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((It was XenchantedX that time skipped, but I don't mind. Sorry about the ridiculous post, I was pulled off to an emergency. To clarify, the wolves from Aiden's group would not have attacked, so I decided to make it another pack interfering on their pack's territory. So Owen and the people from the settlement in the mountain are in the town of Den Adel. Aiden's wolves are near it. The other wolves were circling in preparing to attack the town.

And yay SaveYou. Glad to hear your still here.))

The town of Den Adel was up to that point mostly unaware of the unique danger it found itself in. Most humans feared the onslaught of the wolves, but this quiet place was about to be caught in the middle of a territorial dispute between two packs, a place no wolf wanted to be, and the body count was sure to be high.

Aiden put aside his brother for the moment, trusting that he would find him in the fray and he let himself loose. For once reason and passion were aligned for him. His pack leader demanded he defend their land, his brother would be forced to make an appearance in all the bloodshed and take a side. And, well, he wanted to rip some throats out. Howling with glee, he set full speed towards the town, which was minutes away. He preferred to hunt at night, since his hyper alert senses found that to be more comfortable, and perhaps it was because of this or because of something else entirely that he didn't realize how close the other pack was to the town.

It was the scream that alerted him first. It was female and old. Usually the first to go were the little ones and the elderly. The other pack consisted of several individuals, possibly more than the eight others Aiden had with him. Confidence was with him anyway, however, since each of his pack could top another wolf in their prime, and some of them two at a time. It was with this assertive cockiness that he entered the town.

Humans were running everywhere, panicked by the wolves in their midst. The offensive char of smoke bit the air, something was on fire. Tearing teeth and claws met in a clash down the center row of the houses. All thought melted away to blind and furious instinct as the animals fought for their right to feed. Blood of each pack was spilled, as well as any humans unlucky enough to be caught in the fray. Many hoped they would kill each other, or just forget all about them. Others new that after such battles came a victory feast...the humans scurried, desperate for their lives, falling among the muck and snow, some of them more able than others.

All of this was periphery to Aiden, for he had begun a fight with three wolves, two smaller than him and one bigger. All around him, his sub-pack was engaged in desperate battle, but the other pack had advantage of number and position and it there was a high likelihood of the their might washing over them all.

Imperceptibly to the humans, but clear enough to the wolves, the battle for dominance had quickly become a battle for their lives, on the part of the defending pack. In this position, back up could not be called, not in time to save them. Aiden felt a twinge of regret as his comrades fought around him in various stages of evolution. To call for backup would have meant shame for them all, his own group would have jeered at him for doing so. Still, his brothers voice sprang into his ears, preaching of responsibility and burden of leadership. He screamed, only vaguely aware of the human lungs he used to do so, and threw his attackers back. Sheer rage drove him on and one of the challengers lay dead before him.

Owen had been outside of the town when the challenger wolves had struck. The kind and desperately poor people had given him and his 'people' lodging for the night, but Owen had not rested peacefully as the others had. Throughout, his senses were aware of the tension building and he was planning how he would approach it, grateful for the respite the other's lack of action was giving him.

Before dawn he woke and ran into the woods alone. He could fight in his human form, but then the charade would be over and he would be of no further use as a spy. Failure meant at the very least a beating, but returning after so long gone, quite empty handed would result in his death, of that he was sure. He changed in the woods, dumping his clothing and weaponry under a thick cluster of bushes. The ground was moist with early morning precipitation and his things were sure to get dirty, which was well enough for when he had to go back. He had been patrolling, trying to find the best angle when the scream rang out.

He was far away, he cursed in his head at how far, he had over thought things, yet again and had kept himself too far from the action. His claws scrapped the earth as ran desperately towards Den Adel. Smoke reached his nose before sight of the town reached his eyes. It was ablaze, doubtless set by some desperate villager in attempt to defend themselves. Sad it was, it would only serve to ill them quicker. Then something occurred to him and he pondered even as his teeth bit into the fur and flesh of his first adversary. The smoke was a good idea, although it would lose them their homes, it could save them their lives. Owen's vision was blurred due to the smoke and his nose was rendered all but useless. Tracking by scent would be difficult, if even at all possible.

