They were on the move again. The deer just couldn't seem to sit still. She would have thought that in the summer heat the beasts would have chosen to rest, or at least not change position so darn often. Tracking them every few days was beginning to get annoying. Before, the little group had wandered placidly enough from meadow to meadow in the Crest territory, but ever since the wolves had taken one they seemed restless. It made sense that if these deer had been living in relative comfort without a resident pack stalking them for some time before the Downs wolves relocated, that they would panic a bit at being preyed upon. 

The sudden introduction of predators was making them uneasy. Each time she left to check on them for the pack, the creatures had moved further than the day before. Tracking them was beginning to become a nuisance, if only for the fact that she had to repeatedly stray outside of the borders. Just wandering the territory's edges alone made her uneasy, but here she was, more than a mile out with her nose to the ground. What if Vitani's still out here? Ugh, if you all just came back and let us eat you, everything would be much easier, she mused, accepting the absurdity of the notion. She was on edge as always, with her ruddy ears flicking like radars. A sound she had first regarded as nothing was getting slowly louder, enough to make the lithe brown woman halt her steps.  She tipped her head to better listen. Was it, footsteps? 

A horrific and forceful blast of sound made the woman jump. The pack wolf's legs splayed defensively and her head whirled to face the threat. It took her a moment to process that the call was in fact to request her presence and attention. Well, whoever it was had her now. The deer trail was forgotten as her panicked golden eyes swept through the forest. Her breathing quickened; body fully prepared to sprint for home. Few thoughts could cross her mind in those dragging seconds, but the footsteps drew ever closer. The girl wasn't about to hand herself willingly to some strange rogue. She stayed put, nervously scanning the area with her hackles on end. There was no scent to give him away, from the direction he was approaching...

Her heartbeat was drumming relentlessly in her ears while the silence suffocated everything like a heavy blanket. The footsteps had ceased. Was he sneaking up on her? No no, her ears would pick it up. What was he doing? She hated this sick feeling here. Was she supposed to wait and just be picked off? There was no way in the world she was going toward the wolf that had called like that. She should be running. She should have been running already. His voice brought her hair to the tallest it could possibly stand. The sing-song tones wove through the trees like a gaseous poison. Cousin? There was a note of familiarity in the tone, but she couldn't place it. She had many cousins. Cousins... 

Oh no. Was the stranger really an Asurn? Her stomach turned with dread as she heard the footsteps resume. The forest sounds began to drown under her heartbeat and the deadly footfalls. Her eyes flicked nervously in that direction. Watching. Watching... The movement was the first thing she saw. It was a dark agouti wolf, a fact that brought her nothing but anxiety. She swallowed hard, unable to tear her eyes from the approaching figure. The pack wolf's tail tucked itself away, and she glanced to his eyes only once as the man spoke again. Gold eyes widened with the realization as her name slid between his foul lips. Immediately instinct gripped her, slapping her eyes to the ground. She remembered. She stole glances at his feet, realizing with terror that he was still coming for her. Who he was exactly, was another question. But he was an Asurn, and that was frightening enough. How had they found her here?

Rae started to feel as if she'd vomit. He was getting too close, and he was smiling. Could she outrun him? Her eyes snapped about, registering all possible routes of escape. She stepped back as he came closer, lip twitching in the beginnings of a defensive snarl. It was not a wise move around an Asurn, to be sure, but she was fighting it. All of her muscles were completely drenched in adrenaline; they were aching to be used. He was circling around her. Nervously she spun to face him as best she could; ears flat with submission. Her eyes kept catching glances of his pelt, and she repeated his voice in her head. Did she know him? Was this one of the pups? The revelation hit much slower than it should have; but eventually it did come; gliding in on his wicked voice. A voice very similar to a yearling she once knew. Now the pieces fit. 

Eirian. She nearly said it out loud. He was laughing at her; mocking her. This brickbat stung just as much as the others. Her eyes hardened to slits as she glared at his toes. This was one of the demons she'd babysat two years ago. One of the tortured souls who'd once surely been an innocent pup. Clearly nothing was left of that now; nothing was left when he was a yearling either. When the boy had finished laughing his demeanor seemed to change. She heard his swift inhales, and noticed how sick he looked a moment later. Oh, she remembered the Asurns and their stupid ideals clear as day. Rock hard eyes struck daggers at his legs, knowing exactly what he was going to complain about next, and she forced a low-toned response into the air. “That's my pack and they'll come after you if you hurt me,” she declared boldly. “What do you want Eirian?”

