Swiftcurrent Creek nightmares on wax

"This is not our way. If I’d have known you were going to force her I would have never came."

Bazi looked from Bones to Fox to the wolf that spoke, then swept her gaze over the scrappy troop of Tortuga pirates. She was still struggling to piece together the details. Force her? If Bones wanted to leave, that was one thing - it was a burn to the Creek, and she was unlikely to be welcomed back (particularly by Fox, who did not take slights to her pride lightly), but she wouldn't be chained to the ground. A wavering pack-mate was worse than no pack-mate at all.

Thinking time ended abruptly.

The albino wolf launched himself at Bazi, spraying blood from a freshly injured shoulder - Jace's work, and a serious blow to the wolf's strength. The last thing she saw before instinct took over was an ugly, liver-coloured nose and pink-rimmed eyes rushing at her.

Speed was already on the yearling's side, and her attacker's injury greatly exacerbated that advantage. She dodged and parried several vicious slashes and bites, looking for ways to compromise the larger wolf's balance. The very second he left his shoulder open to attack, she lunged, bit down hard on the pulpy wound and pushed. He yowled, struggling to free his caught leg but too busy staggering from the force of the ongoing bulldozing to do anything about the trap of teeth that held it.

With a final almighty shove, strengthened by a surge of adrenaline, Killick fell to the ground - Bazi went straight for the throat, pushing the Tortuga wolf's muzzle into the dirt with her paw. Wide eyes skimmed the battling crowd of wolves, looking for anyone that might object in the split second between now and when she would bite down on the trapped wolf's windpipe.

Somewhere beyond the din of battle, Bones screamed cutting, treacherous words.