It is hard not to pant in the heat of this summer day. Even the cicadas don't make a sound, probably wishing they hadn't crawled out of the cool confines of the earth. I had tried to dig me a shallow hole earlier to lie in but then got distracted by the scent of a nearby rabbit. My survival instinct had not changed since coming back to Spirane. After living a few seasons in the wild lands I made sure to get meals wherever I could and in truth I never wanted for food like some wolves. There were times I was focused and often had a single minded purprose: survive. Grow. That is why I went after the rabbit, successfully spending a good hour tracking it and then cornering it. When I ate it it wasn't with the fervor of one starved but the dedication one has to simply existing.

Once I was full I felt reasonably sated and a bit cooler after having lounged in the shade so I decided to go hunting. This time not for prey but for predators. I had wanted to be Mercenary before but never got to where I needed to be and had known my Aunt vied for it. But she had disappeared and then Spirane was taken and I had no more goals. Now I was determined to beat this girl, Aurelia, and show my own worth. My mother had once been Spider of the mountains and I would be the Mercenary. Much more straight-forward.

I spend the afternoon scouring across Molodian, sniffing out loners only to dismiss them, until I traipse through Enocra and catch the scent of a young male. Using all the skill I could muster I sneak beneath the canopy, nose twitching and white eyes staring forward intensely. I see him move, then, his browns and creams half way blending into the underbelly of the forest, but not enough. He seems healthy and of reasonable weight and height to be a decent hunter. Whatever he is doing, I don't know, and I don't care. I don't take the time to decide - to me, a fit body that has managed this long alone deserves some recognition.

With a deep growl I bolt forward, tail straight behind me, and I race at his hips, intending to bite down and send him in a run. If he doesn't turn around and fight back. Then we would have an issue because I wasn't going to back down. If he runs then I will begin the corralling and hedging to pressure his direction towards Spirane, no questions asked, no words uttered. Easy peasy.