Jasper Rocks Serpent in the Grass

He despised this! Being made to bow before another, forced to defer to brute strength. It was exactly the same as it had been with Platon, a brutish idiot bullying his way to the top, earning acclaim purely based on brawn, while those with brains were left in the dust. It was the inherent unfairness of pack hierarchy, and it made his blood boil. Hatred roiled in Vasco’s stomach as he glared up at his nephew, fully taken back to those four years prior, when he’d last felt this way. Only this was even worse, not just about his chance at love, but his whole livelihood. Vayko sought to snatch from him everything he had achieved since finding his way to the Backwater – it wasn’t just about rank; it was his whole family at stake! The Ward whelp had already abandoned the pack once, wandering off with Viorel’s wife, only to return without her - and that just in time to move in on Clover with the arrival of spring; all of it lining up just too perfectly for him. As far as Vasco was concerned they’d been better of with both of them staying away – but Vayko returning alone; It's too good to be true! As all these thoughts raced through his mind, the smaller wolf turned his gaze down, in all visible sense submitting to his stronger opponent. He had no other choice in the moment, unable to wrestle back control – Vayko’s mistake would be taking his submission for surrender, when it was simply another tactic. It was the play of the underdog, the only option for the weaker wolf, to wait for his opponent to turn his back. And so he did, staying down until Vayko turned around, only to pounce again, silently this time to take full advantage of the surprise. That was all it took, one moment of unawareness, perhaps even smugness, and a knock on the shoulder mid-step, pushing him off balance, then nature did the rest. Vasco would stand over his victim for a moment, breathing heavily, waiting to see if he would get back up. But his head seemed to have struck the rocky ground hard enough to knock him out – though not kill him outright as his chest was still moving, for now. There was the temptation of course, to finish it off, but the risk was too high this close to the territory; Another day…! He thought to himself, stepping over the limb body and making his own way back towards the Backwater; I win! Thoughts ”Speech”

TinaLouiseUk @DA & Tebh-stock @DA