The Bracken Woods Night of the Red Moon

Sound came before smell and sight, he’d been approached from downwind and to the credit of the advancing wolf for not much escaped the keen senses of Redmoon. Eyes of green lashed out to his flank to spot the approaching apex predator, a cold dark coat with shining cool yellow eyes told their own story though this was no ambush - if it had been then Redmoon would likely be sitting on his back right now in a pool of his own expanding fluids. No, this individual held other intentions. Redmoon himself was not a hostile nature though he was wary and untrusting of others for very good reason. 

Meeting the gaze of the newcomer he bristled at the shoulders and narrowed his eyes with ears easing a bit. He was fully alert and aware though not showing hostile intent. He did not flash his fangs in challenge either for he could already tell that this one was longer in the tooth, if one thing Redmoon knew, was that experience came with age and experience meant one’s worth in a measure of survivability. This one was an aged hunter of athletic build, strong and lean. A match for Redmoon and when reality came to call, he knew that a fruitless fight out here in unknown territory only to get wounded would lead to a short life indeed. 

No, he needed to remain standing tall and in order to do that, learning was in order. Lessons of his past spoke already of lessons learned. A good tracker will hunt and kill well, those who kill well would eat well. A strong fighter could protect oneself, protection meant survivability. But most of all, it was the strong that truly ruled. May it be through strength of martial prowess or the ways of the mind. Only the strong wielded the right to stand tall among the lesser beings and as a stranger here in the wood, he was weak and needed experience desperately. For the weak were destined to serve the strong. 

Redmoon vowed he would not remain as weak. Weakness had found his family dead to a strong pack. Proof in the ways of life. 

The air thickened as the two eyed one another and the faint mist of the coming rain sprinkled a covering for them. Redmoon winced, time was growing short. Once the rain came then the hunt would be over and he would go hungry… again. He drew in the scent of this one and took it to memory, this traveler was one to remember in the future. 

Finally the stranger spoke, he mentioned ‘friend.’ Friend was a term used to signify one whose trust was gained. This was not so for Redmoon. He eyed his ‘friend,’ and understood that to send this one away was to go on the hunt alone. Should his prey prove to be a large animal then there was no way Redmoon could take it down on his own. This one could prove himself useful. Quickly Redmoon thought - if he took this one along then he could watch him and learn from his obvious talents where age had blessed him and together they could ensnare the fate of whatever they so desired for he seemed a sizable predator, larger than Redmoon but not by much. 

Silently the decision was made and Redmoon dismounted the log and softly padded over to the darker male. Redmoon’s fiery red ears and muzzle contrasted with the darker pelt though his body began to blend while remaining a crimson tint. He came within a generous range and relinquished his tense stance, tail lifted a bit though it did not wave, there was no happiness here. “Aye.” He replied, his voice was rough though held the smoothness of a youth, confidence was there, a strong confidence. 

“The wind speaks and blood is in it. Have you come to feed?” He leaned in, trying to look a hair taller, “Or is this your game alone?” While not truly dominant, Redmoon was no coward. He would take his beating if needs be. Though he had a good feeling here, this wolf’s scent did not match that of the area so this was likely not his hunting grounds though if it was and if he delivered a challenge, Redmoon would give him the way.