Of Horned Wolves and Nine-Tailed Foxes Excerpt (U18 October Entry)
By Aether (Rahael Joseph)

**DO NOT COPY/SHARE/USE AS A REFERENCE**

Sevvori, a Fox from the Incendia clan, panted as her tiny paws thrashed against the forest floor, bushy tail flying with her. Sevvori soon decreased her pace lest she tread upon a dry leaf or twig and risk triggering the fury of the Accalia Wolves, who were unaware of her presence in the forest of Panthera. Her fiery orange back and white underbelly disappeared quickly from view as she flattened herself under the bushes on the edge of a clearing. Sevvori was trespassing on Accalia territory; it would have been easier for a tiger to fly than for her to escape from the Wolves unharmed, but such risks failed to deter her. After all, she was Incendia’s best scout.

Sevvori lay in front of a clearing with her eyes fixed on the large dome made of Saborii tiger bones in the center, perking her ears upright when she caught sight of a Wolf or two inside. The dome was the meeting place of the Accalia Wolves; she was bound to hear something of value here.

The leader of the Accalia clan, a female Alpha named Mygha, strode into the dome with rage painted all over her face. Mygha set her horned headdress down on the tree stump in the middle of the dome. Gasps of shock wove through the black Wolves like broken thread as their eyes widened. Where there would have been a glowing blue horn forged from unmeltable ice to complete its majesty, there lay only a chipped stump.

“This is not going to be good,” muttered Lynera nervously, a warrior of the Accalia. 

“Shhh,” whispered her friend and comrade Agraxas. He didn’t bother hiding a frown of mingled curiosity and caution either.

“This is the last time those Incendia Foxes will dare to interfere with our clan,” seethed Mygha, unable to speak without leaving behind a noticeable tint of resentment. “When will they tire of trying to usurp from us the leadership of the forest of Panthera?”

“Your Majesty, how do you know that it was the Incen-” began a Wolf, but Mygha quickly hushed him.

“Silence! I know the Incendia Foxes are guilty, and they shall taste my wrath!” bellowed Mygha. “Do any of you realize what can happen if the horn falls into the wrong paws?” Silence quickly ensued. “This crown,” began Mygha, “was passed down to me by our goddess, Avalynne, when she laid it upon the head of the first Accalia. Few know of the headdress’s true power – that is exactly why I rarely wear it. A single shard of a horn can be used to bring about terrible destruction to Panthera, and possibly outside as well!”

At this point, everyone at the meeting stood frozen, all sharing a multitude of emotions: faces riddled with terror, anger, and only Avalynne knows what more. “But – but it’s just a horn!” mumbled Lynera, stunned. 

“Gifts from Avalynne are not to be meddled with, and certainly not stolen or damaged,” spat Agraxas fiercely. He looked as though he was ready to kill with a mere glance of his crimson eyes, indignation coursing through his veins, pushing him to the edge, encouraging him to explode.

“I let go of the crown for a second, and this had to happen!” roared Mygha, crimson eyes flashing furiously. “Lynera!” she barked, turning to face one of her warriors.

Lynera froze like a deer in the headlights, unsure of what to do. Agraxas nudged her forward with his head. “Y-yes, your Majesty?” responded Lynera shakily. It was as though a bubble was stuck in her throat.

“I am putting you in charge of organizing an ambush on the Incendia. This offense to Avalynne and our clan will not go unavenged!” All the Wolves immediately howled in response, primal instincts kicking in. Agraxas was loudest and Lynera was quietest, although she felt obliged to howl as well. Most of the Wolves were already battle-hardened and a senseless fury seemed to take hold of their senses, filling them to the brim with a desire for revenge and for blood – all except Lynera. Though a seasoned fighter, she felt far too timid, too soft-spoken to be tasked with the burden of risking a full-blown war between the two clans.

Sevvori was thoroughly alarmed, and she struggled to suppress the impulse to cry out in distress. Her lightning-fast reflexes urged her to spring away to safety and risk getting caught, but before she did, she noiselessly backed away from the clearing, and bolted for her life. “I must warn Lady Kahmari!”