Redhawk Caldera I am Spartacus

She didn't seem to be having any luck finding his scent. Wildfire didn't give up easily, though. She wandered with her nose skimming along the ground, sifting through all the caldera's interesting smells. She was so caught up in this endeavor that she didn't notice her mother behind her, nor the stranger in front of her, at least until he said the word, "Hale!" Thinking it might be Pantaleimon calling out to her, the puppy began to smile as she lifted her head.

The smile vanished from her mouth when she saw that it was not Pan. With no idea whether this was a trespasser or a newly accepted subordinate, Wildfire began to back away. Then she remembered today's mission and she froze. She needed to be brave, which meant facing strangers without fear. The pup sucked in a shaky breath, then began to steel herself for the encounter. Meanwhile, her amber eyes remained fastened on the unfamiliar male, cataloging his scent, features and body language.

Before she could take a single step toward him, a red figure hurtled past her and another, larger and paler wolf came driving in from the side. Wildfire shrank slightly, then stood up straighter again when she recognized her mother and Sebastian. Her eyes flew wide when they attacked the stranger. Trespasser! she thought. Wildfire quivered as instincts commanded her to join the effort. Yet a thread of fear stayed her. She wasn't so much afraid of getting hurt as she was of getting rebuked; she remembered all too well how Aunt Finley had reacted to her intervention with the coyote.

But she hadn't been a Warrior-in training then... Wildfire felt a blaze of indignation ripple through her and she began to trot closer, though she didn't throw herself into the fracas with the same wild abandon as the adults. Instead, she hung back slightly, observing the onslaught and still debating whether the risk was worth the reward.