There was no time to sulk over Ptarmigan's words. She had been highly annoyed at the black bitch's words but there was nothing she could do at the moment. Even if the plan of challenging back the Alpha was still present in her mind, she had put it off for the moment. She had to give time for her wounds to heal, and besides she had a certain feeling that the bitch would fail to reign on her own. That she would soon fall without any intervention.
Like a viper, Cara was just waiting for the right moment to strike.

After said meeting, the pale yearling had stormed off the lands, her mind set on finding something to eat quietly by the Spine's slopes. There was a particular thing mentioned in the meeting that had sticked to the young girl's brain. Winter was just around the corner, and after the changes in leadership they had lost a good chunk of the pack. And while less members equaled less mouths to feed it also meant less working paws.

The Frost Queen Beta ran across the border, zig zagging erratically until a faint scent of moose reached her nose. She licked her lips at the thought of the animal's meat. Moose was a hard prey to take down but its meat was both a delicacy and long-lasting. Just what they needed.

With the wheels in her head turning, she began to follow the trail, hoping to find and study the herd. She had to make sure first that the herd was numerous and that it had weak members that her hunting party could take down --the plan of taking them to the Ouroboros would come later.

Even if Cara's light colored pelt still popped out against the autumn foliage, she still moved with such stealth that made her almost impossible to peg her down. Her olan was to sneak upon the herd, not to gain their attention or to attempt a hunt but to simply sit back and watch them. Then she would figure out the game plan.

Unfortunately, while she was planning everything on her head she forgot to check if she was alone. Mordecai's voiced reached her ears and even if at first she wanted curl her lip back at him and spit traitor! in his face, she didn't. She simply turned her face to see him, her eyes cold and indifferent. She had been hurt that he had shown sympathy towards the ursurper and her stupid minion.

After their not at all deep conversation by the lake she had expected him to side with her. Screw family ties, that's what she thought. (But that could be because all of the family she had ever cared for had already died).

The yearling had to clench her jaw to avoid her viperine tongue to lash out at him.She needed him on her side if she was to take back what was hers. "Mordecai," she barked with a flick of her tail, "If you want to help, be my guest" she barked then softnening her tone. Maybe if they spent some time together she would be able to see his true colors.

The yearling's pale eyes focused hard on his face, even if she didn't stand as the Alpha she still carried herself as the Queen she was. But despite her stoic mannerisms and her ice-cold glares she still showed a bit of sympathy for the wolf. Just because he had been there for almost as long as her. He had met Jinx and Lecter, he was not some retard who waltzed in thinking he was the shit. And besides, when she had been mourning for Jinx, he had given her his shoulder to cry on.

"Then let's get going" she barked while tipping her snout to the side. A little demon standing on her shoulder whispered curse words in her ears, it urged her to interrogate the male about his views on the new leadership. But she abstained, knowing that if she did their hunting trip would be ruined. She still had no idea of the blood ties the black bitch at the throne shared with her packmate.

And perhaps it was better that she did not know. Family had lost it's meaning the day her father had died. Without a mother to awkwoledge, and no more relatives (aside from her sisters) to turn to, she had decided that she was alone in the world. The only reason she still carried her last name was to honor her father. Her noble hero, Freud Moretti.

Cara continued to slink through the land, her tail brushing the ground occasionally as she stalked the elk ahead, keeping her body close to the ground, her shoulders hunched over and her ears pinned back. Even if their mission didn't consist on actual hunting, the yearling kept her body poised for ambush.

Inside the yearling's mind, tiny wheels and engines worked ardously trying to find the logic or reasoning that might excuse the male's behavior --but she could find none. The tip of the girl's tongue prickled, filled with a bitter taste that tempted her to simply go straight to the point and ask him were his loyalties laid.

The sound of the elk's bellows interrupted her once more, the herd was numerous and had a few young individuals that would definitely make a decent meal. The animals grazed lazily around the Spine's slopes, completely unaware of the peering eyes that rested on their backs. The girl chuffed softly and turned to look at Mordecai from the corner of her eye, still not deciding whether to shower him with accusations or not. "They're a good catch" she barked, her eyes fixed on the moving creatures ahead.

