"A fight with a Glitterwylf," Rowtag mused, backing away to pace. "That will be a first."

"Likewise." Stepping forward, Felicity narrowed her eyes, feeling blood-red anger cloud her vision. Her fangs appeared briefly in a flash of bright white.

Already, she could feel the spark of magic zapping through her like lightning. It was going to burst out at any moment.

Dimly, she was aware of Kyra's presence, only a few pawsteps from where she stood. Her rapid exhales pricked at Felicity's consciousness. But the tendrils of fury cast them away.

The Flamewylf flicked his tail, orange flames rippling up his spine and fanning out at his tufted neck. His eyes flashed with a mocking determination. "Alright, Glitterwylf," he invited, ears twitching. "Bring it on."

His leap was so fast that she barely managed to roll aside. Heat washed over her, mingling with the dark warmth pulsing within her. He was up again in a moment. Claws slashed dangerously close to her chest. His flames filled her vision.

With a snarl, she struck back, jabbing at his snout. A curl of red added to the orange of his fur. Roaring at the pain, Rowtag swooped in for another attack, but she fought back, every swipe bringing the magic closer and closer to the surface.

She didn't see a Flamewylf. As Felicity dug her claws in, she saw smoke engulf her opponent, cloaking him in darkest black.

Let it loose, Fliss.

Avenge me.

Beside her, a fallen branch began to tremble. Unnoticed by her opponent, a slice of wood peeled away, sharpening the end.

Kill him.

A black energy pulsed, sending out the magic in focused waves. Another sliver ripped away from the branch. Deep in Felicity's tightened chest, she felt a hardened tug as the soft wood compacted, solidifying into a deadly point.

Until her eyes betrayed her, and through the blinding smoke, she saw Kyra.

She was frozen in place, all the dancing energy within her gone. Her snout had fallen open, and the bottom of her jaw trembled. But it was her eyes that called to Felicity's heart. They shone with a pale fear.

Some part of Felicity stirred; the part shoved away as the anger took over. Why was she doing this? What good would it bring?

The wood paused, hovering just above the ground, as a war began in her heart. A war of darkness, and of some glimmer of light, driven by Kyra's purity, her innocence.

She never found out which won.

In her moment of hesitation, Rowtag finally landed a strike. The pain pressed into her chest, stinging fiercely, sending juddering shock shooting through her veins.

As her back slammed into the earth, the pulsing magic snapped away. The branch clattered to the ground. The darkness paled, its growling force subsiding, and Felicity found herself staring up at Rowtag's fiery eyes.

Not purple. Amber. Like glowing flames.

In that instant, her energy faded. The hissing fury was gone. All Felicity could do was lay there, helpless, beaten.

You should have killed him.

"Let this be a lesson, little Glitterwylf." Rowtag's words were faint, but with each chuckle, they grew more real. "Never challenge a Flamewylf."

With a final grating laugh, he released her. She jerked to her paws. The world still felt a little out of focus, as if she'd just run a marathon before stopping abruptly. Her breath came in short pants, and she inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself.

Deep within, a dark voice still snarled. But it wasn't in control. Not anymore.

Rowtag shook out his fur, and the flickering flames on his back stopped smouldering. She eyed him warily. The fight had been a mistake - something she should never have initiated - yet still there was a roaring desire to fight back. It took all her effort to push it down to join the darker anger.

His flaming gaze swept her, Kyra and Makas. "I better not see you around here again, Fog-dwellers," he warned. "Next time, I might not let you off so easy." While his companions moved to flank him, unsuccessfully hiding their gleeful laughter, he met Felicity's eyes. His expression was searching.

One final flash of darkness resulted in her returning glare. Same here.

Then he turned, and the three wolves sprinted around the house and away.

For a moment, no-one spoke. But then Mak drew in a shaky breath. "I wouldn't provoke him, Felicity," he advised, moving over to Kyra. "Rowtag already hates me. The last thing we need is another feud."

His words lingered in the air. Felicity bowed her head, the guilt properly surfacing as her mind cleared once more. She remembered the Earthwylves, in their circle, whispering. "I guess Moongarde is pretty divided, then," she muttered, glancing in the direction the Flamewylves had disappeared.

"You think?" He sighed, leaning into Kyra's fur. Pushing away the last wisps of dark regret, Felicity crossed over to them and rested her snout against her friend's tensed shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she whispered gently to Kyra. "I shouldn't have done that."

As she moved away, she felt her fellow Glitterwylf relax a little. Guilt pierced her insides to see such a playful wolf so frightened. Thankfully, Kyra's ears raised, and she returned Mak's embrace, closing her eyes for a moment. When they opened again, their usual sparkle had returned.

"Oh! I wanted to show you the golden market!" She bounced on her paws, making Mak stagger away from her, laughing. Nodding, Felicity pulled her own smile back.

"Great!" she exclaimed, swishing her tail. "It sounds wonderful."

With another leap, Kyra directed them along a side street, mercifully in the opposite direction to Rowtag. "It is! Come on!"

Chuckling softly, Felicity followed. Mak dropped back to walk beside her. Gently, he nudged her side, his dark eyes searching. "You ok?" he asked, out of Kyra's earshot.

