Stone Circle A girl worth fighting for

@Hawthorne @Murdock

That afternoon hadn't been all bad. The weather was growing quite cold, but Steph thought it was bareable in the sun. She had gone exploring, hoping to run into Moo, like usual. This time, he was proving harder to find. It was now evening, and the sun was well into setting. Pink and purple lit up the sky, but it was darkening quickly. Steph wasn't accustomed to being out in the dark alone, but what worried her the most was the cold. The chill that set in once the sun wasn't there to warm her was something she had never felt before. 

Steph shivered as she paused in her search for the den. You'd think after having gotten lost so many times, she'd learn her way back. But, there was always an adult to take her back to the den, and therefore she never paid attention to where they were going. She whined, growing colder by the second. An eight week old pup was no match for impending winter. In an effort to attract an adult, she began barking as loudly as she could. Surely, an adult would be nearby and help her.

Hawthorne was always hungry. Often the wolverine would be on the lookout for anything to hunt or munch on. A wolf pup would be an incredible snack. He was bold enough to take on a lone wolf. A pack was different. Then he would be in the minority. However, Thorne was not that bothered when he crossed the pack's land. He didn't even care that he was. He never paid attention to wolf borders. He thought it was silly as he was a nomad mostly scavenging for food. 

Now the winter was coming closer and the temperatures were dropping Hawthorne felt more at home this far south. He couldn't wait till the snow would arrive. The colder temperatures were putting him in a good mood instead of a cranky one, which was a rather good thing for the wolf pup he would stumble upon any second. The wolverine came from the bushes, his extraordinary sense of smell already told him that there was a wolf cub around. But he had to be careful of the mother. Wolves were like bears in that matter. 

When he didn't spot anything and the child started barking the wolverine revealed himself before the other. His fur slick and a very musky odor hung around the male. He bared his teeth a bit in a vindictive smile. Wolves always bothered him when he just wanted food. Pay pack. "What is a delicious snack doing all by herself," he slyly spoke, baring his teeth to show off his use set of sharp k9's.

Steph heard rustling in the bushes and silenced herself. Her tail wagged and she smiled as she pictured Moo coming through the brush to save her. But reality had  a rude awakening. The creature that presented itself was a lot bigger than her, but it was no wolf.

Steph had no knowledge of other predators, least of all the one that was smiling at her. What was a "snack"? She didn't know. Mom, she responded. Moo, she added. Maybe he would know the way to her den. Den? She questioned. She knew words, but not yet how to put them in a sentence.

Hawthrone was not surprised when the other called out for her mother. It was already clear to him that this child had wandered too far from her mother's den. Thorne grinned devilishly. He bared his teeth into a wide smirk. He could kill her on the spot. But was this smart? No, the child would protest and squeak. The wolverine thought about it. 

"Den and Mama, this way," he stated and then turned more to the left which was the way to the border. He was kind of fascinated how kids couldn't see the danger. This child didn't smell too scared. It was perhaps more scared of the idea that the den and her mother were further away than normal. Hawthorne turned to block her path to go deeper into the territory. "That way," he pointed out which was towards the border.

It seemed like a long few moments before she got a response. Her instincts had started to tell her that maybe this creature wasn't trustworthy. But, when he told her the direction of her mother and the den, she ignored the growing feeling of anxiety. Her tail wagged and without hesitation, she bounded in the direction he told her to go.

She threw him a childlike smile as she passed him, looking back over her shoulder to see if he was coming. She didn't want to get lost again, and since he knew the direction of the den, she was sticking with him. She had no idea they were actually heading to the border, so when the scents of the adults grew stronger, Steph didn't question it. It was just like smelling the area around the den, and Steph stopped to lower her nose to the ground. It smelled much of Mom. Then, she took a moment to look around, her escort momentarily forgotten.  The forest had thinned considerably, not like the dense vegitation around the den. The only time Steph had seen it this thin was when Mom took them to the stone circle. The pup looked around for the structure but didn't see it. 

The anxiety she had pushed down earlier came back with a vengeance. She looked to the creature, knowing now this was not the way home. What she didn't understand was why he had told her it was. Not den, she accused him. She was getting upset, but now that she at least knew what direction she wasn't supposed to be going, she attempted  to head back into the thickness of the forest.

