I hate seeing all this violence. Tetradore and Frost will tear each other apart, neither stopping until the other stops moving. They're both alphas and now they're fighting over territory, fighting to see who's the better alpha. Survival of the fittest, as they say. I've seen dominant males fight before. When I was younger, the teenage boys used to get together and have fights to see who was strongest. They would fight in human form and then in were form, snarling and slobbering as they bite at each other like rabid raccoons. I never liked to watch it. The smell of blood would sting my nostrils and I would usually run to my father's hut to curl up and wait for it to stop. But there's no hut to run and hide in this time. I push myself as far against the wall as I can but I can't get away from it. Tetradore doesn't seem to hesitate much over Frost telling him of Raven's impending death. My heart feels like ice at the very thought of her death. My life would not be what it is without her.

When Tetradore disappears into the shadows, I look up, my animal eyes squinting into the darkness, willing myself to see him because I have a bad feeling. And then he reappears, striking out at Frost's leg and I gasp and bring my hand to my mouth in shock. I barely hear Frost's comeback to my less than polite answer. I'm sure he tolerates more from me than he would normally. I'm actually surprised he didn't use his powers to steal the warmth from my veins or something to that effect just to teach me a lesson, put me on the ground trembling or something just to show me who's in charge. Instead he focuses his attention on Tetradore. I can tell he's a little put off that talking about Raven didn't get the desired effect. He's trying to get under the panther's skin and so far he's been unsuccessful. He's not going to give up though. He brings up Nadya next and I tense up at the sound of her name. I like Nadya. She has been nothing but nice to me and she took Raven and I shopping and protected me from a guy with a gun when I first got to town. She's never done me any harm though she could have. She's good, just like Raven. Why does Frost wish to hurt everyone I hold dear?

He mentions Tobias even and how bad it must be for Tetradore to lose him. My hands ball into fists at my side. That's the third friend of mine he's threatened. I watch as he suddenly throws the crow bar toward Tetradore but a hiss goes through his teeth when Tetradore steps into the shadows. When Tetradore strikes, I smell the blood and my nose wrinkles, my body jumping a little at the suddenness of it as Frost shifts to his horse form right before the attack. Instantly the horse kicks out with both back hooves, aiming them right at Tetradore's head. I bite my bottom lip, my eyes darting around, looking for something, anything I can use. Meanwhile Frost kicks out again before rearing up, bucking in an attempt to keep the panther from jumping on his back. Then he takes off onto the dock and turns back to face Tetradore and the Ark, determination in his eyes and intelligence glowing. He's daring the cat out of the shadows. He rears up, slamming his front hooves on the dock as it starts to rain. I can see the steam coming from his back and I chew on my lip more. He's using his powers now, making his body hot so that it'll hurt Tetradore to touch him.

I'm about to reach out with my powers, shield Tetradore from this pain but just as I start to focus, something suddenly slams into the ground near where I stand. I jump to the side with a gasp, spinning to look at the object. A...harpoon? Confused, I look up and see the familiar face of Tobias aiming the harpoon toward Frost now. My brows furrow in shock and hurt. He...was trying to shoot me? Did Raven wake up and tell him I betrayed her? Does she want me dead now? Have they all turned against me? Something new rises up inside of me, something unfamiliar and yet it warms my body to the core and usddenly I have the confidence to straighten myself off the wall and walk out onto the dock. I use the fear that consumes me even now to pull my shield up as I stride over to the big white horse. I stop in front of him, reaching out my hand to lie it gently on his muzzle as I look into his eyes. "You will accomplish nothing today. If the harpoon doesn't get you, the rest of his pack will. Please....take me away from here." Gone is the plea that usually colors my voice. Now there is a calm command in the tone as my eyes look into his evenly.

I stand between him and Tetradore and I know the cat could pounce at any moment. Maybe my shield will protect me but maybe it won't. And yet still here I am endangering myself for Frost of all creatures. Because he alone has not turned from me today. He has not moved to hurt me or told me to go away. I move my shield to cover him as I touch his muzzle, extending it to start healing his wounds even as I speak, my way of showing him a little of the compassion he seems to hate seeing so much in others.

alexis wilde