"Yes." Her confident tone nearly fooled herself. "I'm fine."

Perfectly fine.

Kyra hadn't lied. The market really was beautiful.

But every golden glimmer, every gem and jewel, just reminded her all the more of Rowtag and his towering mansion.

Why could an idiot like that have all of those wonderful things, whilst Kyra, the kindest wolf in the world, was confined to only looking and dreaming?

Exactly, the something inside whispered. It's so unfair. It must be destroyed.

As the sun began its afternoon descent, she decided on what she really needed to do. "Kyra?" she called, beckoning her friend away from a display of crystal tail-pieces. "Do you mind if I go for a walk alone?"

Tilting her head to the side, Kyra eyed her curiously. "Why? Where do you want to go?"

Felicity glanced back at the display. A decorated Seawylf was hurriedly dusting the surface that Kyra had been admiring. "Just for an explore," she said firmly. "I want to see if I know my way around now."

"Alright." She skipped on the spot. "But... wait here." With a swing of her tail, she hurried away, around the back of another stall. Felicity exchanged a confused look with Mak.

After a moment, Kyra returned, clutching two leather bands in her jaw. Setting them down, she traced a claw over each, and tiny flickering specs settled over them like dust. The leather surface flashed with a pink tinge, before returning to normal. Kyra's eyes twinkled as she curled a claw around one, pushing it towards Felicity.

"Try it on," she urged. Though still puzzled, Felicity complied, taking the band in her claws and slipping it around her left forepaw. It fit well. As she raised her head again, she saw that her friend had slotted the other around the same paw.

"What are they for?" Felicity asked. Kyra met her gaze excitedly.

"Friendship bands!" she announced. "I've enchanted them so they can be used for us to communicate. Like this..." Bending down, she tapped her band three times, in quick succession, then whispered something into the material.

See? Does it work? The words were not her thoughts. They carried the same light air as Kyra's tone. Eyes lighting up, Felicity repeated the gesture.

"It does! That's amazing!" she breathed into the band. Kyra's head shot up, clearly having also heard the echoes in her mind.

"Use that whenever you want to speak to me," she said. "Like, if you get lost or something. I'll always be at the other end."

Felicity nodded, flexing her paw to admire the band. Simplistic, but somehow she preferred it that way. "Thanks so much, Kyra. I'll see you later." She darted to the right, remembering the street they'd walked down earlier.

As much as she appreciated the gift, she wouldn't be contacting Kyra today. She had a mission.

Soon enough, she came to the bronze-encrusted house once more. Keeping her eyes down, she barely spared it a glance as she followed the path around, tracing the direction the Flamewylves had travelled in. She sniffed forcefully. Only cool air rushed into her nostrils, scentless, the usual outdoor smell. So she wasn't blessed with the sensitive nose of the mythical wolf ancestors.

Still, even with modern-day senses, finding three loud, orange wolves wasn't too difficult. Her pace increased to a leaping bound as she searched for any signs. A singed blade of grass. A trampled cluster of tulips. Excited sparks crept into Felicity's eyes as she relished playing detective.

Then she heard them. Raucous bellows, destroying the calm serenity of the fields. Sinking into the shrubs, Felicity navigated through the undergrowth, ears pricked up tentatively.

"... the look on her face!" exclaimed a dark maroon-orange wolf, her snout thrown upwards as she laughed uproariously. Felicity's chest tightened.

"Priceless," agreed a paler Flamewylf through his chuckles.

"Yes, yes, it was all hilarious." Rowtag's grainy tone was unmistakable. His laugh was lower, less noisy, like smouldering embers rather than a flashing fire. "But let's not forget; that Glitterwylf committed a crime today. No wolf - especially not a Fog-dweller - should challenge the likes of us."

His companions nodded sternly, though faint giggles still peppered Felicity's ears. "Quite right, Noble Rowtag," the pale orange wolf said. "How do you propose we punish her?"

This time, it was Rowtag's turn to throw his head back in laughter. "Punishment," he choked out. "My friend, you amuse me. The events of today served as a warning. There is no need to waste time in petty revenge. She will not trouble us again."

How wrong you are, hissed Felicity, her fury stirring.

"Instead," Rowtag continued, "I suggest we celebrate. A party, at mine. Tonight at sundown. You free?"

The other two nodded vigorously. "Great idea, Rowtag!" the dark Flamewylf said. "We'll spread the word. Open to everyone... everyone Gold, that is," she added hurriedly, at a warning glance from the wolf beside her.

Everyone Gold. A party. Forcing down the urge to claw that smug look from Rowtag's upturned snout, Felicity dug a claw into the ground. It was the perfect opportunity. She could retaliate.

No. Of course she couldn't. She shouldn't have challenged him in the first place. She should go back to Kyra, forget all about the Flamewylves, and go back to being perfectly happy.

But that's not what you want, the dark voice rumbled. You want to fight back. You want revenge.

But I shouldn't.

In her turmoil, she lashed her tail. Her heart skipped a beat as it collided noisily with the bush.

Halting the conversation, Rowtag snapped his eyes over. "Did you hear that?" he hissed. Eyes flashing, the Flamewylves moved forward to investigate.

But they would find only dirt and dust.