Event

Two vehicles were parked at the edge of a scarcely used backroad, one being an older model white truck, and the second a small tan car with patches of rust checkering its lower frame. Several dozen yards from them, poised on a sunny bank by the lake, two tents were being erected. A simple, dull green tent was nearly complete, as the man constructing it worked with the confidence and ease of one who'd done this dozens of times before. The second tent, larger than the first and colored a contrasting beige and dark gray, was going a bit slower. The older gentleman at the helm stalled several times as the collapsable tent rods kept... well, collapsing as he tried to straighten and weave them through the fabric.

A bobbed-tailed pointer sat near the edge of the lake, occasionally tossing his head back in the direction of the younger man. His stub of a tail would wiggle ferociously whenever the man spared a look in his direction.

Nhevaris

The humans had been scented earlier in the day on the outskirts of his territory, and now with a full pack in tow, Nhevaris was ready to confront them. The ebony wolfdog did not go fangs bared and hackles flown into the campsite, but quietly encircled it from a good distance of at least two-hundred feet, making sure to keep his family out of immediate eyesight of the humans. Dark, ruddy eyes would catch faint glimpses of the tents between swaying layers of leaves and branches. Here and there he'd cross the scent of the dog, or the lingering stench of the vehicles parked further away.

Eventually Nhevaris settled down next to burbling creek. There he waited for the rest of his pack to file in, and for the sun to set low enough to dim the humans' vision.

Naiche

Black and white vixen crept after her alpha, following his lead as they circled the two-leggers encampment from a distance. She settled in a few paces from Nhev, resting her pale belly on the cool earth and cocking her ears in the direction of the humans.

" smell at least one dog. Wasn't able to see much though." She informed quietly, with a spare glance in his direction. "We should be able to get a closer look when the sun sets, but the dog could be a problem."

Arora, Atji, Lepiota

Arora kept pace with her mate and situated herself down near him as the pack waited for dusk to arrive. "If it's just one dog, it shouldn't be a problem. We should be able to lure it away with little trouble and pick it off before the humans know what's going on."

Seated in the brush a few feet back from her parents and Naiche, Lepiota spoke quietly, "I can lure him. And keep his attention until the rest of the pack takes him down."

"Or we gain an ally." Ataji pointed out, his voice soft to avoid detection from the very canine they were speaking of. "He knows more about humans than we do, maybe he could be helpful to us in later hunts?"

*Humans & Hound*

The younger of the two men finished hammering down a few bright yellow stakes into the ground, securing his tent in the event of a harsh wind. He then stood, stretching his back before angling a smirk at the other, "You sure you don't need a hand with that, Kurt?"

A hand waved back in angry dismissal, "Worry about setting up those minnows and getting the poles ready. It'll be dusk before long and the pike are gonna start biting." A few more words were spoken by the older man, but these came in a quieter, grumbling tone meant only for himself as he continued to wrestle with the flimsy support poles that refused to cooperate.

The hound, meanwhile, drifted between the lake and his master. He happily followed the fellow up to the truck, then back down to the water's edge where a minnow bucket was lowered into the water. Two poles were set out, and a cooler retrieved. An hour later, both men were standing along the bank, casting their lines into the water and sipping on cans of beer. Two successfully raised tents were anchored behind them, and the hound was resting beside a pile of tinder and branches that was later to become a campfire.

None of them seemed aware of the wolves that had gathered.

Arora, Atji, Lepiota

Gray and brindle fae slowly rose from her position as her mate did. She'd been listening to the periodic 'wshhhhh' of lines being cast through the air, and the following 'plop!' of bait and bobber hitting the water. She'd wanted to creep forward and scope things out, but held back in fear of jeopardizing their stakeout. Now her amber orbs switched from Nhevaris to their daughter, to whom she'd given an encouraging nod.

