Two teeth like vampire fangs poked out of the man's jaw. The other man had one large-tooth protruding from his upper lip. Ramnez and his buddy, Wilaren. A standoff between the two arose. A crescendo. A deadly crescendo.
"Don't do this," said Ramnez, clearly gripping something behind his back.
"Sorry buddy," Wilaren said, calmly reaching for something in his belt. "I have to… permanently…"
"Do you really want to do this?" Ramnez asked again. "You don't have to." As Wilaren drew something from his belt, Ramnez did the same. They had both drawn swords.
"Think about it," Wilaren cried. "Killing wolves won't- it won't bring him back. You took your revenge on Hawes after he took your father. It's time to move on."
Ramnez walked away, but before he did, he said, "This conversation isn't over yet, Wilaren Hughes."
-
Zamara left her perching spot atop the massive rock. Once down, her rich emerald eyes wandered left to right, then back to left, across the massive, constantly expanding horizon. She entered the den, greeted by the shouts, howls, and cries of the wolves as they engaged in a fight, constantly scurrying around each other in a mile-wide ditch. She entered her personal room, her fur brushing up against the wall. At the very back-right corner of the room, her bed, made of some leaves and haystack. At the center of the room, a small collection of randomly assorted items. On the left wall, a small portrait, containing the paw prints of every wolf to ever be in her pack. "I miss you father," she whispered. "I miss you." THUMP. Behind her, a thumping noise. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. She whipped around. Nobody was there. Not a wolf, nor a human.
"Hello, Zamara," a raspy voice murmured. "I've come to see you."
"I'm not afraid!" Zamara cried, to no response. Zamara snarled, exposing her upper and lower jaws of sharp, brittle teeth.
"I'm not either," the sore voice replied. "I have a proposition for you. A flash of sunlight unveiled a mutilated paw. "Now," said the wolf. "I want you to walk on out and say, 'Everybody gather, for I have something to tell you all,' then say, 'We are safe from the hunters, and we can now resume with our lives. Follow me, for in celebration of this freedom, we shall feast!' Then, take them outside."
"For what?" Zamara growled.
"So they can be picked off, one by one, until only you and I are left," the wolf went on. "And in the end, you and I shall be wed, and together we rule over the food chain." Another blot of sunlight revealed a charred leg, entangled in leaves. "What do you say?" said the wolf.
"You cannot do that," Zamara hissed. "You're one of us. They can't tell one wolf from another. They'll pick you off too."
"I'm wearing a tag." the wolf said. "You're all wearing tags. These wolf hunters took care of us from birth. The only reason why they kill us wolves-" The wolf, whose identity was still shrouded in mystery, relished in the moment. "The only reason why they kill us wolves, you see- is because they took care of us. We're living in their habitat. We are their pets, and we are their food."