Watching the unsuspecting elk walk around wihtout a care in the world, made her feel god-like. They were their killers, the source of their misery and here they were simply sitting back while they decided their fate. Every time they hunted, they toyed with their lives, choosing a random individual from the herd without any insight on the animal's life (though Cara strongly doubted the creatures were as smart and emotional as them).

Was that what Ptarmigan had done when she strutted into the pack's leadership? Had they only been a weak target for the bitch? Slowly the girl's face twisted into a frown. Now she could not help but think that in the chaotic game that they knew as life, Ptarmigan was the big bad wolf while they were merely sheep. Malleable and vulnerable in her hands.

No.
Cara would not be seen bowing her head to her, not while her lungs still held air and her heart still pumped blood. She would not be a doll, but would Mordecai?

"The plan is to get move them further inland, the Spine will do the rest caging them in." she barked, her stomach acids climbing up her esopagus until it was unbearable to hold in the poisonous words she had in store. "What is your plan? Bow to the demon?" she hissed softly, her head turning to face him now. She had no more patience for the run-around game they had going on, he had to make up his mind now, where did his heart lie?

While Cara had already decide to take off her wool suit, that designated them as sheep, Mordecai still held his doubts, she could see so in his eyes. Eyes that stared back at her with defiance. The yearling's body tensed as well, her neck craning and the fur along her back spiking like a porcupine. She met his gaze directly, curling her lip back into a threatening snarl. He had no right to speak to her that way, not even if it had been her who instigated him in the first place. Rank ruled above what he might feel. "I'm your fucking Beta, lower your gaze" she growled, snapping her jaws in the air.

Then as he suggested they focus, the girl lashed her tail around like a snake. Her viperine tongue had not managed to get a straight answer out of him, but she had inflected enough venom to let him know she was not one to mess with. Ptarmigan might've killed Jinx, and she might've whooped her ass when the time for battle dawned on them --but she would never wear the crown. She would never be the true queen; Kaname and a few others would agree, and hopefulluy join her when she gathered the strenght to riot against her.

"I suggest you take a moment to reflect on how you behave, and what you'll do," she barked, narrowing her eyes slightly as the rage exited her body. With a much collected attitude, she turned again, her yellow eyes fixed on the moving animals.

"We'll begin chasing them in now, one of us stays at the back making sure none falls behind, and the other will sway from side to side, driving them further into the Spine." she instructed, her tail tip flickering slowly from side to side. Then turning her head in a slow controlled motion, she stared directly into his eyes, "Then, we'll figure out how to block the path. Got the plan?" she barked, the edges of her lips twisting into a sly smile that made the situation between the two, even more confusing.

A throaty growl erupted from her chest as he refused to look away, she opened her mouth once more, revealing her pearly set of daggers and fangs, and though she would've liked to yell, 'quit acting like a child', she didn't because deep inside she knew that the childish one was not him but herself.

It wasn't the first time, nor it would be the last they collided, in fact they had met over an argument. When Mordecai was still a loner and Cara was beginning to climb up the ranks. And like in this situation, Cara had been the instigator then too; telling him to move even if he wasn't on claimed ground. They had both puffed out their chests and faced one another, until the immature girl had decided to take a gamble and charm him out of his anger.
Oh, those memories..


'What's your problem with me?' he demanded, his eyes still searching the hollowness of her own. There was no time for this! When she had recieved the pack's leadership she had made a point of bonding with her subordinates. Apparently she had forgotten him, or perhaps she had missed him, after their non-theurapeutic talk by the lake, Cara had figured they were on good terms.

"You can't make up your mind" she barked, her voice laced with a hurt tone she struggled to keep hidden, "I thought you'd be smarter, and that the choice would be obvious, but you have actual doubts whether to follow her or me. " she continued, her tail lashing brusquely as the moose grazed in the background.

