Nevada twitched his ear as he could hear howls from outside as Nevada walked over to the window. He looked back to see his master sleeping as she tossed in her sleep. He then looked back at the window and listened to hears cries of many of his brethren calling out in the night air. Nevada turned to the door, and he pushed it open to find a grumpy Thunder waiting for him as he sat in the doorway.
Nevada grabbed Thunder as he yawned before heading for the dog door, Nevada moved the pot as he tried to squeeze through the entrance. Yet Nevada found that he had grown enough that he could not fit through. He whined as Thunder turned to the door. He purred in Nevada's ear as he turned to see Thunder race off to the door. Thunder climbed up and unlocked the door as he pushed it open. Nevada grabbed his master's scarf and pulled the door shut as Thunder jumped on his back. Nevada watched as Thunder wrapped the scarf around his neck before the pair ran off to the sound of howling.
Nevada dashed through the blue-tinted snow as he made his way threw the brush. Thunder keeping a lookout from under the scarf. He yipped to let Nevada know that someone was in the distance. Nevada stopped to look around and noticed the men as they walked away from the village. Nevada sniffed the air and found they were hunters going out to hunt as he turned away. The sound of howls caught his attention as he listened to which direction they were coming from.
Nevada turned in the opposite direction of the hunters. As he raced off to find where the sound was coming from. Thunder tucked himself into the scarf as Nevada came up to the same encampment form days earlier. Only to see more men walking around. The man that THunder blinded sat at the fire as he started yelling.
Nevada growled as he stared at the man. Thunder pulled out to see more of the wolves as the men the man had walking around yanked at chains around the older wolves.
"Shut up, you damp mutts," The man yelled out as he looked at one of his subordinates, "Tell me, is it a bloody full moon?"
The subordinate looked up at the sky, "Yeah, it is twin full-moons, at that."
Another man looked up as he saw the moons, "Yeah, it must be causing them to go crazy as most wolves howl at the full moon, right?"
The man growled as he grabbed a rock and threw it in the direction of the other man. "Shut, your mouth, I don't want that wolf and dragon messing up my plans like those two did before. We need to make sure we get our money's worth, or else the boss will not be happy."
The first man sighed, "Yes, after you lost the only breeding pair of these things, plus their pups. He was pissed beyond comprehension. We need this deal to work if we are to get payed, now get some sleep I will take first watch."
Nevada crept back into the darkness as he ran off towards the hunter they saw earlier. Thunder tried nipping at Nevada as he wanted to get him o turn back. Nevada ignored Thunder'd advances as he yipped at the hunters.
One of the hunters looked over to see Nevada and aimed at him before seeing the scarf around his kneck. "Are you lost, little one?" Nevada jumped back as he looked back, "Is something wrong?"
Nevada barked, as another hunter walked over, "What is going on?" They asked as she looked at the first hunter.
"This pup is asking for help, I think. Its master might be in danger?" The first hunter stated to the second.
"Well, we better follow it then." The second hunter turned to Nevada, "Lead the way, boy."
Nevada bowed as he leads them to the camp. Nevada started to crouch as the hunters noticed something was off and crouched over to see the men as they slept. While the other man sat at the fire.
Nevada whined as he looked at the captive wolves. The hunter's eyes widened to see that Nevada lead them to illegal traders as they notice what breed the wolves were.
"No way, the other Winter Direwolves? But how did—" The hunter looked over Nevada to see that he too was the same species. "Oh my, hey Nick, this pup, it is a Winter Direwolf like the other wolves in that camp. What should we do?"
Nick looked over as he gritted his teeth. "We need to free them, but how?"
Nevada stood up and rushed in, the female hunter tried to stop him but saw that he was giving them their opportunity. Nick remembered the traps they had as he watched the man wake the other s up as they chased Nevada way. Nevada made sure for them to follow as the two made their way into the camp and set the traps and started to release the wolves, but Thunder jumped out and hiss. Nick noticed he was telling them not as he wants them to be trapped first then taken in.
Nick nodded as he looked at his partner. She nodded and stopped what she was doing and finish setting the traps. Nevada eventually ran off as they returned. The two raced back to their hiding spot as Nevada returned to watch with them.
The first man walked over to have his foot ensnared in a bear trap. The other's ran over to help him as he set off another bear trap. The man who was blinded could hear what was going on as their boss walked in.
"What is the eternal realms is going on here?" The hunter recognized the man as he walked out of the shadow.
"Liz, thas Kole, the mayor, he is behind all of this? That's why that man got away? Damiit, if we get caught, we could be killed?" Nick turned to Liz.
Liz nodded as she looked at Nevada, "Yes, and whoever owns this pup will be thrown into jail?"
Nick went pale as he turned to Nevada, "No, they won't as it would be seen as treason."
Liz raised her brow at him, "Wait, what do you mean by that?"
Nick looked at Liz with a grin on his face, "This is princess Zephyrs Winter Direwolf. If he takes it and she goes looking for it, it will go nuts as this pup is way to a cleaver and with that dragon. I think its Prince Gale of Grand Dales?"
