let's just get this started

—

"Willow! Hurry, a storm's coming in from the mountains, and there's no way we'll make it back at this speed."

   An odd creature snarled over its shoulder at the other behind it. The creatures had the legs of wolves, but stood up, with the face and muzzle of a wolf and the ears of a rabbit. Their tails were furry and long, and they had huge wings like a hawk.

   "I'm coming, Aspen!" the other growled, long ears pressing back against its head. Its wings flapped, even though they were on the ground, walking through a forest full of trees that went nearly 400 feet up.

   Aspen paused, the fur bristling along his spine. "Excuse me? Do not growl at your Beta!"

   Willow dropped the bundle of thick leaves in his mouth and growled again, baring his wolf-like fangs. "You aren't Alpha, not yet. I don't even come from here, I have no reason to listen to or obey your commands."

   The first strange creature's, Aspen's, fur bristled around his throat, making him appear larger. His broad wings spread and flapped, making dust swirl and spin in the air. "Willow! You are not a Lone Wanderer anymore, you joined us and so you will submit to me."

   Even though Willow was smaller than Aspen, his ears pricked up and he rose to his full height, a little under Aspen's. His brown eyes narrowed. "Why should I?"

   "Because I am your Beta!" Aspen roared, rearing one of his legs and striking his claws over Willow's muzzle. Willow stumbled back, his massive steps snapping dead leaves and twigs as his back hit a huge tree trunk. He was cornered.

   "Aspen, I am one of your most valued Hunters. If you get rid of me that easily, who will help to feed you and everyone else? It's a mistake to chase me off." Willow grunted, head lowered. If Aspen wanted to make him leave, who cared? It was Aspen who would be at a loss.

   Aspen's gaze narrowed and he stepped forward with a menacing snarl, "Do you think I care? We have plenty other Hunters, Willow." He spat the name as though it were rotten food in his mouth.

   Willow huffed, raising his head and facing Aspen. "Fine. Then I'll leave. Have fun telling the Pack that you chased me off." With a quick few flaps of his huge wings, the male was off, jumping between branches as he headed for the canopy. He could fly away from the Pack of strangers, off into the mountains or perhaps follow the edges of the forest until he found somewhere safe to live. Alone.

   Aspen gave a final departing screech, his voice full of rage. He couldn't chase Willow from the forest, that was his home and he wouldn't leave it.

   Willow finally broke through the last of the leaves and hovered above the tree tops. He stayed there, waiting for Aspen to make a move and go back to camp. If he followed from above the forest, he could watch what the Pack would say.

   Soon enough, Aspen turned and headed back. Willow followed, gliding above the branches, enjoying the wind in his fur. His broad wings cast a shadow on the leaves below, but Aspen wouldn't realize. After a few minutes, Aspen had already reached camp.

   Willow fluttered down to land on the highest branches, silently crawling down until he could hear the voices in camp but remain hidden among the leaves.

   Their Alpha and the rest of the Pack was pretty shocked to see Aspen return alone, his slender rabbit ears pricked. He sat back on his legs, and announced that Willow was gone.

   He better not lie. If he does, I might as well fly down there myself and challenge him to a battle, Willow sneered at the thought of sinking his teeth into the Beta's flesh.

   "Why did he leave?" the Alpha questioned, eyes sparking with interest. Aspen blinked calmly, "He couldn't handle the weight of a Pack, I guess. We were gathering leaves for bedding, and when I turned around, he disappeared."

   "What a coward!" someone jeered from the crowd. Soon, the entire Pack was caterwauling insults to the sky.

   How dare they! I've hunted for them all countless times, and they repay me with this? Willow's fur lifted with rage. Ignoring common sense, he dived down from his watching branch, wings spread as he swooped swiftly into the hollow. Everyone went quiet as he landed, growling.

   "How dare you all! I brought prey back for you, tended to your elders! And you call me a coward?" Willow's enraged glare raked the crowd of strange creatures. Nobody made a sound, eerie silence falling upon the camp.

   "Willow. You came back." Aspen muttered, eyes wide. The one he'd spoken to turned, spitting angrily. Then he smirked. I have the upper paw now, Aspen. I know what you did.

   "Everyone, listen to me!" Willow turned back to the crowd. Even their Alpha remained quiet. "Aspen chased me away! He made this mark on my muzzle, and told me to never come back!" He had forgotten about the sting on his nose from Aspen's claws.

   His Packmates froze, eyes moving to Aspen. "N-no, that didn't happen! Don't trust him, he ran away!" Aspen leapt to his own defense, rising to his full height.

   "Aspen, face it. You lied. And now, I challenge you." Willow got into a fighting stance, head low and his wings spread over the ground. The perfect position to explore forward at any second, or leap into the air and quickly flee. Either could be done in a matter of moments. His heart thudded in his chest as Aspen snarled, lowering into the same stance.

   Aspen's ears pressed back, and out of the corner of his eye Willow spotted the mothers ushering their young away. This fight would be bloody, and of course the little ones couldn't watch. It would ruin them.