Lepiota could hardly contain her excitement, but contain it she did as the nudge compelled her up and into action. She'd spent the last few hours considering her options, and with a plan now firmly in mind, the pale, grizzled wolfess moved away from her family and headed upwind of the camp, where she hoped the breeze would carry her scent to the happless hound. Still staying within the confines of the trees and their deep shadows, Lepiota moved close enough that she could now see glimpses of the tents and the pile of wood the men had collected earlier. 'This should be entertaining. Now, where is that mutt?'

Ataji shifted uncomfortably. He still wasn't sure about this whole human-hunting venture, and even less thrilled about killing the dog. While everyone else began to stir and get into position, Ataji retreated a few feet back and stood beside Umbrik.

Naiche

Naiche waited diligently with the rest of the pack. She spent the hours tuning her ears on every sound the humans made, and kept a mental map of where they were now at the water's edge. Her muscles were taut and ready, and as soon as Nhevaris or Arora gave the single, she'd put her fangs to use on either the dog or the humans.

*Humans & Hound*

The men continued to fish. The number of fish being reeled in seemed to decrease as the number of empty cans beside the cooler increased. Neither seemed to care though, and their voices carried loudly as they drifted between one conversation to the next, casting the lines idly into the darkening waters.

Thanks to the wind being in the wolves' favor, the hound hadn't discovered them yet. Not until Lepiota pressed closer to the camp site. A flash of movement, a spot of grizzled fur among the trees, had caught his sight and he sprang up with a start.

"Hello?" The query came with a nervous growl. He raised his head, floppy ears pricked, and looked in the direction of his master. Neither seemed to notice the wolf, and he looked back in her direction, trying to pinpoint that bit of movement he'd seen.

Arora, Atji, Lepiota

"Hello?" Lepiota answered back sweetly and raised her dial, showing off the prominent, brisk white pelage of her neck and chest. "My name is Lepiota... what's yours?" She took two steps forward, but stopped well within the cover of trees, just in case either of the humans turned back and headed up the bank. "I don't think I've seen a dog with such a pretty coat as yours." To play up the act, she gave her tail a little wag.

Arora and Ataji couldn't see their packmate, but her voice and the fearful growl in the hounds was well within their range. The former listened with a quiet eagerness, while the former did his best to swallow his uncertainty. Above all else, he had to make sure his family came out of this unharmed, though he wished the same for the poor dog his sister was currently trying to lure.

*Humans & Hound*

The dog blinked and his hazel eyes widened. The growl seized in his throat. Staring him down with that alluring voice and pristine coat was a wolf, and one that was twice his own size. "-Denver." He blinked again, not sure what to do. 'Bark, you dummy! Stevie needs to know there's a threat. She is a threat, right? Wait, did she compliment me?' The pointer turned his head, eying his own coat for a moment, and gauging whether the bright mahogany splotches against the soft white fur really had caught her attention. Denver turned his attention back to Lepiota. "Thanks? Stevie usually gives me a bath once a week or so, and brushes it out after-" 'Stop! Why are you talking to her! She's a wolf, after all...'

Lepiota

Pretending not to notice his confusion, Lepiota continued her act, "Denver? That's a nice name." The she-wolf tilted her head, angling it towards the forests at her back, "How would you like to take a walk with me?" She smiled cloyingly and swished her tail behind her

*Denver* & *Humans*

His nose twitched. He could smell her, and the scent was more than a little alluring. "Go on a walk?" Despite himself, his tail began to wag. Just a little bit at first, and then more eagerly as he conjured up images of the walks Stevie had taken him on in the past. It was certainly one of his favorite past times. 'She seems pretty friendly? Like the dogs on our walks. Most of them...'

Denver glanced in the humans' direction while he wrestled with his thoughts. He looked back to Lepiota, tail still a-wag, "A short walk wouldn't hurt? As long as I get back soon." The spaniel moved forward, his dainty white paws carrying a certain eagerness in their stride. He stopped a few yards short of Lepiota though, intimidated by her size, and still not entirely convinced he was doing the right thing.

