-Solitary Howl-

River~

River watched the group, humor playing in her eyes. They looked nothing like Brushfire wolves now she had gotten a closer look. She still wasn't going to take any chances, do to there being three of them and only one of her, plus a dead snake. Could these have been the newcomers her brother had told her about? The female was probably the alpha, considering the way the other two treated her, and the younger of the two males seemed to not like the other one. Jealousy maybe? River smirked wolfishly, eyes still watching the three wolves just in case.

Hawkstrike sighed, sitting down and scratching behind his ear. He stood back up, shaking his pelt out, and stretched. He blinked a few times, catching his sister's before sticking his nose to the ground. He followed it slowly out to the clearing, his green eyes glancing at his younger sister's crouched form. Three wolves were all conversing, one a little enraged. Hawkstrike slunk over to his sister's side, sitting beside her, his large head poking out of the grass and in the wide open. "Are those the newcomers in the land?" He whispered, smiling as River almost came out of her skin.

"I believe you," she sighed, glancing up at her brother before turning her gaze back to the three wolves.

Bane~

Bane let out a threatening growl, baring his sharp teeth. "This Fury you're speaking so admirably of must be your leader, I'm assuming." He growled lowly.

"You assume correctly," the she-wolf grinned maliciously.

"Well then, we have no business with the Brushfire pack. We've heard of your ways and many accomplishments from an old loner. We're on our way to find our own pack, one year were split from quite a while ago, now if you'll excuse us." The she-wolf just cackled, her friend joining in.

"What, you expect us to let you go? Just like that?" She cackled, causing Bane to become more enraged.

"That's what I was hoping for, but I see no sign that that's going to happen." He took up a defensive stance, growls ripping from his throat.

Nukpana

Nuk howled with laughter. "You're are going to fight? Fight us?"

Judging from the growls and snarls the two were giving, they were serious. Nukpana laughed again, louder now.

"So naive...so young," she sighed. "Listen, I'm a bit tired. I'd really prefer not to fight you at the moment. It will be a lot less painful if you just follow us. See, Fury is been angry lately. Loners, much like yourselves, have been leaving their scent all over our land. We need an example."

"Example?" The girl growled. "Think we're stupid. That we don't know what that means?"

Nukpana smiled slightly. "But don't you see, either way you're not getting away."

Perfect, thanks!

Lark

Lark moved quietly beside the male, Whiplash. After all of Lark's months of traveling, could she finally have met a friendly face?

She fell cautiously in step with the gentle thudding of Whiplash's paws. Lark was surprised at herself. Whiplash was huge compared to Lark's minuscule form. Even for a yearling, she was a small wolf. If Whiplash were to turn on her...

Lark shook her head. The he-wolf had seemed warm enough...

"You are not from around here," said Whiplash casually. "Where did you come from?"

"A long way away," Lark replied. Whiplash seemed to wait for her to elaborate. "I don't know where exactly. I was separated from my pack - "

Whiplash looked at her. "You don't seem too upset about it."

Lark lowered her head nervously. "They weren't what you would call 'loving'..."

Whiplash stared at her for a moment. "Tell me more."

Lark met his eyes for a moment, then quickly lowered her head. She felt Whiplash turn to face the path ahead of them, and Lark grew more comfortable.

"I can't say much about them... I wandered into their territory when I was barely two weeks old. If one of their stronger hunters hadn't protected me, I would probably not still be alive. Our Alpha was horrible, and he gave our pack a reputation for being pup-killers. Our pack and our rival pack ended up in a huge battle almost a year ago, and I was separated from the rest of the pack."

Whiplash was silent. Lark looked up at him nervously. He had asked Lark if she was of the 'Brushfire' pack... Horrified, Lark wondered if she could be walking into the same situation all over again. Was she walking into another pack rivalry, and worse, was Whiplash beginning to think that she was like the Black Tooth members?

Cana

"We have heard some of him." Bane said. He was so much better at keeping his cool than I was, and I envied him. It was all I could do to stay tough in the face of the growling wolf in front of me. I felt strongly dissapointed in myself for a moment, I had never been this way back at Summit Lake.

"And you still dare to tresspass in his territory?" the she-wolf asked.

"As I have said before, I will say again, we are on our way out." Bane said.

The wolf in front of me began pacing around Bane and I, a cruel look in his eyes. "Nukpana," he said. "I want this one." He held his gaze right on me. "Could we break the rules just this once? She smells like fear."

"Shut it, Poison." Nukpana growled. "Unless you want Fury's wrath upon you."

