Kisla was a ghost of Swift River – the Yearling who would reveal herself every so often to aide the pack, and yet remained in the reclusive shell that she had found herself clinging to the moment Marsh had come to her protection. Shame still burnt deep within her – knowing that she had put him in such a position, and that she had been so utterly naïve to the world and the monsters that lurked within it.


Trailing the paths of the Grove, the pale tawny she-wolf drew her own panicked surprise when the scent of Rissa was fresh and farther from the den than was comfortable. Swift River looked after the pack’s youth as a whole – as was the nature of the wolf – yet the youngest litter were also primarily the responsibility of Kisla and her littermates, and the sickening thought of anything happening to her baby sister lured her forward at a much faster trot.


Rissa was not far, and Kisla’s ears perked forward as she heard the cub’s demanding voice filter through the calm summer air. Elated that no harm had come to the girl, Kisla rounded the corner, her tongue lolling from her muzzle in contentment as she was about to greet her sibling with an affectionate cuff to the ear when the stranger found her vision.


Halting from initial shock, the Yearling stood poised, regarding the other wolf who was so dangerously close to their pack lands. The meager part of her screamed to turn and run – back to the safety of Marsh and the pack, and yet one stolen glance to Rissa stirred her forward, her lissome figure prowling between the whelp and the stranger protectively. There was no welcome in her green eyes, and she lifted her muzzle with a curl of her lip at his presence. She did not speak – he would know why she was upset.

Rissa’s innocence was painfully familiar, and the golden she-wolf stole a quick yet fond glance down to her baby sister. The whelp was new to the world.. Rissa did not understand the evil that could and would lurk behind any tree. Marsh had been the one to save Kisla from such an evil.. could she save Rissa? Bending her muzzle down, Kisla swept her tongue across the cub’s forehead, though her pelt bristled dangerously as the presence of the other could not go ignored.


Ignoring her sibling’s chastise, Kisla took a step toward the male who was her age as he stepped back, making sure to keep between he and Rissa. “There’s no such thing as a good wolf that nearly trespasses, Rissa,” she murmured in turn, her tail giving a flippant flick. Both ears preened forward as the stranger explained himself, the explanation in itself allowing the she-wolf’s gaze to soften.. but not her insistence on keeping her sister safe.


“As you can see, she’s fine now. There’s no need to linger near our borders.” Her tone was firm as her figure straightened slightly, her bright green eyes studying the male’s orange. If anything, his eyes reminded her of her father. A wolf who she knew would not be welcoming to a stranger so close to not just his home, but his children. Indru wouldn’t have even bothered with words –she knew her father would have dove right in to the male’s neck, eager to scare him away from lands and business that did not concern him. “You’d best be on your way,” she reiterated after a short pause, in case he didn’t get the message.

Rissa – as innocent as Kisla herself once was – started a rebuttle but quickly shushed, instead thanking the stranger. Silencing as she allowed the two to say their goodbyes, the young she-wolf still stood protectively near her sister, her bright eyes studying the male, narrowing slightly at his unspoken arrogance.


The pale tawny girl watched him move in to the trees, and blinking, she cast her eyes down at Rissa. “I’m sorry Ree,” she murmured, dipping her muzzle down to smooth it upon the crown of her little sister’s head. “But while he might seem like a good wolf, there are a lot out there who arne’t. Even if they seem to be at first.” A soft sigh escaped her as she recalled the icy woman that had coaxed her as much as the stranger had just coaxed her sister. Marsh had been there to save her, but if he hadn’t.. Kisla refused to think of it.


Nudging her younger sibling in the direction of home, the yearling prowled back, feeling unsteady about the situation that had just unfolded. Of course, any doubt she had once felt quickly fell away to ice cold anger as the male’s scent drifted past her… stronger than before. “Stay here Rissa,” she muttered darkly, her tail lashing with agitation as she suddenly turned, making her way back to the territory borders.


It took her only moments to find him, and noting the lower of his leg after marking in their territory the girl felt her rage and anger creep upon her. Bristling dangerously, Kisla elicited a sharp growl as she slunk forward now, her lissome figure in a menacing crouch as she leapt at the other Yearling. Her snarl echoed across the forests that protected her home, and with her agility, the girl pulled alongside him, her jaws slashing the air toward his shoulder, aiming to tear his flesh.