The unexpected call drew the vixen medic from her current project - reorganizing her infirmary, yet again - rust colored head rising and ears pricking curiously. There was urgency in the young voice, but no distress, so the healer assumed she was not being summoned for her medical skills; But what then? Leaving her half organized herbs, she quickly turned to heed the familiar voice, rushing through the thicket with her usual urgency. As she walked, she could feel a knot tightening in her stomach, a strange, ominous tension seeming to hang in the air. It made her hackles stand on end. Her and Danica had managed to build some rapport over the past weeks, but the young mother was generally reclusive, very protective of her son and timid when it came to interacting with the pack. For her to directly call out was uncharacteristic, and it made Aideen nervous.

Sure enough, when she reached the location of the pale girl's call, it was obvious that something was amiss. Danica stood front and center in a relatively clear part of the thicket, her posture completely opposite of the usually demure female. The superior wolf's reaction was instinctual, tail and ears lifting high in response to the clear challenge in the other's stance. Still, her warm copper eyes were kind and confused rather than aggressive, and she tilted her head slightly after coming to a halt in front of the younger, yet larger woman. "Danica?" She asked tentatively, voice full of alarm, she was sensing where this was heading.

The word hit her like a slap across the muzzle; Challenge?! She couldn't believe it, Danica had come to claim her rank; But I... We... An icy wave washed through her, hackles prickling in a panicked manner; No! This wasn't right, why was this happening? The young mother tried to explain herself, and Aideen's ears flicked, brows furrowing as she listened. She still didn't understand; How can this, POSSIBLY help?! But it seemed Danica was set on her business, and a shiver ran down the second's spine as she realized what that meant; Challenge!

Danica was readying herself, and Aideen fought to suppress her panic, taking a deep breath to try and calm her nerves. The last thing she wanted was to fight the young mother, however, it would seem she had to. Soft footfalls in the underbrush drew her attention away from the challenger, head turning as a regal figure appeared out of the thicket. Aideen stiffened as Nina came to a halt at the edge of the clearing, emerald eyes as steel when she looked from one female to the other; I didn't ask for this! The healer thought, in a moment of panic, but then she saw how the queen's glare landed on her daughter, it seemed Nina was as outraged by this as Aideen herself. A rustle from the other end of the clearing made the vixen woman's head snap back, eyes widening as she saw a small, black form appear between the trees; Oh no! Daniel slinked along the brim of the clearing, to stand by his grandmother's side, leaning against her leg with a scared expression on his little face. How could she battle Danica in front of her son, how could she do anything to her at all?!

The situation only seemed to grow increasingly dire as time went on. The younger, paler female began her approach, dancing on stiff legs, tail held high. "Danica, don't do this!" Aideen pleaded, voice so soft it was almost a whisper, copper eyes full of pain; "There's no need for this, you don't need my rank..!" But it seemed pointless, the younger girl had made up her mind. A flash of black fur appeared in the corner of Aideen's eye, and she turned her head to see a familiar, dark form stand besides Nina. Her heart caught in her throat, a rush of relief washing over her; Miccah! Her dark knight had come! Deep blue eyes stared at the two females, dark and brooding, like the queen by his side, he was not happy. Aideen met her mate's eyes, swallowing hard, love glowing brightly in her warm, copper gaze. Simply looking at him gave her strength, steel spreading through her, hardening her eyes. She looked back over at Nina, nodding once, solemnly, remembering their conversation just a few days earlier; Alright then!

She turned back to face Danica, ears pointing forwards, shoulders raised and tail arched over her back; "I can't let you do this Danica. I have to think of the best for the pack." She spoke steadily now, voice strong and confident, but there was still sadness in her gaze as she sized up her challenger; I'm sorry! For everything the girl had been through, and for the state of her mind that, though it was healing, was simply not strong enough to take up the responsibility of second rank. Aideen mimicked the approaching shewolf, tucking her neck and strutting her legs, though she was smaller and more delicately build than the challenger, this wasn't her first scuffle. A low growl left her throat in response to the other's demanding bark, dark lips curling back to reveal sharp, gleaming ivories. With copper eyes focused on her opponent, she stepped forwards, closing the distance between them even more, so there was hardly room to breathe.

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This was all kinds of wrong. The pale girls attention wavered, though it never shifted fully from her opponent, emerald eyes drifting to their audience. She spat spiteful words at her mother, making it even more clear that there were deeper reasons for all of this than what she had let on.  Anger flared within the rusty medic, the steel in her eyes glowing red-hot as they met Danica's deep greens. She had to remind herself that the young mother wasn't well, her mind clouded by the insanity that, though it seemed to have bettered, was still keeping a hold in its depths. Still, she wanted to yell at Danica, demand she stop this madness and show some respect; This isn't right! It won't end well..! A rank challenge was not the way to achieve the recognition that the younger woman sought. However she seemed to have made up her mind.

Without looking away from the healer, Danica spoke to her son, and Aideen could only agree with her words. She glanced over at the dark boy, pressed close to Nina, watching his mother with wide eyes; This is nothing for him to see! The second was still hoping to resolve the situation without violence, but Danica was unraveling before her very eyes, and Daniel needed to be sheltered from that. Looking up to meet her queen's single eye, she trusted that the matriarch would know what to do, then she turned back to her challenger. She heard the small touch of doubt in Danica's voice, and hope flashed within her, but then the pale girl's eyes fell on Miccah, and fresh distaste was evident in her stance, and the comment she offered the dark knight. Fresh anger burned brightly within Aideen, a snarl escaping her; How DARE she! Danica might be ill, she might be hurt and angry, and eager to prove herself, but these childish games had gone on long enough.

"Enough!" The petite second roared, astonishing volume in her commanding voice; "This will not stand Danica, you will not take my rank for childish reasons, I won't let you!" Then she once again bared her teeth in a vicious snarl; If the younger wolf would not back down without a fight, then a fight she would get! As Danica moved forwards, Aideen drew back, lowering herself out of reach of the other's snapping teeth. She shrank to the ground, ears lying flat as she growled up at her challenger, eyes glowing with anger. She would not let anyone destroy the Woodlands, no matter their reasons.

Word count: 428