Arora, Ataji, Lepiota

Lepiota allowed her plume to wave in a reciprocating display. She dropped her front end, going down on her elbows in a modest playbow, trying to break through the anxiety and uncertainty she could read in Denver's body language. "Just a short walk." The wolfess assured and stretched her muzzle forward to touch against the spaniel's nose, bopping him teasingly, "Come!"

She bounced up and spun away, sprinting deeper into the trees. After a few yards Lepiota paused to make sure her prey was following before she delved further within the trees, wanting to put distance between her and the humans.

Arora tensed. Muscles ached for action. She honed in on the sight of her daughter galavanting through the forest in their direction and tossed a knowing glance towards her mate. As soon as the dog was drawn close enough...

Ataji was tense too. He kept his composure confident enough, posing his ears forward and steadying his breath, but his heart simply wasn't in it.

Nhevaris & Umbrik

'Just a little closer, that's it Lepi.' Nhevaris silently encouraged his daughter. Like Arora, his muscles were taut and ready to go.

Umbrik was flattened against the ground, resigning himself to the encounter he fervently wished to be out of. He turned a side-glance over his shoulder once or twice, considering bailing on the hunt, but the chastisement he'd gotten after the pasture incident hadn't been particular fun. Chestnut sights flicked towards his sister and he laced his ears back, nearly becoming one with the earth and plants around him. Any moment now, that hapless dog would surely be sprinting into the death trap.

*Denver* & *Humans*

He was pretty sure his heart skipped a beat when Lepiota bopped her nose against him, and not from fear. Down went his front end and an excitable 'woof!' escaped his vocals. He then bounced forward and dashed after her, no longer caring how far or long this walk of theirs would take.

Stevie and his friend fell from sight and their voices grew distant as the Brittany spaniel disappeared deeper into the forest, following the allure of the she-wolf leading before him. "Lepi! Can I call you that? Lepi, slow down!" He yipped laughingly as he tried to catch up.

Naiche

Naiche watched and waited until the red and white dog passed her position before she rose up on her pillars. The wolfdog moved directly into the path Denver and Lepi had just run through, placing herself as an obstacle if the dog wised up and tried to turn back around. She stood there, a low growl beginning to build in her throat, waiting for her alphas to give the signal to attack.

Arora, Ataji, Lepiota

Lepiota stopped once she was in the center of her hidden packmates. She looked back to Denver, letting him catch up before she spoke, "Did you enjoy your walk, pet?" A cruel smile twisted over her muzzle and something wicked came into her narrowed gaze. Gone was the cloy, harmless she-wolf of a few minutes ago. Lepi's true self came forth, and she drove her fangs suddenly for Denver's throat.

Arora's eye rose with Naiche, following the larger female's movements. They leapt back to Denver then, watching the hapless pet step right into the center of their trap. She picked herself up and stepped from cover, a snarl wrinkling back her pale gray lips. "Well done, Lepiota. Sonnets, take out this cur." Just as Lepiota was springing for the dog, Arora gave the command for the rest of the pack to join in the hunt. She herself stalked in a semi circle around the pet, ready to cut off any escape he might try to make.

Ataji had taken a few steps forward. His tall, dark ears were pricked forward at first, and then reclined as he watched his sister pounce for the poor spaniel. He pushed himself a few more steps before stopping and drawing his auds up again and circling hesitantly around the opposite side of Denver, though he made no moves to attack yet.

Nhevaris & Umbrik

-Perfect- Nhevaris thought as he too stood with his ebonite pelt fully expanded and banner held high above his back. He gave a nod to his daughter, and then joined in the assault, bounding across the short distance to reach his prey. He snapped his powerful canines at Denver's back, wanting to get a good hold of the dog and stop him from escaping.

Umbrik was the last one of the pack to make a move. Seeing everyone converge on the dog, and hearing the faint voices of the humans in the distance, fear grappled him. With his tail hung shamefully low, Umbrik turned away from the others and fled from the area.

