I lower my head to the crystal clear water of the stream that flows through Malgnant, alert ears constantly swiveling on their master, taking in the many sounds that the pack lands have to offer. It hasn't been long since my fellow litter mates and myself gained permission to exit the den, but we were toppling over each other in our excitement once Queens said we could! I had been spending most of the days and nights near teh entrance anyway, getting myself attuned to the many scents that the packlands have to offer. One scent in particular stuck: the scent of fresh tangy blood. I don't know why, but it excites me like nothing else, pushing my adrenaline level into overdrive and giving me thoughts that a pup my age should never think. After hearing tales of my fathers (that's right, I learned that I have not one but two sperm donors to thank for my birth) though, I have no doubt as to why I am like this.

Sidorio is the name of father figure number one. No, I don't have an order of importance since I have yet to meet either one since my birth. I just feel that I msut have more of him in me, my personality anyway. He was the scarlet and black king of antoher pack land at one time. Abendrot, I think the name of it is. He was also part of another group of hand picked warriors in the lands of Blossom called Demonica. They are obsessed with blood. My little addiction makes perfect sense now, doesn't it? Father figure number two is called Arcadian. He absolutely adores my mother and has always been there for her. He's also a hard core fighter and has proven his worth time and again. That's why he's Queens' beta. Queens, of course, is my mother. She is the alpha of this wonderful pack land. I look forward to growing up a prince of such a promising landscape.

My tail swishes to and fro, my mixture of colors standing out in the bright sunlight of the day. I can't help it I'm a mixture of DNAs. I have my mother's ptich black color, Sidorio's scarlet hue, and even a spot or two of Arcadian's snow white hide. Maybe I look like a mutt, but ask me if I care. I am proud of my lineage, even if my fathers tend not to show. I sniff at the thought as I raise my head from drinking, a new scent wafting through my nostrils. Drinking it in, I find a sarcastic smirk tugging at my lips. As I age, this smirk will turn more sadistic with experience, but for now, as innocent of the world as I am, sarcasm is my greatest weapon. My tail swishes side to side with unsual confidence for a pup just months old as I turn and start trotting toward the source of the scent. My bright blue eyes seem to glow with delight at having my first meeting with another wolf that's not Queens or one of my siblings.

Then, I see her. An almost pure white female wolf with that lean youthful look to her and eyes full of curiosity. Pretty, I think to myself as I offer a pup like bark to announce my presence. Stopping a few paces away, I grin more in a friendly manner and bow my fore hand into a play stance, tail still wagging as I eye her with young mischief.

Hey babe, I'm Nikandros but you can call me Niko. What's your name?

† ------------------------------------------------------- †

Nikandros:the birth certificate says
male:the space between the hind legs reveal
pup:height and weight requirement
scarlet, white, black, and brown:the painting on the fur
blue:the gaze that pierces you
quiet, calculating, solitary:the agenda for the day
QueensxXxArcadianxXxSidorio:the family tree
DarQ:the puppeteer