Fierce green eyes glared up at a larger pair of them as Balin stood protectively between his brother and his father. Behind him, his golden furred brother withered and whimpered in pain, his face a bloody mess. “You s-stay away from him!” Balin tried to snarl, though it came out much more timid than he would have liked. “I mean it! I’ll… I’ll kill you!” He barked up at his father who merely let out a cruel chuckle.

“You? Kill me? I think you forget who you’re speaking to. Now get out of the way, you pathetic piece of table scraps before I make you dessert.” The sleek black wolf snarled down at his son before, with a simple sweep of his paw, sent the silver pup tumbling head over heels. He advanced, his lips pulled back in a snarl of anticipation. Now that their wretched mother was away, he could finally be rid of his golden disgrace.

Heret cried out in pure fear as he felt Balin’s touch disappear from him. The young male hurt so much that it was a wonder he was even still conscious. He couldn’t see anything. His father’s first blow had destroyed the pup’s eyes and now his entire face was covered with the blood from the resulting gash. It was all he could smell, all he could taste. Unfortunately, he could still hear and as his father gave a wicked chuckle and took a step forward, Heret was ready to pass out in fright.

The golden pup’s death was not meant to be though. Loopy had been out on a wander when his sharp ears had picked up the commotion. He took barely enough time to analyze the situation and figure out what was going on before he was barreling out into the clearing. The normally friendly wolf was suddenly the picture from a child’s nightmare as he stood protectively over the bleeding child. His fur was bristled and his lips curled back as he snarled up at the black male. “Get away from him.” Loopy growled menacingly.

The black varg was caught by surprise at the entrance of this new male, but it soon wore off and he snarled right back. “Make me.” Without giving Loopy time to do anything, he launched himself at the brown wolf. His sharp canines tore into brown fur and cut the flesh underneath but Loopy was quick to respond. Loopy twisted, snapping at the stranger wolf’s throat. He clawed at the black wolf’s underside while the other pinned him below.

They tore at each other, clawing and fighting. Although the black male was bigger, Loopy was quicker. After a few minutes, Loopy managed to shove the other off of him and dance back a few feet, snarling lowly. They both had several injuries, though neither had received an injury yet that was major. Loopy’s ears lay flat against his head as he again darted forward, this time sinking his fangs into the other’s face and biting down hard. The black male yowled in pain and clawed at Loopy’s tender throat and chest, but he couldn’t get himself free. Loopy snarled, too caught up in the rush of the fight to be too bothered by the stings of the claw to his chest. Instead, he just bit down harder until his teeth scrapped bone.

The black male’s posture had changed now. His tail was tucked between his legs and Loopy was the one on the offense. After a few minutes of letting the male squirm, Loopy finally released him, tail held high. “Now get. Come back and I won’t let go.” Loopy rumbled fiercely. The pups’ father glared, but took off into the brush.
Loopy gave a deep sigh before he turned to check on the injured pup. The golden pup was in bad shape, but Loopy was certain that together he and Rag would be able to save him. “Hey there, squirt. Calm down. I’ll take care of you.” The brown and white varg whispered soothingly before he gently picked the pup up by the scruff of his neck. That was when he felt small but sharp teeth close around his back ankle. “Hey now!” Loopy mumbled around the scruff of fur in his neck. He looked back, blinking at the sight of the silver pup chewing on his leg. Gently, Loopy shook him off before nodding for him to follow. “Come on, I’ll take care of you two now. I’m not going to hurt him.” Loopy added, sighing in relief as that seemed to calm the protective pup.

Convince that they were now safe, Loopy turned , Heret held carefully in his mouth and Balin at his heels, and headed home as fast as he could.