Asa Elfried

1.

It was toward the end of winter, in a deciduous forest somewhere in North Carolina. A young wolf, just out of adolescence but not yet experiencing her first heat breathed in the crisp winter air, letting out her breath in a white misty blast as she halted in her tracks, a long trail of paw prints in the snow behind her. The wolf responsible for the second set of tracks caught up to her and breathed an identical sigh. This companion was Noire Spectre, a wolf of similar age from a different pack. Her dark onyx coat made her stand out in the snow and daylight, the dim winter suns few rays reflecting gently from her pelt. The first wolf, Asa Elfried, was light greys and whites, blending better to her surroundings, although both girls were beautiful. They soaked up the scents and sights of their surroundings in silence for a moment, before Noire turned to Asa.

"Do you think this is it?" she asked softly. They had been searching for what seemed like forever. Asa paused for quite some time before bluntly responding with "Yes. I think it is."

Noire perked up immediately and raced down toward a stream, excited by her best friends answer. This meant everything. 

Asa maintained her position. This was it. This was where she would establish the biggest pack known to canid kind. This is where she would gain fame. Despite being Aloof and introverted she dreamed BIG. Her adventurous counterpart was more outgoing, but they shared the same dream nonetheless. It was what had bonded them. Asa Elfried marked her new territory for the very first time, entertained a fleeting thought about a future mate, and started down toward the stream, where Noire was playfully splashing with a small fish in her jaws. She smiled up at Asa Elfried as she saw her approaching, and danced in the water some more. 

The first few weeks went well. As spring approached Asa and Noire took it upon themselves to explore their new territory thoroughly. They hadn't been challenged yet, nor had they encountered any potential mates, but that wasn't their current priority. They couldn't run this alone forever.

2. One day, Asa was carefully studying a dandelion under detailed examination of a bee when she heard distant laughing. Snapped out of her trance she looked up swiftly to see Noire approaching with another wolf, blueish grey in pelt, and friendly looking to a fault. Her immediate reaction was the raising of her hackles, but just as she felt her lip start to curl she thought better of it. She wanted to expand after all. Killing strangers was no way to achieve it. Noire excitedly bounced over to her, knocking the bees off their flowers, who buzzed in frustration. She didn't seem to notice.

"Asa!" She barked "Asa,this is Ingrid Nightingale. I met her foraging and thought perhaps you should meet her too"

The vagueness annoyed her. Why exactly had she brought this strange she wolf to her? She supposed she should ask, the way a leader ought to.

"You stand before the alpha of these territories" she said, quite bluntly. She then pushed a rat she had killed in Ingrid's direction. "State your purpose"

Ingrid bit the rat in half and swallowed swiftly. "I am a nomad" she replied ". I have no pack, hold no lands, and have no pups. But I know this place well. I am weary of scavenging and am over half of my life already. I have come to offer my assistance and work as your scout, if you'll have me. I will bring useful things to your den, teach you of the land, and warn you of any impending dangers. Tales of you have already reached my ears. I offer these services in return for your protection and for part of your kills"

Asa was surprised. What tales? From whom? She hadn't been here long. She held eye contact for a moment, both to assert dominance and to try figure the stranger out.

"Very well" she said eventually " we will see how you fare. Noire, give her a tour of the den"

She trusted Noire more than anyone, and therefore trusted her judgement. She felt she had made a good decision.

3. The three girls settled in together and the pack, albeit still small, was run smoothly. Ingrid Nightingale had proven to be an investment, and had stayed true to her word. It had done Noire Spectre some good to have another more extroverted character as company too, and had given Asa more undisturbed time for observing while Noire hunted and Ingrid scouted or worked in a pair. Asa Elfried was laying on a patch of soft grass while the girls were out working. It was unlike her to be lazy in any way but there was a contrast between lazy and rest, she summised. The sun beamed down on her face and she breathed deep the fresh spring air. Birdsong and the subtle sound of the creek Noire was so fond of dancing in were the only sounds.

Suddenly, a scream. She jolted her head up in a flash. It wasn't a wolf. It wasn't even anything big... Prey...

Asa leapt to her feet. Her ears forward and all senses standing to attention she raced toward the source of the sound. A wounded creature made for such a convenient meal. The pounding of her racing paws on the grass soon became the crunching of detritus as she bolted into the forest. The scent was strong now. Weasel. 

She arrived at a large fallen tree. It was adorned with moss, lichen and fungi, and had a deliciously damp and earthy smell, but she hadn't the time to appreciate that right now. Carefully she rose to her hind limbs and peered over this once majestic obstacle. Asa saw the weasel. It wasn't lying on the ground defenceless but in a defensive position, it's jaws wide open and a small bite mark on it's rump leaking spots of blood. Out of the tree's shade a pup came bolting, zooming round it laughing quite histerical at the situation. The weasel spun to face this pup, jaws with pointy teeth at the ready, but soon became dizzy and another bite was delivered to it's rump. An identical scream. Curious. Asa couldn't smell any other wolves. She breathed deep, taking in the scent of pup and blood, just to be sure she wasn't about to be ambushed by a defensive and potentially lethal mother or worse, a whole pack. She climbed over the fallen tree cautiously, just in case, and approached this weird scenario. The pup didn't seem to notice at first and continued his torment of the weasel. It wasn't until Asa spoke that he even seemed to notice her presence. She puffed up. 

"What are you doing" she asked. She didn't know what else to say. 

"Go away" the pup replied quite rudely "You whelp for weasel's and your dorsal smells of skunk"

Asa was taken aback. This small black and white ball of horridness hadn't even looked at her, and had insulted her. It was like he was unaware he could die for that. He had to be stupid. Before she knew it she had dived for him, grabbing his scruff and slamming him at her feet. She loomed over him. The injured weasel took this opportunity to run into the nearby bushes.

"I am the alpha of this territory" she growled. "If you use your tongue to address me in such a way, it will be the last time you have your tongue!" 

He blinked at her a moment, his large, golden eyes staring into hers. "Well who made you queen" he scoffed finally, and went to turn away.

"THE GODS DID. I DID." boomed Asa. The pup flinched as she lunged toward him, jaws gaping.

"STOP! PLEASE!!" a high pitched voice squeaked from the wood "Please don't kill him!" Asa did stop. It jolted her out of her rage and she looked for the source of the voice. The pup was at her feet, tail between his legs, big white paws covering his face, finally in submission. A tiny white and brown wolf pup emerged from the woodland shade, followed by another grey one, who was squeezing herself between the tightly knit tree's that surrounded this sunny little clearing. They looked to be females and they ran to Asa. The white and brown Merle coated pup spoke again,a look of desperation in her striking green eyes. "Fenrir what have you done?! You know you're supposed to be keeping us safe!" She looked at Asa again "Please She-Alpha, please don't" her eyes welled up. Asa was speechless for a moment and just stared at this desperate young girl. So many questions were racing through her mind and sparking like chips of flint.