Incendio wasn't supposed to be outside pack lands on his own, but the snow here he had been chasing happened to run away from him...beyond the pack borders. He hadn't quite realized he had gone beyond the border until he was already past it. And by that time, the trees had changed from pines to gigantic trees as far as the eye could see. He slowed for a moment as he stared up at the trees. Would he get in trouble for this? He glanced back towards where he'd come from, wondering if he should return. He had already come this far though, and he was trying to hunt his own meal to show he was old enough to handle himself. Surely they couldn't get mad if he was successful, right? He nodded to himself as if that were true, then proceeded to put his nose to the ground in an effort to recover the snow hares trail. His mom and dad would be proud of him, wouldn't they? He hadn't seen them on his way out, or anyone for that matter, but he also hadn't been paying attention either. His sole focus had been chasing after that white rabbit, and catching it. Not just for him, but maybe his brother and sister would enjoy it with him.

WC: 218

He moved stealthily, following the small golden pup from a cautious distance before venturing to move closer until he was right behind him. ”Ahem.” He breathed onto the air, using his strongest firmest voice as he sat and waited for his son’s hurried explanation. His face was stern but in his heart he was smiling, proud of the adventurous boy who of his three most recent children had proven to be the most outgoing. “It’s dangerous outside the border Incendio.” He said firmly, doing his best to keep his face stern and not break out in a smile despite how truly sorry his child might have been. “What if you had gotten hurt or attacked?” He chided, knowing full well that neither he nor his raven companion had let him out of their sight from the moment he left the den. “What were you doing out here anyway?” He asked, sniffing the air and catching the distinct fear scent of a hare, and something else on the wind. Not something as large as a bear or a mountain lion, but distinctly feline nonetheless. He clenched his teeth to keep from smiling again, knowing that whatever it was it would make for a great bonding experience between him and the small boy. Wordcount: 211 "Talk"  Thought "You"

So focused on trying to track the scent of the hare again, he hadn't noticed that his dad had been following him. His nose was pressed to the snow before he heard him. "Ahem." Startled, Incendio jumped in surprise and whirled around to see his dad standing there. Uh oh. He fumbled around for an excuse, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be out here on his own. "Dad! I uh..." He quieted as his dad spoke, telling him it was dangerous. He could get hurt. No doubt his mother would worry too if she caught wind of him out here. "I was trying to catch some food, but...it ran out of the territory and I didn't realize until I was already out here," Might as well tell the truth, right? He moved over to his dad and brushed against his legs, "I'm sorry, I just wanted to make you and mom proud if I caught my own food," Of course...he wasn't any good at it yet. Heck, he didn't even know where the rabbit had gone! What kind of Hunter was he if he couldn't even keep track of the meal he was trying to chase? The hare blended in so well with the snow, too. And he wasn't quite sure which direction it had gone now that the tracks were all over the place. Well, at least he had tried...

Glancing up to his dad with wide sapphire eyes, he was about to say something else before another scent caught his attention. It was different this time, not a rabbit but also...not something he immediately recognized. It almost smelled like the big cats that a couple of his pack mates had, but it was also...different. Stepping away from his father, the boy scented the air and put his nose to the ground again before he heard a low, menacing growl. His head shot up and he looked around, and before he knew it, he felt a sudden weight on his back that forced his legs to buckle under him. He yelped with surprise and pain as sharp, pointed claws dug into his back. What the hell was on him?! "Aahh! Dad! Help!"
Word count: 364

He sprang into action in an instant, instincts kicking in and taking over as his jaws closed around the cat’s spine. The creature wheeled in his jaws and swiped at his nose issuing a startled yelp from the slate male  who released his grip on the cat. The cat landed neatly on all four paws and hissed, growling deep in its throat as it coiled into a small defensive ball, its hackles on edge and its eyes wide and nearly completely black. Tyranis advanced on the cat, determined to get between it and his son his own hackles rising and a deep snarl settling over his features, the cat hissed and Tyranis dove in again, lifting a paw as he surged forward to bring it down on the cat’s head. Like a bear trap, the cat twisted and latched onto his paw, biting and sinking its hooked claws into his digits and lifting its back leg to kick its assailant away. Tyranis bit into the cat’s head hoping to crush its skull but the cat tore its claws away from his large paw and slashed at his gums and lips. Despite his best efforts to hold onto the cat, the stinging burn of oxygen hitting the now livid flesh forced him to toss the cat to the side, his tongue flagging over his gums to taste blood. The cat coiled into a ball again and hissed, letting out a low keening growl as its black eyes watched the adult wolf. Tyranis moved to stand over his son and felt his heart burn with fury at the creature that threatened his child and dared to injure him. He snarled low then darted his golden eyes down at his son. “When I say 'now', rush forward and aim for its hip, I’ll take the front half. Try to break it’s spine.” He conveyed, deciding that the creature couldn’t be allowed to live, much less escape as long as it was a threat to his children. “Ready?” And without waiting for a reply; “NOW!” Word count; 341 Speech Thought

The weight and the sharp claws that had dug into him were suddenly gone and replaced by a whirlwind of movement and snow flying every which way. He could hear the angry snarls of his dad and the angry hissing and spitting of a cat as his dad dragged it off of him. Incendio sought to find his feet as quickly as he could, ears pressed against his head and his fur sticking up in every direction out of fear and surprise. He watched with wide eyes as his father surged ahead and fought the cat, but the creature was a slippery little bastard and had more fight in it then Incendio thought for something so small. He huddled close to the ground, trying to make himself less noticeable though he wasn't sure how well it work considering his coat did not give him the ease to blend into the snow.

Finally as his dad came to protectively stand over him, Incendio hurried to his paws and sought to avoid getting in his fathers way as he defended him against the cat. Would it still try to attack him now that his much larger father was standing over him? The answer was probably yes. This cat seemed way too pissed off to let things go. His dad glanced at him then, golden eyes meeting sapphire as he listened to what he was instructed. With a firm nod, the young boy picked himself up and put on a brave front. He had to be brave now, just like his dad! No dumb cat was going to scare him into submission!

"NOW!" The moment he heard his dad, Incendio ran forward and to the cats left. He sought to come at it at an angle, jaws snapping open and his chest thrust forward as he aimed to slam his weight into it. The cat turned on him, claws outstretched as it struck his shoulder with burning claws. It had been such a fast strike that he swore the thing was part snake! Although the scratch stung like hell, it didn't deter him from continuing to go for a bite. He sunk his teeth into the base of the cats spine, the young boy shaking his head as hard as he could in an effort to do what his dad told him to do. This creature wasn't going to get out of here alive.

Word count: 400

Tyranis lunged forward, gripping the cat’s chest in his jaws while his son wrestled it to the ground. With their combined effort there was a loud CRUNCH and the cat fell limp. Tyranis dropped it, almost disgusted and panted. Who knew such a small animal could be so fierce. He looked down on his son and smiled at him. “Pretty soon you’ll be taking down bears just like me.” He said reassuringly, a paw lifting to muss up the frizzy hairs on Incendio’s forehead. He was certainly brave as young as he was, and he deserved a reward. “Take your kill to your uncle Cloud, he’ll teach you how to make a pelt out of it.” He said proudly, a wide grin over his features as he slowly headed back across the border with his son in tow. Wordcount 138 "Talk"  Thought "You"