The men from the fortress in the mountain were helping the surviving villagers onto frightened horses and taking off at a gallop that was aided by the horses strong fear of wolves and fire. He hoped they would be safe, if for nothing else but for all his hard work. The trust he gained laid mostly with the gypsie leader, who was, he noticed, still in the town and without his horse.

Aiden! His attention snapped to his brother as he struck a killing blow to a challenger, only to be bore down upon by two others. Owen howled with a force that caused several of the lesser wolves to cower, long enough for the defenders to gain the upper hand. In a second he was between his brother and the other wolves, and a swift snap coupled with a pawing strike and both were dead.

Bloodlust had been long cooped in his chest had reveled in the chance to be released. That combined with much rest and good food and the lack of the daily challenges that faced a wolf among his pack, had lent him the strength to deal with the affair quickly and efficiently. He turned to his brother just in time to see the younger wolf lung, aiming for his throat.

Between the fighting wolves, the nomads and people of the mountain fortress skidded in between and around, carefully. Any time a human met with a wolf, they were torn apart, like so much meat. The foreign humans had horses, which were a great advantage, since the speed of the things made them fast enough to not be easy prey and give them something of a chance.

"You'll be slaughtered here!" a man called as the humans prepared for 'war'. "You have no supplies and even though you are three times them in number, they will bowl through you like wind through a wheat field. I have seen it so many times before! Please! We have carts and a stronghold where we can prepare and fight these beasts with hope of winning! Run today and live to fight tomorrow! There is food! There are blankets and supplies! Listen to me!" Many seemed swayed, but so many more seemed intent to follow their war leader, a tough but clearly injured and exhausted woman, to their deaths. The leader frowned, grim, and helped the ones who decided to go onto horses and into carts.

"Just know this. When they stop at each other's throats, you'll be next." he put his hand on the girl who he'd heard called by the name of Jade. "Think, please. I respect it either way, I know it is hard to run like cowards...but the people are rank with disease from the cold. Think about it..." he turned to leave, keeping the pace slow so others could keep up if they changed their minds.

