Noctisardor Bypass [raid]I once saw a dragonfly caught in a spider's web

With the information she was given, Æsilfír would indeed go forth in search of the wolf named Laurel, picturing fear etched into her soft brown eyes. She wasn't Æsilfír's to claim- but she would do her best to ensure she was known for being one of the ones to smoke their target out. 

Their voices rang out, and their target named. If she chose to volunteer and be fearless, she could make her way to Merrick and be the matryr that could save her pack grief. Æsilfír felt those chances were slim to none. If the pack loved her, she thought they would band together- and go directly against the one who issued the threat. 

So to buy Merrick time to sleuth his way through the packlands, find her scent and track her down, Æsilfír weeded her way away from him, her cheery, wicked laughter puncturing the silence around her. "Laaaaaaaaurelllllll," She crooned, cackling. "Pretty pretty Lllllllllllauuuuurellllll," If she caught the attention of just one Rivenwood wolf and lured them after her, it would at least be one less wolf ganging up on her leader. She would draw as much attention away from him as she possibly could- and squatted intermittantly as she trespassed so she could leave behind markings that would offend their senses.

the howls, pouring into rivenwood.
mahler burst from dawnleaf in a flare of charcoal hackles and looked wildly for phaedra, for wylla. he could hear them just over the borders into the bypass.
but it was one voice that called to him, a wicked set of tones gliding into the air for laurel. his heart dropped to his stomach, but the second voice was closest, and so that was where he went first. the interloper was too close to the densites for his liking, the pharmacy, the — he pushed all away and raced until he found the wolf, a small female cackling and filled with an evil humour.
he saw no reason to be fair, and snapped harshly for any part of her he could reach, throwing his massive body against her own with an attempt at crushing force. there was no headcount yet for how many had entered their claim. one less was one he would not have to number later.

Her intention to lure attention worked remarkably well. No doubt, by the speed at which the darksmoke male approached, the Ursus raid cries had caused panic. He didn't stalk, nor did he call out to interrogate her- he crashed through the snow toward her, giving her enough time to dart away. 

And while she was as swift as a falcon, she'd let him close the gap, prancing on nimble feet for a few moments before she lurched aside. Perhaps she'd waited a moment too long- she was forced into a spin when his shoulder struck her hip, but it was likely for the best that she pivoted on the loose snow. She absorbed a bit less of the impact, and after a brief scramble she lunged away from him. She felt confident she could out-maneuver him, out-pace him, but she did not want to lose him. 

By his scent, which she'd smelled thick along the borders, she concluded that she'd lured none other than the pack's alpha. Not the crown jewel that Merrick sought, but a prize nonetheless. 

Wherever it was he had come from, she doubted he wanted her to go- so she made a beeline for the set of tracks he'd left behind in the snow, hoping perhaps it might lead toward the true treasure she sought. All she'd need to do was keep a step or two ahead of him- and she might just pull her plan off.

mahler was enraged by her presence, but his intellect bit through instinct. he could expend his energies here, but the tangle of wolves upon the border was where he needed to be. it was where the man merrick would be. 
the graf halted in his tracks and gave a ponderous snort toward the woman attempting to lead him away. she was lithe but small, and should she find laurel before the rest, the gargoyle had little faith she would succeed.
it was not only for her and her children that he fought; it was for all of rivenwood. mahler soared after the cur with a final snap, then whirled and began to charge toward the boundaryline, hackles promising the crush of bones if she pursued.

She cackled and lunged on, hearing him snap at her and miss as she bounded off. A few paces ahead, she turned when she did not hear his heavy footfalls behind her anymore- just in time to see the dark male disappear into the wilderness leaving behind only a set of tracks. He was headed back the way she'd come; she'd not been a serious enough threat. 

Still- wherever it was he'd come from, he'd come on the tear which meant to her that he had something to protect. She could go after him of course, but he was likely too much for her to handle on her own. She had a decision to make. 

She tilted her head back and called out- signalling to her packmates that there was a missile incoming, in the form of a large, dark male with indigo eyes and alpha energy. 

Then, she set off- following the path he'd left behind, roving further and further into the claim of Rivenwood.