*Denver* & *Humans*

A befuddled look crossed he spaniel’s expression. “But, we..." His confused words were cut short when the wolfess unveiled her true colors and shot for his throat. Denver yelped and jumped back, but his reaction was a second too slow and Lepiota caught him. A moment later, Nhevaris was on his back, and three more wolves were circling nearby. Panic struck the little dog. "W-wait! Wait, please don't kill me!" His yelps rang out, carried in pain and fear. He didn't even think to bite back, only to plead and try to squirm his way out of their hold.

Naiche

After Nhevaris jumped into the fray, Naiche joined in herself. She rushed in to offer a few solid snaps at the dog, ripping at flesh wherever she could, without getting in her alpha's way.

Arora, Ataji, Lepiota

In the background, Ataji saw Umbrik sulk away. He knew his parents would be furious, but he couldn't blame his shy, peace-loving brother. He too disliked the unwanton violence perpetuated by his family, and only his fierce loyalty to them had kept the young wolf active in their schemes. But as Umbrik ran away and the spaniel's cries filled the dark sky, Ataji hit his limit.

"Wait, please." It was a solid, gently pleading bark. His gaze traveled briskly between his parents, and briefly over the sister he knew wouldn't listen to his words. "He knows more of humans than any of us combined, we could stand to gain much more from his knowledge than by spilling his blood." The ebony wolf remained standing where he was, tail lowered but head held confidently in line with his shoulders.

Lepiota didn't release her grip. She dug in until she could taste the sharp, metallic tinge of blood on her tongue. It was almost as sweet as the mongrel's yelps, and she glared daggers at her bother for daring to interrupt her kill. She did relent however, holding off on pressing her jaws together and finishing off the dog... for the moment. Unable to properly talk with a mouth of of Denver between her fangs, she looked sharply between her parents, waiting for their verdict.

Arora had been ready to dive into the action next, once Lepi and Nhevaris had the pooch pinned down. Her son's words stalled those efforts and she frowned in contemplation, "Are you serious?" A pointed look told Lepiota to stay her fangs for the moment as she questioned Ataji. "Is this sympathy, or honest tactics you're pulling here?"

Ataji dipped his head, "It's a practical suggestion." He dodged around his mother's question, "And I would take up the responsibility of making sure he's not causing us trouble or getting in our way."

Arora growled to herself, unable to deny the logic of her son. "Well?" This question was for her mate now. "I can see the merits of this, but I don't know if it'd be worth the hassle."

Nhevaris

He hadn't seen his son run off, but his absence was quickly noted as he observed those gathered around their prey. While that anger quickly began to burn in him, the dark father at least got to share in his daughter's glee as he spilled the dog's blood, with Naiche joining in moments later to cement the hound's fate.

Or it would have, if Ataji hadn't spoken up. He unwillingly released Denver and raised his head, crimson-stained maw parting, "You want to spare this thing?" He studied his son for a long moment, letting the dog squirm while his fate was decided. Finally, his cold gaze narrowed and he growled, looking back at Denver, "His death will be postponed. Take him back to our lands, and learn what you can from him.

Naiche

Naiche was not pleased with the turn of events. She was half tempted to picked up where Lepiota had stalled, and simply kill the dog and be done with it. Past that, she wanted to argue Ataji's reasoning and sway her alphas back to their original plan. But she dared not challenge them now, when her status in the pack was still wounded following her blunder at the pasture. With a growl to show her discontent at least, Naiche released her hold and offered Ataji a icy glare.

Arora, Ataji, Lepiota

Ataji dipped his muzzle low and kept his auds dialed back, "Thank you, father." He was careful to keep his tones neutral and not show the relief he felt at having the dog's life spared, if only for a little while longer. Raising his head again, he added, "I will learn all I can from him." And in keeping with this calm facade, he barked sharply at Denver, "Come with me, and keep yourself quiet."

"Ridiculous." Lepiota sneered under her breath, and then in a not so subtle move she snapped her fangs at the dog, letting her tainted ivories clash within inches of the dog's hide. "Go on with you, then."

