Blacktail Deer Plateau Seize the night

Koontz hadn't yet crossed paths with Pitch—mostly because she'd been on the move ever since founding Dragonwatchers—but she knew quite a lot about the other she-wolf already. Some of it, she'd learned from Ariston. The rest, she'd discerned from the Sigma's scent. She knew, for instance, that Pitch was relatively young, just like the founding members of the pack, and that she was in good health. Koontz also knew, simply by merit of Pitch's sex, that she was competition in several ways. With Pitch, more than Ariston or Ray, the significance of rank would be more particular.

Although a little intimidated by the thought of having to prove herself the dominant female, Koontz knew she must meet her pack mate. She wanted to strike a friendship with her, if she could, in spite of the implicit rivalry. In fact, apart from the instinctual bits warranted by their very canine natures, she didn't want to compete with Pitch. She wanted the two of them to get along, develop a rapport, though all of that would have to wait until she'd actually met the other she-wolf.

After finally grabbing a few hours of sleep, Koontz rose with the moon and spent the first part of her night scouring the borders. Finding no one there, she trotted to the edge of the plateau overlooking the flatlands to the southeast. The Beta licked her jowls and stared up at the clear night sky, where a sliver of moon lent just enough light to edge the nearest trees with skeins of silver.

It wasn't the sight of the moon that coaxed the cry from the wolf's lips, but the urge to get this meeting underway once and for all. Hoping for the best, Koontz threw back her head before she could rethink it, requesting PItch's presence and giving the other wolf her location. Koontz then eased onto her silvery haunches, her tail wrapping tautly against her hindquarters so that its tip rested on her pale paws. While she waited, she tipped her head back to look at the dark heavens again, her pale eyes like two distant moons across the galaxy.