He had lit the fires to confuse the wolves, giving them all a chance to escape.

~~~

Aiden was incensed as a wolf came crashing into him, nearly bowling him over and causing him to pause in his advance. He recognized the wolf, by sight and not scent because of the smoke. The thing had allegiances to his pack leader and not to himself, and might question his attack on Owen, where his sub-pack would not. He switched to a semi-human form, still covered in fur and claws, ready to fight but able to speak. He watched as Owen did the same.

"Brother." he spat. Owen's eyes danced in the fire light, and he sensed his elder brother's blood lust was strong. "Having fun living among swine?" he asked. Owen's face was calm, his stance loose, despite his hungry eyes. Always the man had contained more self control than other wolves. Aiden hated him for it...perhaps, something more...no...it was just weakness and that was why he hated his sibling for his composure. Nothing more!

"Aiden. Still acting rashly without forward planning or collecting that facts, I see." he narrowed his eyes. "It'll get you killed someday."

"Silence! I am not being held at account today! That is you, Owen!" he paced nack and forth, coiled with energy and aching to lash out at something, anything. His pack was finishing off the dregs of the opposite one and starting to pick off humans. Most of them were waiting for this thick situation to resolve itself before continuing on. The sub pack that Aiden led, used to be Owens, and many of them were uneasy about attacking him. Not much loyalty left, although there was that, it was more the one who had seen the precision and deadliness of his attacks. He far outstripped their leader, and most of them knew that.

"Pack leader isn't happy," Aiden continued. Owen sighed, he knew this was going to happen sooner or later. He dropped his voice to the barest whisper. He needed this conversation kept out of the ears of the humans.

"I have just recently found a strong hold of humans," Owen began.

"Why haven't you kept in contact!?" Aiden asked, licking his lips, his whole body speaking of violence.

"I couldn't." Owen kept his eyes locked directly with Aiden's. It was something one did with equals and lessers. Many wondered which he thought his little sibling was, although if he was a traitor, both were false.

"You couldn't," Aiden repeated skeptically.

"I couldn't," Owen reiterated firmly. "Not without jeopardizing my purpose. I lived, before arriving at the encampment, among nomads. They are many in number, comparatively, and have strict rules on never leaving each other alone. I could not use my communicator. It was with no small skill that I kept them from discovering it at all! Any technology would have put them ill at ease and I would have lost everything! They would have never taken me with them and you know that." Aiden changed the aim of his conversation, starting to ease up in mind, if not in body.

"So where is it?" he asked. Owen stared at Aiden, his expression flickering so briefly that no one caught it but his sibling, who knew him all too well. Perhaps also Emma, if she was nearby.

"There is a forest, North of here," he answered vaguely. "It is impenetrable, thus far. They blind fold all newcomers and the trail is set with traps. I smelled death of kin in that area. Their traps have killed rash wolves. You can't get in."

"I don't believe you!" Aiden roared, throwing himself forward and against his brother's chest. Owen held strong and continued his stare.

"I must go back," he stated calmly.

"I will not let you," Aiden snarled in his face, the smell of blood was strong in the small space between their faces. Owen let a soft growl emanate from his chest.

"Do you know why Pack-leader chose me, little brother?" his chest was rising and falling heavily, and Aiden realized vaguely what his self control cost him. Aiden refrained from answering, but continued his glare. Owen answered his own question. "It has only half to do with my self control. That is what I am famous for, is it not? My ability to let it go, like a good dog?" his anger was finally rising. "He chose me for that, true! He chose me also for my ability to KILL many enemies and come out on top. To beat the odds. To know where weakness lies and how to use it against the weak! You tell all that you know me little brother? Act like it! I will return and I invite you to try and stop me!" his voice had risen as he blazed through his sentences.

Silence between them was thick and heavy and Aiden was shaking with desire to rip out Owen's throat. Something stopped him that could have been affection, but could also be self preservation.

"You have no idea how much I have grown in you absence, Owen." Aiden spoke softly, with a tone that his brother had never heard him use before and could not identify. "You will take me with you. I will pose as an injured human and you will bear me back to their place." he broke away from their stand off and Owen peered at him sideways, curiously. Aiden had indeed changed to make such a decision. Normally he would never back down until he proved himself as the better, so many times humiliating himself.

"That wont work. The first exposed neck and you'd be caught red handed." The conversational was suddenly vaguely friendly, though still taught. Aiden's lip quirked at the comment, have in amusement and half in bitter loathing at the insult. Considering what he knew, someone should go with Owen. To watch him and make sure he stayed true to the pack. Also, two people would have a higher chance of getting what was needed and relaying it back to the pack. Aiden also knew that Owen, whether guilty or not, would suggest that someone else go, and he intended to beat him to the punch.

"Are their any among the faithful to the pack who will go with my brother on a mission of high restraint and danger? You will constantly be under threat of discovery. And if discovered you will have hundreds of humans at your neck. If not you will have hundred at your mercy, begging to be slaughtered and fed upon and you will not be able! Who can take this challenge?"

His eyes flickered to the rogue wolf who had some allegiance to their leader. He was sure it was only because he enjoyed being on the winning side. Their pack was the largest in the area and comparatively well trained. What would he think of all of this?

Owen, for his part, had noticed the man as well, but for a different reason. They had never met, since he had come to them after Owen had already left on his mission. To his eyes, the man was not kin and it was only the fact that for some reason the others were not attacking him that kept him from making a likely successful attempt at ending him. Also, he trusted his eyes less than his nose and his nose was still clouded by the heavy scent of smoke. He tried to place if and where they had met, although did not stare at him openly. He had more tact than his brother, who had been staring at him since the calmer part of the confrontation had begun.