Poison took a step back and stopped circling, but kept his eyes on me. Suddenly Nukpana was in my line of vision.

"She hasn't spoken much, has she." she said. She took a few steps closer to me. "What's your name?"

"I don't need to tell you my name." I said with much struggle.

Randyll

"I am Shadowstrider." Spirit introduced himself to the she-wolf in the cave.

"And I am Windsong." my sister introduced herself also.

I smiled at the wolf called Oceanleaf. "And you know I'm Randyll."

Oceanleaf eyed me for a moment. "Your name doesn't follow with the others." she said at last.

I sat back and frowned. I didn't really enjoy people bringing up my lack of a warrior name. "I know." I mumbled.

"Well." Windsong spoke up. "Do you three belong to a pack?"

Before Oceanleaf could respond, I jumped in. "If not, you can come back with us!"

*Sorry phantom, I think we posted at the same time.*

That's okay - Which post would you rather go with?

Whiplash, Warrior beta

My red eyes narrowed as I squinted into the distance. "Well you don't seem to be that way," I said finally.

Out of the corner of my eye, Lark shook her head. "Oh no, I'm not." She seemed eager to convince me that she wasn't in any way a ruthless pup killer. She was nearly a pup herself. "I never really...fit in there."

"Mmm..." It was quiet, as I was lost in my thoughts.

Before I knew it, we were back at the den. The looks we received were an unusual mixture of surprise and disapproval. All the wolves, though, just moved out of the way, regardless of what was going on in their minds. I walked casually through them with a very nervous Lark by my side and a very unsure group behind me. I approached Redwind and sat before him.

He was sitting right in front of the den, and his eyes widened when he saw the stranger. "Whiplash...what...?"

"She doesn't come from the Brushfire clan. She hails from a disbanded pack many miles from here." Redwind looked suspicious, but his face softened a bit. "She is one of the newcomers."

Redwind looked at Lark expectantly. "Who else has come?"

Lark's ears flattened and she lowered her head, though she said nothing. I looked at her and fake-coughed, a signal for 'talk to him, he's the alpha'.

Her ears rose slowly. "I - I don't know. Others from our rival pack, I believe, and maybe a couple from my own."

I glanced around. The wolves' faces had gone flat, and no one wolf had a specific expression.

Redwind nodded. "Come," he said, and moved out of the way of the den. I stood up and pushed Lark towards it with my nose. She jumped a little and walked towards the little cave. "What's your name, child?" He asked her as she moved towards him.

Her head rose up a little and her ears perked up. "Lark," she answered with a little wag of her tail, and I could see confidence washing over her as she walked by him.

I couldn't help but smile. Lark walked quickly into the den and Redwind followed after her. I sat down and watched the mouth of the den for another moment or two.

It took me a little while to realize that the wolf who had approached me earlier, Embereye, was now sitting by me and staring at me oddly. He had sort of a mocking look on his face. I raised an eyebrow as I looked down at him.

"Hahaha," he laughed quietly.

I snarled loudly and smacked his face towards the ground. He yelped fearfully and backed off. I turned around and stalked darkly towards a tree where I would finally be able to curl up and get a bit of shut-eye.

Oceanleaf

"If not, you can come back with us!" Randyll said excitedly.

Go... Oceanleaf... I heard my mother's voice say in my head and I saw Shadowstrider cock his head a bit as if he had heared it.

"You'll be safer with us" Windsong told me in a reassuring voice.

"Okay" I finally told them.

"Are we going back?" Raven asked me.

"No, we aren't going back. They aren't from where we're from" I told him, standing to stretch again.

"I suggest we go now" Shadowstrider said, giving me a strange look that I had to look away from. He was an odd wolf.

Nukpana

"Fear," she hissed. "You DO smell of fear and for that I must say I admire your intelligence. At least you have common sense."

Poison was quick to agree, but she shot him a look telling him to stay out of it. For some reason, Nuk believed this girl could be of use. Information, maybe?

"Though we're not the ones you need to fear," Nukpana smiled. "Though if you don't cooperate I'm sure Fury wouldn't deny us the pleasure of...well, finding ways to get the information we need."

"Nuk," Poison warned. "are you sure-"

"I'm beta Poison!" I snarled. "I was left in charge! do not undermine me!"

"Sorry, Nukpana," Poison said, backing away his ears flattening against his head.

"Now about that name," Nuk smiled back at the girl.

