Prelude
The wind howled through the small clearing causing fallen leaves to tumble over the forest floor. A bright, almost full moon casting shadows and shapes between trees and ground. The forest gave off an eerie vibe, painting a scene straight out of a horror movie.
During the day, however, it was just a typical forest. Deer foraged through the foliage while wild rabbits and smaller woodland creatures scurried around. On weekends even humans trekked through, looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
A low, long rumble broke the silence. The ground vibrating with the sound that seemed to go on forever, then as suddenly as it started, it stopped.
Crack
The quiet sound of a twig snapping nearby gave away that the forest wasn’t as empty as it first seemed.
A prominent dark figure raised its head from the shadows, nose skyward as it sniffed the air.
Something was coming.
Around the clearing, more shadowy figures stirred to life, causing the rumbling to reach new heights.
Another twig snapped, this time closer than the last.
A crunch of a leaf on the forest floor.
Something brushing up against the bark of a tree.
Another twig snapping.
All warning signs that something was approaching.
The prominent dark figure rose to its feet from its place on a large boulder as the noises suddenly stopped. Sharp teeth bared as a warning growl reverberated from its chest.
Across the opposite side of the clearing came a large shadow, yellow eyes glittering in the moonlight. More dark shapes appeared behind it, their eyes glittering too as they slowly stalked through the trees.
They were here.
The significant figure on the boulder gave another warning low growl, stepping into the moonlight revealing its true form.
The large tri-coloured wolf stood taller than any human. Its white, brown and grey fur ruffled with the wind while its yellow eyes stared down the newcomers.
Across the clearing, the yellowed-eyed shadow revealed itself too—another wolf, this one jet black and more prominent in size.
Surrender
Other shadows stepped forward into the moonlight, revealing themselves as wolves too. Whilst no words had been uttered, it was apparent the request had been heard clearly by the way the tri-coloured wolf gave a feral snarl in response.
Never
The shadows surrounding the tri-coloured wolf unveiled themselves as more wolves, each one readying themselves as they crouched low, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
The black-coated wolf took another step, snarling out unheard orders, causing feral growls to tear through the clearing. The newcomers pounced into action seconds later, causing the wolves from the other side to retaliate.
The two largest wolves glided through the air from opposite sides of the clearing, aiming at one another before colliding heavily onto the hard forest floor in a tangle of limbs. Each wolf had fangs bared and claws out, snarling ferally as each waited for the other to make the first move.
All the training they had endured before now had been a test of endurance, strength, loyalty, and will.
This was no longer training- This was real.
A fight to the death.