Hawthorne was not too surprised that the cub would believe him and just walk towards the border. It would be easier to snag her away as the wolves would be further away from him most of the time. Hawthorne watched the pup grow more suspicious. Slowly the other quirked up his lips into a mean grin. 

"Too late," he stated and lunged at the pup with his jaws open. He wouldn't want to have his snack get away from him. Now he could just swiftly kill her before any adult would be suspicious and would come looking for her. If she would make a sound it might not be heard as well. Hawthorne was full of himself so he didn't think this attack could go wrong. He was convinced the pup was still rather weak and not fast at running.

The once-helpful creature turned on Steph, and she could feel her heart begin to race. Her instincts kicked in and as he lunged, the pup jerked backwards and turned on her heels. She made a run for it, not willing to think it was too late.

She made her way back into the forest, hoping to loose him in the brush. Her breath came in short bursts, and at one point she turned to see if the beast was behind her. It was a mistake, as she wasn't coordinated enough just yet. Steph lost her footing, and slid into the grass. Panicking, she couldn't seem to get to her feet fast enough as her eyes searched for her attacker.

He'd been too far away to hear the first summoning barks, but these days, that hardly mattered. He was, he realized, spending far too much time with the girl, but he couldn't fight the desire to be around her and watch her grow. All it took was a single glance at that sweet, guilless smile to put a hook straight through his heart.

So he was looking for her, because she wasn't at the den, and because she was more trouble than she was worth, and because Murdock hadn't yet seen her that day and that just wouldn't do. Her scent was easy to pick out from the rest nowadays, and before long, he was closing in on the woods - and on a much more alarming scent.

"Stephie!" he yelled, shooting off into the woods, toward the crash and crunch of bodies and leaves. The wolverine was closing quickly, but Murdock used his last burst of sped to try and tackle the creature. Unfortunately, his momentum had him stepping on the wolverine's back and tumbling away, much like Steph had. Luckily, he was much quicker to get back on his paws, and surged forward once more to snarl threateningly at the creature, his body now set firmly in front of its dinner.

Let me know if I need to change anything!

Hawthorne licked his jaws as he jumped forward. He wanted his snack. He chased after the child that was surprisingly quick. He was pleased to see that she tripped. The wolverine's jaws opened as he sprinted towards the wolf snack, but something made him tumble over. A bigger wolf that tripped over him. Hawthorne instantly focussed on the other and opened his bone-crushing jaws to sink them into the adult wolf's shoulder. Hawthorne was confident that he could take on a lone wolf. He had that ego about him. It was in his wolverine nature. 

Unfortunately for him, the adult was standing in his way. Was this adult so foolish to keep him from his snack? Had he never experienced the wrath of a wolverine before?! Thorne made sure to not let go of the shoulder. He didn't want to let go because of his anger, but that made him vulnerable to counter bites. Still, the wild creature couldn't be bothered too much with a counter bite.

Valette wasn't too far off when she heard Murdock call out Steph's name. She wanted to give her kids more freedom and explore. Valette wished that she could be with them all the time but she knew it would be good for them. There were more than enough members to keep an eye on them. Plus, Valette deemed the territory safe enough. However, when she heard Murdock call out she rushed after him.

She caught the scent of something she didn't smell before. A heavy musky scent. The mother rushed to the scene. Her eyes fell upon Murdock who stood in front of Steph. Then her eyes fell on the creature that was biting down on her packmate. She recognized it from stories. Wolverine. What why was it this far south?! Valette pushed that thought away and jumped into action.

She rushed to Steph, selfishly so, and nosed over her. She looked alright. The mother grabbed her by her scruff and rushed her off to an abandoned fox den between the roots of a tree. She placed her daughter dawn and pushed her inside of the den. "Stay. Don't show yourself until I return,"" she spoke not wanting any room for an argument.

Valette rushed back to Murdock, ready to help him to dispose of this creature. "Murdock!," she barked and rushed in closer to help. She didn't know much about wolverines, only that they were vicious.

The predator lunged for her, and Steph scrambled, but there was no escaping the creature. Thankfully, a hero arrived in the form  of Murdock, affectionate nicknamed Moo by the pup. Her eyes were wide as she froze in fear, taking in the right between the two.

Then, the heroine arrived. Her mother nosed her and Steph whined in both fear and relief that she was there. Then, she was picked up by her scruff, and she curled her body into it. She stole a glance to Moo, worried for his safety. 

