Warriors but Wolves: Into the Wild

Chapter 7

     Firepaw retraced his steps and headed back toward the stream. He thought of those eyes burning from the darkness of the ShadowPack territory. Suddenly, he caught a faint smell on the breeze. A stranger! Perhaps it was that ShadowPack warrior.

Instantly a growl rumbled in Firepaw's throat. The scent message told him many things. The stranger was a she-wolf, not young and definitely not from ThunderPack. She carried no distinct scent from any of the Packs, but Firepaw could tell she was tired, hungry and sick, and she was in an ugly mood.

Dropping low, Firepaw moved forward, heading toward the scent. Then he paused in confusion. The warrior scent was fainter now. He sniffed again,

Suddenly, with a lightning-quick movement, a snarling ball of fur burst from the bushes behind him. Firepaw screeched in shock as the she-wolf slammed into him, knocking him sideways. Two heavy paws clamped down onto his shoulders, and iron jaws closed around the back of his neck.

"Grrrr!" he grunted, already thinking fast. If the wolf were to sink her fangs in too deep, it would all be over. He forced himself to go limp, relaxing his muscles as if in submission, and let out a pretend howl of alarm.

The she-wolf opened her mouth to give a triumphant howl.

"Ah, a puny apprentice. Easy prey for Yellowfang," she spat. At the insult, Firepaw felt a surge of fury. Just wait. He'd show this coughed-up furball what kind of warrior he was! Firepaw surged upward with all the strength in his powerful young body. The she-wolf gave a snarl of surprise as she was thrown clear. She tumbled backward into a gorse bush.

Firepaw shook himself. "Not such easy prey, huh?"

Yellowfang snarled at Firepaw as she tore herself free from the clinging branches. "Not bad, young apprentice. But you'll need to do a lot better!"

Firepaw blinked when he saw his opponent clearly for the first time. The she-wolf had a broad face, and round orange eyes. Her dark gray fur was long and matted into smelly clumps. Her ears were torn and ragged, and her muscle was traced with the scars of many old battles.

Firepaw stood his ground. He puffed out his chest and glared a challenge into the intruder's face. "You're in ThunderPack's hunting grounds! Move on!"

"Who's going to make me!" Yellowfang drew back her lip defiantly, exposing the stained and broken teeth she seemed to be named for. "I will hunt. Then I will leave. Or maybe I'll just stay awhile..."

"Enough talk," Firepaw spat, feeling the stir of ancient wolf spirits deep inside him. There was no trace of the house dog in him now. His warrior blood was up. He was itching to fight, to defend his territory and protect his Pack.

Yellowfang seemed to sense the change in him. Her fierce orange eyes sparked with new respect. Dipping her head and breaking eye contact, she started to back off. "No need to be hasty, now," she yipped in a silky tone.

Firepaw wasn't fooled by her trickery. Claws extended and fur on end, he leaped forward, his war cry ringing out: "Grr-aaar!"

With a screech of rage, the old wolf responded. Snarling and spitting, the two canines locked together. They rolled over and over, teeth and claws flashing. Firepaw fought to get a grip. But the she-wolf's clumpy fur snagged in his claws, and he couldn't break through to skin.

Then Yellowfang reared up on her hind legs. With her filthy tail bristling, she looked even bigger. Firepaw sensed Yellowfang's huge jaws lunging toward him. He leaned backward, just in time. Snap! Bared teeth closed on the air next to his ear.

Instinctively Firepaw lashed out with a backswipe. His paw caught the side of Yellowfang's head. The force of it sent shock waves up his front leg.

"Yee-ow!" Stunned, Yellowfang dropped onto four paws. She shook her head to clear it. In the single heartbeat before the she-wolf recovered, Firepaw saw his chance. He threw himself forward, crouching low, and clamped his jaws tight on one of Yellowfang's back legs. The taste of the matted fur was horrible, but he chomped down hard.