Though the tension's climax had already passed, the girl's muscles were still tightened and her ears pricked attetively. In the back of her mind, the small rational piece of her brain that was often opacated by the rash ad impulsive side of her, knew that Mordecai was right, all that they had done since Ptarmigan had popped into the picture had been whine like little bitches, each of them in their own way.

Cara, for instance had taken out her frustration on others, the male standing in front of her being a prime example. It had been that impotence and uncertainty of not knowing what would become of the Ouroboros had channeled her energy into not-so productive activities such as beig a full-time bitch to everyone that crossed her path.

Seeing no point in carrying the argument, the pale girl flicked her tail and shrugged her shoulders as to let the discussion slide of her fur, then turning to face the man and the grazing elk ahead she barked softly. "Very well, let's get on with the plan then

The animosity or incomformity didn't change the fact that Winter was close, and regarless of the different beliefs or views they had to unite to survive.

His suggestion to take the backside lingered on her ears while she made a choice, though the other job was the hardest because it would require to actually steer the elk around , driving them from side to side; she knew that her long limbs and quick feet would be good for the job. Still if one of the elk managed to stay, Mordecai would be there to herd it back.

"Alright, let's go" she barked, the pitch of her voice completely emotionless. The faster they got this done the faster they could part ways, Cara to relax and maybe vent to Kaname and Mordecai to go think on his decision(not), or whatever he spent his time on. Though the faster they got this done also meant less worried for winter -- getting another burden off their back was something they could both agree on.

With a final nod and a soft chuff, the girl began to slink across the Spine's skirt, keeping her belly close to the ground and her ears pinned tightly against her skull.

With a fast paced motion the girl poised herself behind the elk, her body acting as a barrier between the jagged edge of the Spine that could act as a passage for the walking meat slobs. The idea was to herd them further into the Spine's territory, to getting them away from their exit and into, literally, the wolf's mouth.

The grazing animals had not yet noticed the presence of the she-wolf, though there were more males than females in the herd, Cara could count a good amount of individuals that were worth taking down.

Her pale eyes lingered on the group for a second, just before she jolted from her hidding place and ran towards the elk like a mad bull. She even barked and growled to spook them more; and though the objective here was not to hunt she couldn't help herself from nipping one's talons when it tried to stray to the right.

Like a wave of brown hues, the elk ran with all their might. Not causing a lot of trouble for the pair of wolves at the moment. Cara continued to chase them, her growls and snapping teeth being enough to keep them moving. Though they were doing great, it wasn't long before one of the ones near the fron decided to steer, pulling all the others with him.

The pale yearling growled in frustration and sped up, hoping to intercept them at the swerved out of the path the Spine wolves were trying to steer them to. As she ran she opened her maw to emit a quick pleading bark for her companion to step in too.

Mordecai arrived promptly sealing the loopholes she had left behind for the elk to escape. She chuffed lightly as he barreled past her, throwing himself at a doe and tearing up a piece of her skin. This of course caused more chaos in the herd.

The scared animals were not only running at a ridiculous speed but they were now also bucking and kicking as they went. Despite the madness Cara continued her attempt to drive them inland, swerving dangerously in the middle of the raining hooves and legs.

Though she was stupidly risking a blow to the head, she was also managing to get them were she wanted.
The Frost Queen was also a top-gambler.

If Cara were a feline, she would've lost more than one life in the stupid stunt. Miracuously, being a canine, she still lost none. It took the thick-skulled female a taste of a doe's blood to be satisfied and allow her legs to come to a stop.

She had obviously heard Mordecai's warning yaps, but she had gracefully ingored then, thinking that if she just pushed a little harder then their work wouldn't be lost. Though the herd had moved relatively easy to the designated place, the gap between the Spine's mountains was still open.

Their goal was far from being accomplished but, after the high speed chase she had just participated in she was satisfied with their work. With her sides heaving and her tongue hanging limply from the corner of her mouth, Cara turned to face Mordecai with a triumphant smile plastered on her face. "Good job" she barked while catching her breath, though the tension of their argument still lurked between their eyes, she had no problem in prasing his work.