She was put into a den, told to stay, and she went to the furthest wall of the hole, determined to do exactly that. She would not move until her mother retrieved her.

Other things were happening around him, but Murdock hardly had time to focus before a good fifty pounds of wolverine hit him in the shoulder. Intense pressure came before the pain, but oh boy, when the pain came, it came down hard. An undignified yowl escaped the older male, but even in this moment of agony, he was flushed with dizzying relief.

Stephie was safe. She was safe.

And Murdock was not. He reached for the brown mass attached to him and attempted to rip it from his shoulder, but his efforts were fruitless against the power of the creature's jaws. It was probably a good thing, too - while his shoulder hurt in the moment, it was still just puncture wounds, for the time being. If he'd succeed in ripping the creature away, his shoulder would probably be in much worse shape.

Luckily for him, Valette chose that moment to reappear once more. "Kill it!" Murdock huffed, choosing to drop down and attempt to crush the wolverine under his weight. He didn't expect the move to do much damage, but it might cause the creature to unlatch its jaws.

Hawthorne was keen to hold on to the wolf until the other would decide that more injuries weren't worth it. So he could have the pup as a snack. However, as he was so busy holding down on the wolf he didn't realize another came to see what the commotion was about. He only realized the pup was gone from his sight when another darker wolf approached. He growled and tried to bite down harder. Though the wolf decided that he would lie down on top of him. The wolverine trampled against the wolf with his big paws while determinedly holding on to the shoulder. 

He could only half hear the conversation as he was pressed against the ground. But there was that other wolf, and it was instructed to kill. That was not good. Thorne let go of the shoulder and wormed his way from under the male. Instead of running away the bold creature charged at the female with open jaws and loud snarls and yowls. He wouldn't be chased away that quickly. He could take on one wolf, how much harder could two wolves be? He rushed forward and tried to jump up and bite down on the female's throat. But unfortunately, the damn female dodged him. 

Mild PP of Valette because I gave permission to myself, haha

Valette watched as the creature was still holding on to Murdock. The mother instantly nodded. She was not only a mother but also a hunter. She bared her teeth and moved forward. She didn't want to lunge at Murdock and bite him instead. But the creature came from under the male. Valette expected it to run because they did decide on killing him. Instead, the creature lunged at her with open jaws. She had never seen anything like it! Perhaps a bear would have this type of confidence yet they had their size.

Valette jumped pack in surprise as seen the exposed teeth coming her way. She was quick on her feet to jump to the side. Her actions needed to be quick if she wanted to do a counter attack. However, this was not any type of prey she could just pounce on. She knew that if she would pounce on this it could bite back. She never had any fighting lessons. Valette tried to bite down on his neck as well, but instantly got swiped with that huge paw over her muzzle. Valette yelped.

The skin was thin there and quick to bleed. She was glad it was her muzzle and not her eye. She jumped back not wanting to have another swipe from those claws. Though the female was keen on protecting her pack. She bared her teeth again, now looking rather fierce with blood dripping down her muzzle into her mouth. "Let's kill," she growled.

His shoulder burned and his leg felt strange and weak, but when the wolverine released him, Murdock still did his best to keep the beast down. He failed, of course, and then his heart skipped a beat when it went straight for Valette.

Murdock swore and went after it again, wishing wolverines could be a bit more sensible and just run away when confronted by a pair of fully grown wolves. But they weren't, and it didn't, so Murdock dove after it again, determined to keep it away from Valette.

Unfortunately, it was difficult to get a good grip on the wolverine. It's fur and skin were very thick, and while his teeth grazed the flesh of its back while it was busy with Valette, he couldn't get a hold of the creature to pull it away or pin it down.

Hawthorne is damn lucky with all these attacks missing XD

Hawthorne slashed his paw at the female when she came too close. It was a hit, somewhat. More blood was feeling the air and Thorne was getting hyped up by smelling it. The male went to attack. The wolverine felt the teeth graze over his skin. He turned and bared his teeth just to warn him off. The wolverine was actually glancing around for the pup. But the smell of blood flowing made it that much harder. Damn those adults. What was that pup worth to them?!

