What A Nuisance

Shadow was shocked that Maria even bothered speaking to the three brutes before them. They appeared to be circling them now as one of the male's spoke to Maria. "Yeah, I'd love to see you try!" Shadow snarled, "If you three even think of touching her, it will be the last mistake that any of you ever make. You can count on that!" Shadow snarled, his crimson orbs showing menacing intentions as he took a step forward.

One of the males laughed and lunged forward toward Maria. Shadow shifted his paws to the side, tail staying raised as his weight stayed more toward his back paws as he, too, ran forward and leaped at the male, pushing upon his side as the dark male fell backward and rolled back to his comrades. He appeared to be a bit dazed, but not unconscious.

"Consider that a warning," Shadow spoke, his voice monotone and staying menacing as he kept his eyes focused on the three males. All three of them this time surrounded him. The ebony brute did not even bother moving with the three male's closing in on them. "If this is supposed to scare me, I have seen plants that were much more fierce than you three idiots." One of them snarled in rage and leaped upward as Shadow moved to the side almost at a moment's notice it seemed, causing the attacker to hit the ground. "I was taught if you stay calm, your opponents will have a harder time hurting you. If you are full of emotion, more than likely you will be beaten to a bloody pulp." He approached the male that fell and placed both of his front paws on the male as the attacker gagged, trying to break free, but he was much smaller than Shadow. "And that is exactly what will happen to you." Shadow's crimson optics bore deeply into the attacker's emerald eyes, and, a swift bite fell upon the attacker's throat as he yelped in pain as blood stained Shadow's maw. He moved out of the way as the attacker lay motionless.

The two males stared in disbelief at their dead comrade, and, without hesitation they ran as one hollered. "Freak!" Shadow was used to the name calling and turned to Maria.

"Sorry you had to see that, Maria. But, I doubt any of those two will think about hurting a female again," he explained and looked at the dead wolf before him, his eyes closed and head down slightly, almost in regret it seemed.