Arora took it more in stride, even if she had an inkling that her son was not doing this purely for intel. Still, she trusted he could handle the dog and not let it escape, and that at least would allow the rest of the pack to focus on the humans. "The sky is dark enough now, we can move in on the humans and survey what they have. Naiche, keep an eye out for boomsticks and follow my lead on our target. Lepiota, assist your father." With those orders given, the alphess began to stalk quietly towards the campsite, but would wait for her pack before making any moves.

Arora & Lepiota

Pale gray wolfess had left the forest behind and made her way into the clearing where the two humans had been fishing. One son had run away and abandoned the fight, while the second had posited a strategic retreat with a captive. That left the alphess with her daughter, mate, and Naiche.

'Now, where are they?' Arora wondered as she stepped beyond the shelter of the boughs and into the faint moonlight of the early night. Cunning amber eyes surveyed the campsite, searching for her prey and studying the layout of their hunting grounds.

Lepiota was not far behind her mother. She stopped at the edge of the clearing though, waiting for her father as directed. "The humans were down by the water last I heard. Just beyond that hill there." The younger wolfess informed, giving her muzzle a nod towards the lake where she'd last heard the mumbling voices of the two-leggers.

*Humans*

A roughly dug fire pit, encircled with an assortment of large stones, smoldered a few yards from the tents. Now and then a flame would dance up from a log, but mostly the fire had receded to a deep orange glow that pulsed between the black and white cracks of charged timber. A fine layer of ash and a few crushed cans were scattered within it.

The scent of food, salty and rich, hung faintly in the air. The source of these seemed to be a large blue and white box stationed next to one of the tents.

The voices of the humans was unmistakable. Indeed, the pair were still at the shoreline, casting lines into the water with decreasing accuracy. Five bluegill lay along the beach, with a tacklebox and a container of nightcrawlers not far off. Neither of the humans seems to notice the approaching pack.

Nhevaris

Nhevaris brushed past Lepiota and stepped into the clearing after his mate. And though the odor of food was alluring, the ebonite alpha was more focused on the two-leggers that had initially spurred his desire to hunt.

He flashed a knowing look to his mate before stalking forward with determination, moving swiftly over the the hill and towards the men. He paused only briefly on the cusp of the ridge before rushing suddenly down it. Using the momentum to his advantage, Nhevaris picked up as much speed as he could before leaping for Denver's owner with jaws springing open and paws outstretched. His aim was to knock the man over and take him by the throat...

Arora & Lepiota

Arora spared only a moment to look at the fire and the pair of tents, musing over the odd habits of the two-leggers. The food, too, was ignored in favor of hunting live prey. So while her mate topped the small hill and bore down on the first man, Arora kicked into a sprint and tore around the side of the rise, to ambush the second man from the side. Rather than go straight for the kill though, the alphess went for a forearm, hoping for a solid hold so that she could pull the man to the ground and give the larger Naiche a better shot for his throat.

Lepiota had followed in her sire's footsteps, paying no heed to the campsite as she dashed after him and over the ridge. When Nhevaris sprung for the throat, Lepiota rushed for the legs.

Naiche

Naiche blazed through the campsite along side her packmates. She would not disappoint them again, and she would prove her worth this time. Being only a few paces behind Arora, there was no need for verbal signals to understand what the alphess was doing when she went for the man's arm. With a furious snarl, the wolfdog leaped from the hillside and rushed straight for the man's neck...

*Humans*

The pair had indulged in enough beer that neither was aware of Denver's disappearance yet. The hill had neatly obscured their view of the approaching pack, and hadn't it been there, neither of the humans would have turned around in time to see the attack anyway, so enthralled they were in their task of fishing.

The wolves struck with unity and cohesion, with Denver's owner stumbling under the impact of Nhevaris and his daughter. Inebriated as he was, it didn't take much to throw off his balance and send him crashing to the ground, with a wolf at his throat, and one at his leg. With a hoarse cry, he began to kick blindly at Lepiota, while throwing punches for Nhev.