Liz went pale as she looked at Nevada, "Oh my word. That means that if Kole does not realize that this is hers and the dragon guides them to him as he cracks as he will feel the pressure of the royal families of two countries on him."
Nick nodded, "As they are guests in the town right now, as they are living with Mopsa, the Dragon Tamer." Nick looked at Nevada, "Pup, we need you to get caught, it is for the greater good as it might be the only chance we got to stop this and bring back your kind to WInterstom permanently."
Nevada looked up at Nick and nodded as he pulled off the scarf. And whined at him. Liz touched him, "We promise to tell Zephyr as soon as hse starts looking for you. Kole will not stand a chance with her rage."
Nevada yipped quietly as Thunder jumped onto Nick, as they walked back to town. Nevada howled as to agitate the other wolves. Kole looked over to see him as he ordered them to capture Nevada. Nevada barely put up a struggle as he was capture.
"Well, you will be nice to have in the collection. Take it back to my place outside of town. And be sure no one else is around. I am betting that the princess gave some hunter this pup. they won't be able to do anything as they know I can end their credibility."
Nevada growled as they took him away. Knowing that his master would save him.
The hunters returned to town to see Zephyr and Gale calling out for their pets. "Lady Zephyr!" Nick called out as he raced over.
Zephyr turned to see him, "Who are you—and why do you have my scarf?"
Nick handed her the scarf as he explained what he saw. Zephyr filled with rage as Kole walked into town. "Lady Zephyr, what seems to be the matter?" Kole asked as he stared at her.
"Mayor Kole, I would like to talk to you at your place now!" Zephyr roaded as he turned to him.
Kole froze as he noticed the two hunters. "Whatever it might be? I am sure we can—" Zephyr glared at Kole as he tried to de-escalate the situation. Yet found that Zephyr was not having any of it.
Gale rushed over to Zephyr as Thunder jumped to him, "Thunderhead, there you are, where is Nevada?"
Kole went pale as he realized what was going on. As he complies with going to his place. Liz grinned as she shouted out, "I would go to his woodland house out of town as you will have less damage if anything goes wrong."
Kole irked as Zephyr continued to glare at him, While she and Gale followed him this woodland home, the men he had just put Nevada in a cage as they turned around to see Zephyr walk in with Gale. Zephyr glanced over to see Nevada and other Winter Direwolves caged up, including the ones Nevada save days prior. Gale turned into he werewolf form as he pinned Kole to the ground.
"You better have a good explanation, or else you might end up dead here and now? As you have Zephyr's Direwolf caged and we have seen the man over their once before scam us?"
Zephyr walked over as the men tried to attack her, "Don't attack her; she is the princess of Gold Heart!" Kole called out to then as they froze in fear as she walked over to the cages.
"Release them or die." The men quivered in fear as they did as she had asked. Kole knew his career was over as she turned to glance at him. "Gale, dear. Tie him up and head back into town. I will contact my uncle and tell him what we just discovered."
Kole watched as she walked into his house. He knew he had a holo-com to contact buyers. While Gale did as she asked of him. Kole closed his eyes as the people stopped to stare. As Zephyr walked up from behind with all of the Winter Direwolves at her side. The people started to whisper as she walked up to the stand with Mopsa standing beside her.
"Everyine of Winterstorm, I stand before you, the man who has had Winter Direwolves captive and sold to the highest buyer. He has even had men—that I exposed with my partner Gale—To be abusing our sacred treasure. He even has men beat the wolves to comply with his will and to their new masters. But wee all know that Winter Direwolves are gentle creatures but aggressive if miss treated!" Zephyr could see that the people did not respond by her words about the mayor. Zephyr took a deep breath as she looked at Nevada, who was beaten, "I know you do not believe me, but he had a woodland home where these wolves were kept. I can give you the documents to see with your own eye the truth. But the mayor also has committed treason by taking my Winter Direwolf by force as he was doing what he could to stop this trafficking of his kind. Nevada is my Direwolf, and if any of you had one, he would have done the same but used his power to shut you down! He has done it once. Has he not?"
The people started talking as a woman stepped forward, "Yes, he did! Once I found a pup in the woods, and I took it in. Then the mayor saw it and took it away. I had no idea at the time, but he told me if anyone asked that I was to say I released it back into the wild."
The people heard the woman's story as others recalled similar incidences. Zephyr could see the people rallying behind her as they began to see who Kole really was. "People, I need your attention!" everyone turned to Zephyr as she took a deep breath, "I have already contacted the King, and he will be heard in five weeks to take Kole away. In the meantime, a new mayor must be elected!"
Everyone turned to Mopsa as she stood standing beside Zephyr, they remembered how she stood up to Kole as he pushed everyone to dislike her. How Mopsa fought for many of their freedoms and the festivals years prior. One woman started to chant Mopsa's name as the others followed suit. Zephyr was surprised as she turned to Mopsa as she let her guard down as she heard the people call out her name.
Mopsa started to tear up as she looked to Zephyr, "I think they want you? You have done mayor like things in the past, right?"
Mopsa nodded as she agreed to take the position. While a masked person smiled in the crowd as he disappeared.