wish you would. You let a lone runt walk all over you and this entire pack by not even trying to take a stand. A few casual glances over at the border is not a warning to anyone. Your methods don't demand respect from any outsider with a mission other than to be accepted here," hissed the wolf, teeth bared, "Reputation deters war, Blitz. I'd rather kill one loner as an example than end up with any of our pack dead because someone thought they could take advantage of us. I don't care what your deal with punishment or mercy is, as long as you don't forget that 'smart' should be in there, too."

Laek had run off with the white wolves and easily grabbed onto the bear's back side. After a few long and loud moments filled with snarls and growls, they were finished. Coming off the bear, she was sore, but not injured. Which was lucky considering what she saw at the dens. Her eyes grew slightly wider in both fear and guilt. She couldn't go to him though, Blitz and Inferno were in their own fight. Gulping, she sat back. All she could do right now is watch and look at the injured Casanova and the quiet Coven.

Pravin stayed behind near the body of the bear, taking time to calm down. He laid right by the stream and was alarmed by the howl Inferno sent for Blitz. Something was happening and Pravin wasn't sure what. He pushed himself up and walked forward a few steps with a light whine. Not only was he sore, something had happened to his back leg in the fight. Just his luck. Shaking his head, he went to the dens. Slowly, he got there as Inferno was yelling an accusatory speech. Looking around, there was Laek, Coven, Inferno, Blitz, and Pravin could only assume that the last one was the rogue. Was he being punished or not? Pravin stepped forward as both beta and alpha took up a great fighting scene.

Finally, Blitz lost his patience with Infenro altogether and his muscles bunched, his teeth barred in a snarl as he launched himself at him, his teeth aimed for his shoulder. Yes, there was self control in there, no matter how much his anger and instinct told him to go for the throat. But one lunge wasn't enough for him, and he was soon repeating the procedure, this time, however, his goal was to pin the smaller male to the ground. His teeth gnashed and snapped at Inferno, his anger unleashing itself completely onto the beta male as he asserted his dominance and let instinct take over, controling only the urge to strike at the throat. But that didn't mean that his attacks weren't violent and aggressive. They definitely were, and it was obvious that he wasn't going to let up until Inferno submitted. He had been deciding Cas's fate when Inferno arrived, but the beta had to go automatically to accusations and doubts, leaving him no time to think. And now, he didn't even try to think about hard decisions. The only thing he thought about now, was how to inflict pain without inflicting too much permanent damage to Inferno.

Coven stepped back with Cas, watching in silent astonishment as Inferno berated the alpha. Inferno! Of all the wolves in the pack, this had seemed the most unlikely one. But it made sense...the alpha and beta were almost completely opposite, except for their undying loyalty to the pack, and while that had made the team powerful and so successful, the two were bound to clash at some point. The black wolf was silent, but his pricked ears and intent gaze proved that, like everyone else, there was no way he was asleep. Just the opposite: Inferno's logic resonated with his own.

Fortunately for Inferno, Blitz's attack was not out of the blue. It was quick, though, and the huge white male not only easily bloodied the beta's shoulder in one bite, but he also hit with enough force to knock the leaner wolf back a few paces. Inferno grabbed at the top of Blitz's neck harshly as the alpha tore into the shoulder, lifting Inferno up onto his back feet a few times. Snarls ripped from Inferno's throat as he grappled with the other male. He snapped at the white wolf's legs and shoulders when the opportunities arose. His strategy, as the smaller and more agile wolf, was to try to keep out from underneath the other male. That was possible. He knew before the fight had even begun that in order to win, he would have to go for a killing blow - as Blitz would never back down - and there was no way he could have imagined bringing himself to that. Even slashing wildly and methodically with his teeth, Inferno understood that he couldn't win this battle today. Too much was stacked in Blitz's favor: size, weight, coat thickness, brute strength. All of Blitz's weaknesses opened only the possibility of going for the throat (and achieving that would still be dubious), which Inferno could not do...but he had resolved not to back down, either. Behind every flash of his fangs was the hard realization that he would not be able to handle living the same way under Blitz anymore.

Finally, Inferno made a mistake. His mind was clouding with blood loss and exhaustion (the hunt for Cas had cost him), and he'd struck Blitz's shoulder as Blitz went for his. The heavy chest of the white wolf impacted Inferno with the momentum of both wolves, and Inferno went down, and the half-second he took to orient himself was too slow for the reflexes of the other.