The female was not so happy with him. Thorne wondered if he should attack again. He could. But there wouldn't be much use for it. They hid the pup from him. His snack. These wolves would not become snacks, especially not two. With a brief pause, he glanced at either one of them. "I know what you are hiding here wolfssss," he huffed and bared his teeth. He then dashed off, using the his big snowshoes to get some distance between him and those wolves. He knew that one was probably not fit enough to follow but the female clearly would be.

Murdock's attack didn't work as well as she thought it would work. She had no clue how to fight, especially not creatures like this. She didn't know their weaknesses. Plus this thing was quick too. She could still feel the sting of the swipe. There was a brief pause in their fight. Valette stared at the small dark eyes. She bared her teeth further. "No," she disagreed and without thinking she chased after the creature. She didn't want this thing to return. She lunged at it but missed.

She quickly got up. Her muzzle still bleeding lightly and now covered with some snow that was turning red. The mother was determined and chased after the wolverine with the ferocity only a mother could have. She knew how to do a chase. She jumped forward again and bit down on the creatures hind leg. It was a hit. She was not sure if the other creature growled or let out another sound. But when she saw the big front paw coming her way she let go. Not wanting her eyes to be damaged like Wardruna.

Valette scrambled back as the wolverine slashed forward with his paws and bared teeth. Her adrenaline dying she put up one strong front and snapped her jaws at him. The wolverine turned and ran away with a limp. "Don't you dare to return!!," she snarled after him but was only met with laughter. A shiver went down her spine. She quickly turned around and rushed back to Murdock. Her muzzle was dripping some blood and she had some shallow cuts on her chest but nothing major.

"I'm so sorry. I am not good with fights," she spoke worriedly and glanced at his wounded shoulder. If he hadn't been there Steph might have been taken. She would never forgive herself. Steph! She should retrieve her daughter. "Thank you for saving, Steph," she spoke then. "Is there anything I can do? I am afraid I am not good at healing either," she sighed.

Murdock tried to spring after the pair as well, not wanting Valette to have to face the wolverine alone. His leg, however, collapsed underneath him like an empty paper towel roll, and Murdock could not summon the energy to shift from where he'd fallen.

Truthfully, he passed out for a moment under the combined pressure of pain and blood loss. When Valette's head swam above is own, it felt as though no time at all had passed. Presumably, she'd returned to his side as soon as she saw that he was not able to follow.

"You're good, girl," he assured her, his words a bit slurred as he tried to figure out where his tongue was. His next words came out more clearly: "How about a kiss?" he requested, turning his cheek toward her with a weak grin on his face.

Valette glanced at him. He didn't look so good. He was losing blood. Valette snorted when he suggested that she could give him a kiss. "Did you get hit in the head as well?," she chuckled and shook her head. She didn't really see Murdock in a romantic way and perhaps he was just being silly. Valette grabbed his scruff instead and tried to help him back to his feet. Valette was always a bit more of a no-nonsense type of girl.

"Go to Keoni. She might know what to do with that shoulder," Valette spoke to him. "I should get Steph," she added worriedly. Her pup all alone in that small den. The mother was eager to have her back in her embrace. But then again, she also didn't want to leave Murdock alone. She had a feeling that he was stubborn and wouldn't get help. "You really should let someone look at that though," she pressed on. Not wanting to leave before she had a confirmation.

Valette seemed to decline, and instead grabbed his scruff and began to tug. "That's not a kiss," Murdock said with a huff, nudging her away from him before attempting to stand under his own power. The male wobbled a moment before regaining his balance, and stood silently by the alpha while he caught his breath. Pain shone clearly in his two-toned eyes, but he gritted his teeth and refused to whimper.

"Was she hurt?" he asked when he could speak again, ignoring Valette's suggestion, for the moment. He was sure he'd gotten to her before the wolverine harmed her, but looking back, he was unable to say for certain that she'd been completely untouched. "I want to see her, and then I'll see Keoni," he said then, knowing that he probably wouldn't be able to take Valette's word for it.

The male set off in the direction he thought he'd seen Valette take her daughter, following a sixth-sense that always seemed to know approximately where Stephie could be found. His eyes strayed to Valette as he walked. "Wolverines are tricky at the best of times. You weren't bad, back there," he told her, trying for a compliment. "I thought I was pretty hot." Oh. Whoops. He'd said that out loud. Well, it was only the truth.

Valette ears flopped back for a moment. She hardly knew anything about this male. He had been close with Steph and she trusted him as he had been there to protect the pack. But she didn't know him really. The want of a kiss struck her as strange. She offered him a quick apologetic smile. "I will go check on her now."

