Deadfall

dead·fall
/ˈdedfôl/
a tangled mass of fallen trees and brush.

"My favorite part of chess is that, sometimes, pawns kill kings."

Deadfall stood quiet, a lingering presence in the back of the cave.

"Tempest is dead!" Hyrax howled. He had barely been an adult for two moons- yet in that time, he had disrupted the entire pack. "I am asserting myself as alpha in his place. That is, unless anyone would like to challenge me."

Hyrax swung his head to the side, scanning. Moonlight filtered in through the cave entrance and made the blood smattering his muzzle glint.

Deadfall dropped his gaze mutely. Tempest had been an absent leader at best. Hyrax was a strong, young wolf; surely he could do a better job than his aging predecessor.

"Good." Hyrax huffed out, satisfied. "Minnow will be my second in command."

Deadfall dared to look up at Minnow. He was sitting tall beneath Hyrax.

Hyrax and Minnow were undeniably close; best friends. Minnow was significantly less cutthroat than Hyrax, but that was probably for the best. Hyrax would need a levelheaded second to remind him of empathy.

Minnow turned his gaze from Hyrax and locked eyes with Deadfall. Deadfall's breath hitched with fear.

He didn't want to challenge Minnow, but he was unable to look away, either. He stared, eyes wide, and licked his lips. Hopefully that would get his point across.

Instead of growling or lunging, Minnow smiled. The tension unwound from Deadfall's body and his shoulders slumped with relief.

Minnow followed up one surprise with another. He winked, eyes glinting with a silent promise of power, and turned ahead once more.

Deadfall was shocked. He hadn't been in the pack for very long- though, he supposed Hyrax and his council hadn't been either. They all joined as adolescents and took over after outperforming the pack natives.

Deadfall was a yes-man. He supposed Minnow knew that, if Minnow really intended to give Deadfall any power.

That was fine. He'd do what Minnow and Hyrax asked of him, especially if it meant he was a little higher up in the pecking order.



Pups produced:
Lilac
Moss x3
Mojave