Hera~

"Goodbye my dear friend. Take care." The words still rung in Hera's ears. Talon's last words. She dug her claws into the ground, letting out a hunting cry as she shot out of the underbrush and right at a young doe, teeth sinking into its jugular. Warm blood poured into Hera's mouth as the creature dropped to the ground weakly before falling over in a dead heap.

After Hera had her meal she started on her travels once again, ears lowered as she kept her eyes and ears open as she tried to pick up anything that would take her to a Black Tooth wolf, or even a Yellow Hill wolf. She was desperate to be reunited with someone. She'd been alone for over four months, and was afraid she was losing her sanity. After walking a good fifteen miles Hera crumpled to the ground in an heap, her nose buried in between her front paws. A strong wind rolled towards her, ruffling her fur in the process.

Wait! What was that... that smell?! She thought desperately, leaping to her feet. She hurried the way the wind had came from, picking up a very faint scent of a young Black Tooth wolf. Could it have been Lark? Or Sting maybe? Hera couldn't hold back the wolfish grin that spread across her red and white features. She followed the scent quickly, sticking her nose in a bush and walking through it, coming out a few paces. She stopped dead in her tracks as another, unfamiliar scent joined with the young Black Tooth's, almost masking it. Wh... what? She choked mentally, taking a few steps back to retrace her steps, leading her once again to the same spot.

Hera let out a weak growl as she reared up on her back legs, letting out a loud and broken howl. If the young Black Tooth didn't hear that, there was only one thing that could have happened.

**Sorry if this isn't okay. Just tell me. I had to bring her in somehow seeing as though Lark was the only other Black Tooth posting**

Tier

Lowering his nose to the ground, Tier sniffed about as he traced a slow circle around the hilltop. As a hunter, he was better suited for this than most other wolves, except maybe some of the better scouts, or his uncle. Either way, his acute sense of smell was more than enough to pick up Lhuna’s scent. There was no doubt about it now, he’d been following the right trail for the last few days. The alpha had passed this way recently, and Tier was going to find her. No one could escape him, not even an alpha.

And then, as her scent slowly strengthened, he caught others. One was Storm, the Yellow Hill pup. But there were two others, neither of which he recognised. Neither seemed to be in exactly the same direction that Lhuna and Storm were, either.

Tier growled a little to himself, hackles rising as he broke into a trot. Brushfire wolves. They must be. Needless to say, Tier had not formed the best first impression of the wolves in this area. He only knew of the Brushfire pack, who had attacked the Yellow Hill wolves without cause or warning, and scattered them, as far as Tier knew.

The hunter started circling around towards where he could smell the wolves he thought to be of the Brushfire pack, reasoning that even if they were demons, he could bring one down by surprise, and Lhuna and Storm would have time to get away. He knew Lhuna could take care of herself, after all, she’d fought Lido and won, but Tier felt bound by duty and… He shook that train of thought away, focusing on where the strange wolves were.

He slowed himself as he neared their clearing, approaching from downwind, avoiding the drier grasses and twigs scattered around. He moved soundlessly through the undergrowth, keeping low and ready to launch himself forward at any moment.

Before long, he caught sight of them, watching Lhuna and Storm, no doubt, and completely oblivious to his presence. He couldn’t see his alpha, or the young pup, but he could smell them, not too much further from where his targets were. “Are those the newcomers in this land?” One of the wolves asked.

The other, clearly startled by her companion’s unannounced arrival, sighed a little, “I believe you.”

Tier’s eyes narrowed. He’d wait until they started towards the others, and then he’d strike.

**And could someone be so kind as to bring Ossal in?**

River~

"I'm going to see if they mean any harm," Hawkstrike growled softly, standing to his white paws, River standing up swiftly beside him, ears back and tail wagging softly.

"I'm coming with you," she smiled, lowing her small head. He started to object about River being too young, but River let out a small whine, soon getting him to agree. She grinned brightly, bouncing around as she followed him towards the three unsuspecting wolves.

"Stop moving!" Hawkstrike sighed, shaking his large head, which he kept down. River copied his actions, ears pricked and body low. When they were only a few paces away from the three other wolves River heard something moving in the grass close to her and her brother. Being a native, she was in touch with her surroundings a little more than other wolves from the Brushfire, or Warrior clan. She looked left, then right before looking back at the three wolves she and Hawkstrike were nearing.

Right as Hawkstrike stood straight, letting his presence be known by the three other wolves something barreled into River's small side, sending her rolling across the ground with a yelp.

* All I have, sorry!*

Whoops looks like my last post for Cana was a little late...not sure why. Thanks for going along with it guys =)

Cana

"Now how about that name." Nukpana said.

