Rambling Writings (+ Shorts)

Steel, Tooth and Claw (Short)

It was less than a second, maybe half a second, but it changed everything.

Patriarch Steel, teeth bared and fur flying backwards, leapt off of his High Rock and struck at the Patriarch of the Fernbloods. His autumnal-coloured adversary recoiled, letting forth a roaring growl through his teeth. Each leading pair left sitting rose to their paws, condemning the action of their peer.

"Patriarch Steel of the Blackbloods, please conduct yourself appropriately!" Standing on the most northernly rock abreast of his Matriarch, Oakenheart challenged the disruptive behaviour. The Blackblood meeting party were all on their hackles, barking and yapping wildly with excitement. Steel coiled round, as if a snake on the hunt, and craned his neck upwards to great the stony eyes of the other Patriarch. Recovering from the challenge on his position, the wolf of autumn colours stood and held his head high against the sneers from the opposing pack.

"Let them have some of my hunting ground?!" Steel snapped at Oakenheart, who held his defensive position. "Steel, I'm sure Matriarch Fern and Patriarch Bailey would return the favour once their need for food is filled. Do you have no compassion in your heart? Some of their members are suffering because of the shortages." The Patriarch of the Sunpack spoke down to Steel, who turned away to face the alabaster-coloured Matriarch. "Fern.." he growled, his claws unsheathed. "Why help you when your patrol parties insult mine? Why help you when my wolves return with Fernblood-inflicted injuries?" In response, Fern looked down at her meeting party, some of which had bowed their heads in shame.

"Patriarch Steel," Fern spoke softly, coming to stand on her paws. "I have not been made aware of this  conflict. If they have conducted themselves in such manner, I shall see to punishments, you have my word on that." In the distance, Oakenheart nodded his head to the approval of her fair term. Steel's meeting party had fallen silent.  "However, we as your neighbours, are in need of extra kill as the prey that once roamed in our territories have moved beyond and left us with very little. I give you my word, even in spite of your actions, that we would return the favour should your pack fall short." She finished up her speech with a short bow, and Steel once again turned to Oakenheart.

Sunpack's Patriarch looked to Steel once more. "Her terms are very fair, Steel. We have tried to help her but we can only just feed our own. Riverpaws are having to aid us with feeding our elder." His words seemed to fall on deaf ears, as Steel swung round and batted Fern's muzzle with his tail.

Gathering his meeting party, he turned to the rest of his peers and spoke. "We offer no such assistance to the Fernbloods. I would rather seem them perish than help them grow."

---

As the Sunpack and Blackbloods left, Matriarch Garnet, her ash coloured pelt glistening slightly, approached her ally, bowing her head. "Harsh, much?" She scowled in the direction in which Fern's adversary had gone. Fern rolled her eyes and laughed. "Typical Steel, he's always acted like a pup." Garnet placed her muzzle up to Fern's ear, and spoke softly.

"Maybe you're going to have to drive a harder bargain."

"What do you mean, Garnet?"

"Steal from them, Fern. You need to provide for your pack--"

"Garnet, that would be a foolish move. I respect your opinion as Matriarch, but don't you think conflict should be avoided?"

Garnet growled lightly, looking at the high sun. "We're all suffering, Fern. Sunpack, Fernbloods, Riverpaws... yet that scoundrel has the prey-rich lands of the west and he won't spare a bite. Selfishness should be met with karma, no?" The white she wolf looked at her light-grey ally, her ears flickering slightly.

Bailey, having overheard with his keen ears, joined the conversation with a smirk on his face. "We can find a way to best Steel. Garnet, would we have your assistance?" The cunning grey she wolf nodded, looking at Fern for an ultimate decision.

"Alright then, enough is enough. Allied, we shall take back what is ours."

----

Both parties returned, together, to the Fernblood's dens. Seeing such a high presence of Riverpaw wolves had the Apprentices excited, their young minds pondering on the meaning of their being here. Retiring to the Leader's Den, Fern and Garnet discussed the intricacies of their allied revenge. Bailey and the Riverpaw Patriarch, Swallowtail, met with the Fernblood elders to gather their wisdom on such a move.

It had begun.