   Willow bared his wolfish teeth, waiting for one of them to make a move. No matter how much he hated Aspen, he just couldn't push himself to attack first. He glanced over Aspen's shoulder for a moment, and noticed that their Alpha was watching intently from a rock.

Suddenly, Aspen lunged forward, tearing into Willow's fur with his hind claws and dragging him into the air. Willow screeched, franticly fluttering his broad wings and biting into Aspen's chest. Blood spattered from the wounds, and their loud howls of pain could be heard all over camp.

Willow wriggled out of Aspen's grasp and flew higher, growling. He lashed his long tail and whipped it across the side of Aspen's head, making the Beta's wing beats falter and forcing him to the ground. Willow dove down and pinned Aspen while he was weakened. He pressed one of his wolfish legs to Aspen's throat and bared his teeth.

   "Aspen, do you yield?" Willow's voice was loud with hate.

Aspen growled, but his eyes were fearful, and for a moment Willow thought he'd won and relaxed his muscles just a little. But, as soon as the pressure lightened on his throat, the Beta exploded upward and threw Willow off. He growled loudly, and flapped his wings against the ground, causing dust to fly and swirl in the air.

Willow choked on the dust, and slowly rose back onto his paws. His ears drooped and his wings were tucked at his sides. The male snarled back at Aspen. This fight isn't over yet.

"Willow, you are exiled. Now, leave, before I give you a worse punishment for challenging me, your Beta." Aspen peeled his lips back to reveal sharp fangs. Should I run? Willow swallowed back a lump in his throat and took a step back. But then another voice came up in his head, No! You can't run, you aren't a coward!

Before he could think it over, Willow raised his head and bayed, "No! I am no coward, I will not flee! I'll fight you until neither of us are standing if I have to!" Immediately, he regretted his words.

"Oh? Is that so? Well, we can arrange that." Aspen spat, the words smooth. It sent an angry shiver down Willow's spine.

Aspen suddenly sprang forward, swiftly snatching up the smaller creature in his wolfish feet and beating his wings, bringing both soaring high above the camp. The air was knocked from Willow's lungs and he sputtered, too shocked to break away.

The Beta sank his teeth into Willow's long, rabbit-like ears, and ripped at the tender flesh. Willow howled in pain, tail lashing as he was jolted back into control, slashing and biting at Aspen. He would not lose.

The two flapped their broad wings loudly, stuck in a mid-air brawl. Both snapped and snarled at the other, tails whipping and bloody ears pressed back. Their wolf-like jaws tore and their claws slashed. The entire Pack stared up at the fight, not even their Alpha making a move to stop it.

Aspen's teeth got a good hold on Willow's wing, but the smaller male tore it back, whimpering as some of the feathers were yanked out. Willow then nipped at Aspen's muzzle, making a narrow, bloody, mark.

Suddenly, there was a crack of lightning, and rain started to pour down from the clouds. It startled the two, and Willow - who had got a grip on Aspen's wing - released his teeth.

Aspen and him hovered mid-air for a few eerily silent heartbeats, listening to the thrum of rain and the steady beat of their own hearts.

   Then, Aspen took the chance and sank his jaws into Willow's ears again. Willow, shocked and scared, screeched in pain. Their flapping wings collided, and the two started to fall, breaking apart to try and save themselves from a gory death by force of impact.

   Willow managed to spin just enough and landed on his legs, but his belly sank to the ground anyway. Aspen landed roughly on his side, crushing one of his broad wings, but just spat and stumbled to his feet again.

   "Willow! Admit your defeat!" Aspen roared, ears pressed back against the streaming rain. Thunder rumbled in the sky and lightning flashed as Willow rose.

   "Why... Should I..?" the exhausted male heaved, glaring at Aspen. Cold fury burned in his gaze.

"Because. I am your Beta." Aspen spat, slinking closer. The wing he'd landed on dragged in the dirt beside him, the feathers torn and the skin ripped, twisted at an unnatural angle.

   "Not anymore. I'll kill you if it's the last thing I ever do!" Despite his words, Willow's voice and body shook vigorously. He was cold and scared, and too weak to fight anymore.

Aspen circled the injured male, "Well it will be. Your promises are empty, Loner." Willow flinched at his harsh words. He should've flown away earlier, headed for the distant mountains or follow the trees. He should've gone somewhere, anywhere. But no, he followed Aspen, and now he would be killed because of his own stupidness.

   "Please, Aspen, spare me. I'll leave, I promise, I'll never return and you can forget all about me, or say I was a horrible hunter or whatever you want. But please, don't hurt me." Willow pleaded. He had to force the words, as no matter how upset and angry he was, he didn't want to get killed.

Aspen's eyes narrowed, rain drenching his pelt. "...Fine. Go, run back to your life as a Lone Wanderer, and never return!" Instantaneously, Willow sprang to his paws and ran off into the woods before they could change their mind. He left a trail of bloody footprints, and was terrible exhausted. But, strangely, it didn't feel like he was running at all, his legs didn't hurt even though he was speeding from camp.

   Willow then opened his tattered wings, lifting into the air and dodging branches as he flew from the forest. He didn't need a Pack, nor did he need others to care for. He was a Lone Wanderer, and always would be.

   And he liked that.

—

done