Vaken hid from the sun beneath the tree tops, desperate for some shelter. This was the second week of the unbearable heat. Everything was dry, even the air. The wolf’s mouth was starting to dry up too, the saliva dripping to the floor. He let out a soft, unhappy whimper. He was doing fine. His wounds were healing well, and thanks to the neighbouring pack, he was not completely afraid of the coyotes. He still had his freedom, but the heat was killing him. 


His eyes were focused on the creek. He barely blinked. He was close to the water, but did not want to step into the sun to swim. The sun was at its highest in the sky and unforgivably warm. Vaken stepped towards it, but stayed on the edge of the shade. Pouting a little, the young wolf looked truly distressed with his choices.

He could get some water, and be in the sun, or sit in the shade with a dry mouth. ”Where are the clouds when ya need ‘em,” he whined, placing his tail between his legs. He just wanted some water.  

“I just might,” he hissed between clenched teeth, pressing his ears down against his skull. Seeing Laurel evoked a lot of feelings, but most of them Vaken ignored. He didn’t want to read too much into situations like that. He felt bad about how things had ended last, but he refused to apologize. He was too young and stubborn to read the faults in his behaviour. His relationship with this wolf, was, all over the place. It was oddly personal, especially for not knowing the wolf’s name. Puffing his chest out, Vaken glazed over his companion with unblinking eyes.

He looked better than Vaken remembered. Not particularly healthy, but better. Vaken felt a little relief in his chest. He did not let it show though, maintaining a semi-hostile position. Their last interaction had ended horribly horribly wrong, and now Vaken was uncertain on the proper protocol. Should he say sorry? He didn’t want to. It didn’t matter if he should or not.

He had felt guilty at the time, almost enough to say sorry then. Now the emotions had worn off and he felt defeated and uninterested in expressing remorse. He wasn’t empathetic enough. His cold stare hid his uncertainty, his body was too stiff to show emotion. The tension in the air wasn’t completely bitter, but it was there. Vaken could feel it in his bones.

In an attempt to assert dominance, the young wolf lifted his tail and head. He didn’t want to apologize. Rather than be emotionally sensitive and understanding, the wolf turned to aggression. In his mind, if he could get the other wolf to submit, he’d be free. Then it didn’t matter if he was upset, because he wasn’t going to do anything about it. “You’re still mad,” he observed, narrowing his eyes. He scoffed, but felt a little pang of regret in his chest. He grunted it away. “Fine.”

“Lie to you,” Vaken said the words half angrily, half confused. He snapped his teeth in frustration. His fur was beginning to stand on end and his tail stayed firm and lifted. When the other male didn’t submit, Vaken felt his blood turn hot. It was the first time they met all over again. Why wouldn’t the other boy just back down already? Vaken wanted to wrap his teeth around his neck until he exposed his belly and submitted. They were too similar in that regard, too emotional. Vaken did not want to submit either. He didn’t want to hurt his almost-friend, not really. He just didn’t know how to deal with his own emotions, and he especially didn’t know how to deal with Laurel’s.

He stretched out his neck higher. He lifted his fur to make himself seem stronger and raised his upper-lip. He was incredibly hostile now, barely even thinking clearly. “I didn’t lie to you,” he added through clenched teeth. “And even if I did! I get to do whatever I want. I don’t owe you anything.” He spat the words with increasing irritation. Stepping forward, towards the male, Vaken was clearly not trying to diffuse the situation.

He wouldn’t know how, even if he had wanted to. Exposing his teeth, Vaken let out a warning growl. Things were happening quickly now, the energy becoming more deadly by the second. “You don’t just get a right to anything,” he snarled. He took another step, bringing his face a few inches closer to the male’s. He had the urge to reach out and bite, to grab the wolf’s muzzle with his fangs. “You have to earn it.”

The small yearling had been anticipating the attack. Balancing on the pads of his feet, Vaken side-stepped out of the way, his fangs still exposed, and turned on Laurel. The movement was quiet, like a snake striking. He suspected Laurel would attack, and he had. That meant war- no holding back. 


He let out a throaty growl, gnashing his teeth at the air intimidatingly. He was controlled by bloodlust, his eyes could only see red. He was beyond salvation. Turning his muzzle around, Vaken aimed for Laurel’s flank.

It was the closest thing to his black snout, the easiest thing to grab. Vaken was desperate to sink his teeth into flesh wherever he could and just pull.

Vaken was too quick to pass up on any weakness, including a fall. If he was a principled fighter, maybe he would have let it go and waited- but he wasn’t. There were no moral conduct in his fighting. He was cold and impulsive, and that meant he would do whatever it took to win. 


When he saw Laurel stumble, he felt excitement bubble in his throat. The young boy let out a yip of pleasure and charged forward, aiming for the wolf’s cheek. Since Laurel had stumbled, Vaken felt more confidence than before and that made him bold. He was more dominant now, raising his tail and biting the air. He aimed for the side of the wolf's face, desperately trying to frighten Laurel in an assertion of dominance. He lifted his chest out, but kept his throat concealed. Nipping at the wolf, Vaken attempted to pinch the wolf’s face with his teeth to keep him below him.