Valette walked to the spot where she hit Steph. She had to walk a bit slower so Murdock could keep up. She wanted to smile when he complimented her. However, Valette froze when he also said it was hot. She wasn't really sure what to comment on that. The alpha female looked awkward for a moment.

She was more concern with Steph at the moment than her relationship with Murdock. She thought they were at the beginning of a friendship but clearly the male thought more about it? Valette cast a bit of a side eye at the male before moving forward to the den. "@Steph you can come out now," she spoke softly.

"Mama is here," she cooed and went to lie down. Her muzzle was slowly stopping with bleeding. It was clear the mom suffered some light damage. Nothing too major. "Are you okay? Hurt anywhere?," she asked. Though Steph would probably be scared for a while.

Steph pushed herself as far as she could to the back of the hole, almost becoming one with the wall of dirt. Her dark coat would make it difficult for anyone to see her in here, until their eyes adjusted. Steph was silent, listening to the sounds going on outside. She was far enough away that voices and sounds were muffled, but Steph could understand a fight was going on.

The real fear came when it all went quiet. Her ears perked, waiting to see what would happen. Then, footsteps. She pinned her ears6ack, fearing it would be the creature again. For the first time in her life, Steph growled with menace; a warning that she had gotten her wits about her and would not freeze in fear if attacked again.

But, as soon as she scent of Valette was caught by her nose, the growl ceased and Steph stepped towards the entrance. Her eyes scanned, seeing Moo, but kept looking for her attacker. He wasn’t there, even though his scent was heavy on the two adults. Her tail wagged when she realized they were safe, and she nuzzled her mother, nodding to her question. 

Still feeling a bit uneasy over what had just happened, Steph attempted to squeeze herself in between Valette’s front legs and under her chest. The smell of blood reached her nostrils and Steph licked her mother’s muzzle in an attempt to clean it; something Valette had taught her. Her head swiveled, and her gaze went to Moo, and his shoulder and her eyes widened. Moo, you ‘k? she asked. It looked like a lot of blood, more than she could clean up with her tongue. She had never seen so much before.  Being naïve to the world of wounds, and not having any such thought that Moo could die, she had no fear of Moo being anything but okay.

As soon as he laid eyes on the little girl, he felt something tense and wary inside him relax. She was safe, and no matter what it had cost him, he'd done his job. Perhaps he couldn't have protected his first litter, and perhaps he could never take back what he'd done to his second, but he could be there for Steph and her siblings - and for Valette, to a lesser degree.

With a glance at the dark woman, he leaned down toward Steph with a grin on his face. "Sure am, Stephie. Know what'll make it better? Knock me a little kiss." He offered the dark girl his cheek, hoping she'd comply so that his point could be made. Whether or not she did, however, his next question remained the same. "What about you? It didn't getchya, did it?"

She was glad her daughter was okay. She nosed over her and showered her with licks to make sure her daughter would feel better. She understood that the pup growled at her. Valette actually liked that. It meant Steph was brave enough to still stand up for herself. Valette wanted to keep Steph close but then Murdock stepped closer. He seemed genuinely glad that the pup was safe but she felt weird that he asked her for a kiss also. It felt out of context. He wasn't her father, not even an uncle. Before he would keep his distance. Valette didn't realize how close Murdock was with Steph. She was not sure if she was fully okay with that yet.

"Luckily she seems okay. Which means that you did a good job, Murdock," she spoke and offered him a quick smile. "You should get that shoulder looked at," she stated to him. "Steph, we should go home. Make sure to check you up and tell your siblings to watch out." She nudged Steph softly to coax her to the den.

Feeling much safer, Steph lightened up enough to return her mother's kisses with gusto. She was relieved that the big bad attacker was nowhere around, and that her mother and Moo had, she assumed, gotten rid of it so that it would never return.

She wiggled with delight when Moo came closer, and gladly gave him what he asked for. She covered his muzzle in kisses, only stopping to answer his question. She shook her head side to side, No, you and Mama stopped it, she replied, meaning it hadn't gotten to her because of the two adults. 

She smiled up to her Mama, and then back to Moo as Valette started to herd her toward the den. Moo come with? she asked, looking to them both, hoping he would. It was natural for Steph to want him near all the time, because they were so close.