I looked to Bane, he was just growling. He had no intention of telling her anything and it was obvious all he was going to do was growl. It was becoming rather annoying actually. Suddenly, an idea came to me.

"I am Cana." I said strongly. So strongly, it surprised me. I hadn't even imagined I could carry so much force in my voice. "Now let us move along, or you will find yourselves as examples of how not to take down two superior wolves."

"Cana...stop." Bane whispered to me.

"Follow me lead." I whispered back.

Nukpana didn't notice our little exchange, as she was almost histerical with laughter. "Are you suggesting that you could possibly take down a beta wolf of the most feared clan around?"

"Are you suggesting you could possibly take down the most powerful Alpha and Beta from the distant Pine Summit clan?" I laughed in her face. I hoped she believed me, inside I was scared to death. "I surely think not."

Nukpana was taken aback. She literally took a step backwards, while her comrade took several. She was quick to regain herself though, and was back to growling in mere seconds.

"Why should I believe you?" she asked. "You two haven't seemed very powerful at all."

Bane let a powerful growl escape his throat. "Believe it." he demaned. "Believe the words of the Alpha of the Pine Summit clan."

I couldn't help but let a smirk cross my face. It was apparent Nukpana was at least slightly intimidated. Even if she was only concerned we would put up a bit more of a fight than she had originally thought.

------
Just thought it was time to get this argument moved along.
------

Randyll

We made out way back to the den with no problem at all. Well, just because Spirit was leading. I never would have found it on my own. Strange how I could not even be able to find my own den. I laughed to myself on the matter as we traveled.

Oceanleaf was eying me strangely. I gave her a smile in return. The two pups with her were excited to be moving, and were playing as we went along.

When we reached the den, Windsong stopped us. "I'll go speak to father. He'll surely be glad to invite you in." she said.

I sat down with our new friends and waited.

-----

Redwind, Warrior Alpha

"So, Whiplash said you came from a distant pack." I said to the young wolf. "Might I ask which pack?"

Lark nodded, and wagged her tail. "Black Tooth." she stated proudly.

I nodded. Some word had spread of the Black Tooth pack, and their rivals the Yellow Hill pack. Rumor had it that Sky-Lark had appeared.

"How have you come this far, young one?"

Lark thought for a moment, attempting to recall the past events. "There was a fight, and strange creatures that came to our territory. They started killing wolves. Our pack wasn't together anymore at that point, so we fled. I think the same thing happened to the Yellow Hill wolves. More of them might be around here." she explained.

I nodded. "Had you been traveling alone?"

"Yes."

I felt for this young wolf, and was amazed at the same time. For someone of her young age to be surviving on her own for as long as she had, it took much skill. She would be an excellent addition to the Warrior clan.

"Lark, how would you like to join my pack?" I asked her.

Windsong, Warrior

Windsong shot off at a sprint, racing to her father's usual spot to tell him of the news. She skidded to a halt, a couple of meters from where a young female wolf stood.

"Howdy."

The wolf turned away from her father, shrinking to the ground immediately in submission. Windsong snorted and tossed her head in a short laugh, raisng an eyebrow. "Take it easy. I won't hurt you."

The wolf's ears perked, as she raised her head slightly from the ground. "What's your name?" Windsong asked with a kind smile, which caused the little she-wolf to relax slightly.

"I'm Lark."

"Lark," Windsong repeated, nodded in acknowledgement and then turning to her father as he spoke.

"Windsong, I was just asking young Lark here to join us," Redwind informed her.

"I won't keep you long, father. My brother, Shadowstrider and I just returned from the hunting trip- and we came across a wolf and her pups. Real nice folk," Windsong said with a grin. "But I'll tell them you're busy."

Redwind nodded as Windsong turned to leave the cave, a happy skip in her step as she trotted back to the others.

Nukpana

She grinned. Of course she was humoring the wolf. Of course she wasn't in the least bit threatened! Nuk had even believed that she could take down Fury if she wanted. She was powerful, intelligent and there was no wolf she feared!

"I'm trembling," Nuk said sarcastically. Of course, Poison really was trembling. Grumbling she shot him a dirty look.

"Do you wish for Fury to find out about your fear? You are part of the Brushfire clan! You show no mercy and you fear no one!" Nukpana yelled.

Poison regained control and started growling again. Nuk was pleased. Even if they were telling the truth, this would be a good fight.

"Nukpana!" Poison yelled staring behind her. She spun around and saw the two wolves had taken off. Nuk darted off after them, but even if she would have went her full speed there was no catching them. They had had a head start.