My heart was racing. I don't think it's ever beat so fast before in my life. The sound of my heartbeat filled my ears as my legs scrambled to get beneath me. Through the palpitations that drummed in my ears I heard Sam yelling. I shook my head, trying to clear my ears as I rolled up onto my paws and dashed forward just as the brute lunged at my friend. My eyes grew wide with panic as she rolled away from him, and I couldn't be sure if he'd managed to hurt her or not. "Sam!" I called out, rushing towards them as fast as my shaky puppy legs could carry me and doing my best to sink my youthful teeth into his hind leg. I couldn't even break the skin! But I succeeded in distracting him, at least for a moment, as his sickening purple gaze turned and a snarl was directed at me. I growled right back, nose wrinkling up as his stinking scent overwhelmed me again. What the heck was his problem?

I was glaring up into his disgusting purple eyes when he suddenly lifted his paw and quite literally booted me. Didn't see that one coming. Oof, the air rushed from my lungs as his paw connected with my shoulder again and I was forcefully pushed backwards and away from him, toppling me over. This time it took a bit longer for me to catch my breath and pick my head up as it spun from the exertion of the last few moments. But when I did, what I saw was hardly what I had expected.

The scene that unfolded before me made my jaws part in wonder. I looked on as my mother - or a wolf that sure looked like her, but acted unlike I'd ever seen her act before - threw herself into the fray. She quickly overcame the beast that had intruded on me and Sam's conversation, and pinned him to the ground by his throat. My eyes grew wide as I scrambled to my feet, rejuvenated by adrenaline and the excitement of watching my mom...well...kick some butt! I moved forward, wanting to help hold him down or do something but the glare that she shot me stopped me in my tracks. Charcoal ears fell back in shame - I was in such big trouble. Blinking nervously and averting my eyes I took a step back, unsure what do to. Sam! My head shot up again and I skirted around the looming form of my mother and the wolf she was making quick work of, until I could see my friend. I limped over to her, finding my shoulder was a little more sore than I expected and only glancing down to find that his claws had left some scratches in their wake. They hadn't broke the surface, but they were still a little painful. Looking at Sam I saw the cuts on her neck and back. "Are you okay?" I whispered to her, glancing towards my mom and the - what had Sam called him? - prick that had ruined our fun.