ElementWolves - Prologue I

Instructions

Smol BL00D warning In a small, seemingly unimportant icy valley, covered with newly fallen glistening snow, a large, bluish-white wolf named Kyr paced back and forth, eyes narrowed. A thin scar traced along his jaw. He hissed in a deep breath, mouth open slightly, fishing through cold air to find the scents of other wolves. Not IceWolves - FlameWolves. He growled through his bared fangs. Those mangy pieces of kindling would soon meet the consequences. “Kyr!” A dappled gray wolf came bounding through the snow, her breath frosting in the frozen air. “Tyx,” Kyr sighed. “So, did you fight any FlameWolves? Did you see any?” “No. I did scent them, though. And I’m planning to fight some, as soon as any show their cowardly faces. Tell Siu that I’ll be camping out here for a few nights, or at least until I get the chance to chase those FlameWolves off of our territory.” “Sure! Should I send backup? What if there’s a group of them?” “That would work. Nobody annoying though. And I would like to have at least Rox and Sky with me.” “That’s okay. I’ll stop bothering you now!” Tyx bounded away happily. Three days later… Kyr padded back and forth, looking out for FlameWolves. Suddenly a flash of red-brown caught his eye and his heart leapt, making him snarl viciously. He could now clearly make out a broad-shouldered form - definitely a FlameWolf. He suppressed a howl of rage - the wolf was padding purposefully over the clear boundary line between their territories. She cocked her head, listening for the scuffle beneath the white cover of fluffy ice crystals, then lunged into the snow, pulling some kind of squirming rodent out in her jaws. She shook it back and forth to break its neck and trotted back onto her side of the boundary. At this point Kyr was practically shaking with rage. Stealing prey would not be tolerated. He let out a yip-howl for backup, and almost instantly, three IceWolves appeared behind him. Good, it was Rox and Sky, as well as Tyx. The FlameWolf turned in alarm, and let out a woof of her own. Five fire-colored wolves appeared behind her. “Go get more backup!” Kyr yelled at Tyx, who nodded and disappeared into the hemlock forest. Rox stepped forwards, showing her fangs at the brown-red wolf still holding a large vole in her mouth. “Stealing food will not be permitted. Leave our territory now, or we will fight you for it.” The FlameWolf snorted obnoxiously. “Stop being so angry. Let’s introduce ourselves. So. I’m Chi, this is Aro, Qai, Mac, Rya, and Xin. And if you want to fight - go ahead. I’m guessing that the little brat you sent for backup may be having some… trouble.” “Wha-” Kyr stammered furiously, ready to inquire further, but then one of the wolves, Rya, leapt at Kyr, and he fell to the ground, then leapt back up, snarling. He ran, claws outstretched at Chi, but she snorted again, and he realized - almost too late, that she was building up fire with what earlier seemed to be arrogant snorts. He narrowly dodged the stream of flames, and then leapt at her, forming an icy barrier around himself, so her attacks would deal no damage. Kyr swiped his paw across her snout and she yelped in pain, but flung him off and stood back up. Aro and Rox rolled in the snow. Aro seemed to be winning, but Rox sank her fangs into his front leg up to the gums, and frost seeped outwards from the wound. Aro screamed and thrashed away, tearing her fangs from his fur, but bleeding too severely to keep fighting. Frost continued spreading, and he collapsed, breathing hard, flanks trembling. He would probably survive. Probably. He also probably wouldn’t want to face another IceWolf in battle - that was the point. “Go now, while you still can,” Kyr said while spitting red-orange fur out of his mouth. “At any second, Tyx will appear with reinforcements, and your side of the fight will be a lost cause.” Was Chi laughing? “Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? No, you aren't getting any backup, thanks to my loyal FlameWolves.” Kyr felt ice rising in his chest. “What did you do!?” Chi smirked, and he roared in fury, charging her. He headbutted her hard in the chest, and she was shoved over into the snow. Growling, he ripped at any exposed fur. This was no longer a territory scuffle, it was a real battle. She got a lucky hit and ripped part of his ear. It hurt surprisingly bad, and Kyr was blinded for a moment by blood in his eyes. He ducked just in time, painfully singing his fur when she let out another burst of flames. He turned to see how his comrades were doing, and he caught a glimpse of Rox trying to shield Sky, trying to get up on a leg that was either sprained or broken. Qai, Mac, and Rya were darting in and giving ferocious nips to both of the IceWolves. “You dirty coward! Get off our territory!” “No,” Chi snarled defiantly, and Kyr leapt at her. They rolled into the snow while Rox took on Qai and Xin.