What a damn liar. She could hear his ham-like acting and see his movements from her peripherals even as her sunny eyes drilled holes in his feet. She didn't look up as the charade continued, glancing only once when she knew he was finished. His next sentence sounded almost serious, but she was well aware that he was only here for his own amusement. This had nothing to do with missing her. She kept silent despite the anxiousness and the heat of her blood. If he really wanted to cause serious trouble he would have done it already; but this didn't mean she was letting her guard down. 

Her ears dared to lift from her skull as the Asurn man continued on; whining about the mixes in her pack. Raela drew her legs back up underneath her and straightened her back, though her tail remained tucked. Anything less was bound to be seen as disrespect, and she didn't need a fight. The Crest woman could tell he expected no real tales of her rise to power, and there would be none. But what would she tell him? Again the female's voice slithered out in a hard tone. “These 'wretched beasts' have treated me far better than any Asurn ever has. Not that you care.” It was still a voice sharp as her own fangs. “But if you're so curious, I'm in training to be their advisor.” If he could smell them, he'd already know that meant helping both a plains wolf and a mackenzie; their sworn enemies, but Gent and Minka would never loose her favor over simple genetics. 

Her eyes dug through the ground and another spiteful sentence emerged from her black lips. “I rank third and I'll be moving on second.” Her old demeanor; the Asurn-given one, had surfaced. Cold, but seeking approval nonetheless. She didn't exactly expect or even want praise of any kind from this demon, but she knew there was little else she could share that he would be interested in. Until now the idea of challenging for Cessair's rank had been a faint notion; something she could probably have accomplished but seemed impossible in her insecure mind. Back and forth she had wrestled with it, but only for brief moments. There was the threat to their friendship as well but the pale woman seemed forgiving enough. Raela had taken Gent's training, and  even if the encounter before it was a flop it was experience nonetheless. If she made it back to the pack unscathed, perhaps it was about time she moved up. Most would not have waited so long as she; be them friendly types or not. It was instinct, and if anything surfaced around an Asurn it was instinct. 

His reaction was nothing short of predictable. Raela knew better than to expect her remark to slip by him without some angry comeback barking from is clenched teeth. He still thought his childhood was grand. Ha. How well the Asurns could manipulate their own blood. His insult clenched her jaw, but it was all too familiar. Memories were already flooding back, and she didn't like it one bit. Her second utterance brought about a remarkable change in tone. Genuinely impressed? Perhaps, but not much. She'd actually grown quite used to not being lowest; she supposed if challenged that she would defend her rank as vehemently as any other would. There was a position she never saw herself in. 

Now he was going on about the Asurn genetics she undoubtedly had. It wasn't a fact the woman prided herself on. For all their power they were a ruthless, loveless bunch. Her ears flattened even harder against his words, but Eirian was intent on pursuing this path of conversation. She could practically feel the cold shell wrapping itself around her chest – tamping down anything that tried to rise. She'd not challenged a single wolf for her current rank, but of he believed she had, so be it. Raela wasn't about to correct him. If anything it at least made her seem more formidable as an opponent; less likely to be beaten for his pride and amusement. 

Did she want power? His question mulled around aimlessly in her ears, though her eyes trailed his circling feet diligently. If he moved on her, she would be ready. Her heart resumed its agitated beating. She was so confused by this whole encounter. She had no desire to lead; it was a frightening prospect. There was so much more to the kind of leadership she would want to posess, Minka's and Gent's leadership, not the Asurns. She never felt comfortable with so much attention, so much stress... But she couldn't say they she didn't like the idea of being a Second. A Beta. What if one day that morphed into wanting to lead? I promised Minka, she reminded herself solidly. She owed the woman too much.  

His words came at an all to perfect and undoubtedly practiced moment. For a second the woman's eyes grew wide and her ears pricked. That was as close to a reward as any of them had ever gotten with her; as amiable as they could be, really. It was alien, and yet welcome. The neglected child in her leapt up, crying to be heard. He approved of what she was doing. Approved... She looked higher, near his chest, though her golden eyes grew distant in glow. There were so many thoughts. She didn't want to lead like an Asurn. She never could. She loved this close knit pack. She was perfectly happy to remain where she was. And yet, she couldn't tell him any of that. The minute she did he'd cut it all off. 

So what could she tell him? “I suppose I do want some power,” she replied, still trying to remain cold. Watching him brought another damning thought to her tongue. How could he mean any of this? “Surely you don't think I can be an Alpha, do you?” Her eyes struck the dirt again as she waited. He could have any reaction this time.