Her mind raced, but it still fell behind her paws. She left it back where the attack had occurred, watching the monster come at her again and again with fangs gleaming. The beast grinning at her, waiting for her to flinch before clutching her into his jaws, large clumsy paws had just gotten her away from his deadly teeth. The pain in her neck reminded her how close it had come, but the rest of her body had become numb as she fled the scene. Legs carried her until they grew so tired that it felt as if she ran on jelly filled stilts. The pain in her chest constricted her lungs making each breath laborious.

Jazper, the black-coated warrior had come to her rescue. Saving her from the crazed beast but she wasn’t sure if he was the victor of the battle or not. Had he survived? The question filled her mind, but still she couldn’t look back. Not for the briefest moment would she search for a sign he was alive. He would come for her, search and indubitably kill her. Instead she ran until the sight of the large manor filled her blurred and tear-stained view. Blood seeped from her small wounds, mixing with her dark coat. They would heal easily, but as she began to walk towards the house they were the least of her worries.

Her broad chest heaved, up and down, again and again. The air was too thick, suddenly becoming something that wouldn’t fit down her windpipe. Her lungs refused to accept it, and she was drowning among the melting snow just outside the white wooden fence that lined the yard. Painful breaths brought her just enough oxygen, but the sudden attack on the fragile organs within her ribcage was leaving little back dots in her view. Pulling and pushing the air in and out Mati found she couldn’t move a step closer. Standing as still as possible she fought the internal battle.

Her legs shook, threatening to buckle from under her. Again and again she tried to breathe, and each time her lungs were denied. The violet eyes girl's lips grew blue from the lack of oxygen, and her head became lighter and lighter. Black dots played in her vision, and she swayed as she stood. A sound filled her ears, muffled and distant. The notion of another being brought her further out of her fight and daze, focusing on it and letting it pull her mind away from her fighting. It was female, and for a moment she thought it was her sister's. Looking up Mati faced the strange girl who stared at her, and for the first time felt the rush of air enter her chest. It inflated her, and she only had to battle for the second briefly. Mati shook her head at the question, before lying down against the soft grass. The air was sweet, soothed her aching chest and savored. Beyond relieved, the girl could only take in each breath until her heart no longer pounded in her ears. There was a wolf. She gasped between each precious inhale. Is he following?

It hurt to arch her neck upwards, the pain of the bite wounds flowing down her back. She was able to feel it now that her breathing was manageable, and she almost wished to loose her breath again to keep the pain away. Sure she would live Mati didn't bother announcing the injury, knowing if the male was in pursuit was far more important information. She looked up to the other's face, watched as she shook her head after checking their surroundings. Lowering her head, the girl rested. The adrenaline dwindled in her system, leaving her exhausted and dazed.

What was her name? Mati remembered and figured it was best to give her own. Mati, her name spoken as she exhaled. it wasn't until she had the strength to rise and turn her head painfully behind her, check herself that no one followed did she remember the answer the question that been asked. I dono. the tired girl spoke honestly to the smaller coyote creature. Though if she could guess she was say that she would be fine, and recover. Just as long as he didn't follow. Suddenly confused by her presence Mati questioned her, Who are you again? She knew that she had given her name, but Mati still didn't understand who she was and why she was here.

Mati found that the less she thought about the pain, and the less she focused on her breathing the less she felt either of them. It was as if they didn’t even exist. She had no problem, if she ignored it. The large pup even found that she could sit up and face the other female if she worked hard enough at ignoring the pain in her neck and chest.

Several moments passed after she spoke, and Mati gathered all she had to recount the episode for Zana. A wolf attacked me, for no reason. Crossed our boarder and just bit my neck. Jazper came and saved me, and then I ran. the recount of the fight was as quick as the event itself. Mati took a big relieved breath, and continued with as little fear in her voice as she could muster. He had yellow eyes, but I can’t remember his face. She was just happy that he hadn’t followed, and if she hadn’t started putting the even into the dark locked part of her mind she would start to grow worried for her rescuer. But all she could do was try to forget.

Mati looked to the other young girl, finally looking at her fully. She smelled of Siobhan, and thus of Inferni. But she didn’t know of any rivalry that they coyotes had against wolves and vise versa. She was very ignorant to the ways of the world, but she was still so young. But Zana’s question had an obvious answer, No, of course not. She was a wolf, and not bad at all. Mati had always thought that she was pleasant, but it made her wonder why the male had attacked her. Was there something wrong with her?

Purple eyes looked to the girl, she knew how it felt? Mati had never known that you could be attacked so suddenly and for seemly no reason at all. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that wolf. He doesn’t live here. Mati assured her that, knowing that they were safe. Or at least she hoped they were. Jazper was around, Mati was certain and there was always Haven who would be here in an instant if she called for him.

Where were you when that happened? She questioned, wondering if she was trespassing but not wanting to accuse her of such a thing.

Mati didn't like having to defend her kind, yes they were some bad ones as she had just encountered but that couldn't be true. She knew so many great wolves. Her mothers were wonderful, never capable of doing such evil things that Zana explained. It wasn't just males either, because Ehno and Jazper were good too. Jaz had saved her, chasing the male off as it he had been a stray cat. Or at least she was sure he had done that. Some can be bad. She spoke with a stubborn tone, looking down to the wrapped tail Mati was unsure what to make of it. That meant she had a bad mother, not a bad wolf mother. If she had been coyote she would have still been a bad mother.

But I live with an entire pack, who are good wolves. What your saying is that I'm bad too. So suddenly Mati didn't like the little yote that found it polite to talk to her about such things after she had just been attacked. In her young mind she was growing territorial, feeling the need to claim that space as hers so that the other would leave her and her home. Preach about bad wolves to someone who wasn't a wolf.

She was growing tired and unhappy. Her neck hurt, and she wanted the comfort of her mothers. Mati wanted them to gather her up and hold her close. The pup was growing angry from the fatigue and her face wore a sullen look and her tone grew darker. I am too a wolf. She was standing now, with strength that she didn’t know she still had. Was she saying that Mati was something else? Her mothers were wolves, and thus she was. Mati was no part of her father, he had given her nothing.

Mati took a step closer, shadowing the other creature with her much larger form. They would except you. They love everyone. But as soon as you spoke to them, they would figure out you were no good. Mati had no issue with her looks, it was her words that were upsetting and made her angry. The big wolf stalked off, the pain in her neck growing as she moved. The Manor wasn’t too far of and she just wanted to be home, among the evil loving wolves that she called family.