Kurt's situation wasn't any better. Naiche hit him like a freight train, knocking the man forward and onto his belly, while Arora clasped his arm. Prone in this position, and with a sizeable wolfdog on his back, the man struggled to pick himself up. He rolled to the side and twisted, throwing a punch towards Arora as he tried to stand back up...

Nhevaris

Nhevaris flinched and flattened his body when the punch came his way, and felt it breeze past the edge of his cheek without incident. Even if the fist had collided, the alpha would have been loath to give him his position near the throat, and even now he was biting at it again with no less ferocity.

Arora & Lepiota

A fist caught the side of her shoulder, but it was nothing that was going to deter the alphess. She shifted her fangs, going for the human's upper arm now, wanting to do as much damage as possible and keep him distracted from Naiche.

Lepiota was just as relentless in her task. She dodged aside the foot that swung at her, and in retaliation snapped at that one now...

Naiche

When the man tried to roll, Naiche bore down on him all the harder. Using her weight to her advantage, she pressed down against his shoulder and head with her forepaws and targeted the back of the neck again, aiming to quickly put this two-legger down.

*Humans*

Instead of sinking her teeth into jeans and flesh, Lepiota's jaws were forcefully snapped shut against nothing more than air when Denver's owner caught her with a solid upward kick. He was less fortunate with Nheveris however, with the lithe wolfdog breaking through the defense of his thrashing arms to once again tear into the man's throat. In his drunken state, and no weapons other than his hands and feet, the man knew he was no match for this pack, and so with herculean effort, he pushed himself to his feet, shoving the alpha aside as he began to run for his vehicle...

Kurt was less fortunate than his friend. Between Arora tearing at his arm and Naiche pressing back against his head and shoulders, he wasn't able to fully roll over and throw the larger canine off, much less get to his feet. He howled out as teeth tore at him, and in a blind, awkward, swing, did manage to smash a fist into Arora's face...

Nhevaris

There was a moment where Nhevaris readied himself to chase after the man and pull him to the ground, but something stopped him. "Lepi, let that one go." The alpha issued after a brief moment of thought, as he watched Denver's owner stumbling back towards the campsite and the vehicles beyond. "Let that one be a warning to the rest of the humans." Dark, ruddy-red eyes seized upon Kurt next. Changing targets, Nhev struck for the downed man, going for the arm that had struck his mate...

Arora & Lepiota

Stars flooded the queen's vision and the clatter of her own teeth seemed to echo between her ears. Fury rose in Arora, bringing life to a terrible, pitched snarl that saw her throwing her fangs for the man's face now, tearing and gnashing at whatever fell between her ravenous ivories.

Lepiota had been on the other man's heels, preparing for a leap that would have sent her against his back. She almost hesitated when Nhevaris called for a switch of targets, and her tail cricked in annoyance at having to leave this human alive. The wolfess huffed, staring after him, 'I wont forget your scent.'

The rest of the pack had now converged on the still-downed human. Lepiota turned, her brisk steps breaking into a rapid sprint that brought her to Kurt's side in seconds. When Nhevaris went from one arm, Lepiota went for the other...

Naiche

Naiche refused to give up her advantageous position. The more the man tried to move and throw her off, the more she pressed her weight down on him. She continued to tear at the back of his neck, trying to put an end to the two-legger.

*Humans*

Denver's owner dove into his vehicle after wrenching the car door open. In his panicked, drunken state he didn't realize that Denver was not with him as he fumbled to start the engine and peel out onto the gravel drive. Rock, grass, and dust were spat in the air as tires squealed for purchase. The old vehicle then lurched violently forward and nearly catapulted into the opposite ditch before roaring down the road and eventually out of sight.

That left Kurt all alone. In the dimmness of the growing night, and with eyes blurred by drink, he almost didn't make sense of the fangs that flew at his face. Not that he could do much about them anyway, with both arms now seized and thrashed by other members of the pack. The rest of the fight was not a long one, and only minutes later, the man lay dead on the banks of the lake.