The wolves were hard at work. We weren't made for menial tasks, we were made for: stalking, hunting and killing. Cleaning has no part in our blood. . . but we would have to adapt to that. My orders were to clear the halls of rocks, and anything else that would be in the way. Together we all worked, and together we made this place more like home. The main halls were cleared of rocks, all the old tapestries were taken down so they could be safely put away.

When most the work seemed done I sat in the entrance hall with Ike, taking in the grandeur.

'I never lived in a fake cave before.' Ike commented.

'It's strangely more comfortable than any real cave I've slept in.' I assured him.

'Hmm, well wait and see.' He told me.

He did seem a little annoyed at it, but he would have to put up with it.

'Chief!' a wolf came running up to us, 'we cleared the last of it, but we left the spots you wanted alone.'

I already hate being called that. . .

'Thanks, gather the others in the den.' I ordered.

'Yes Chief.' He said before he bolted off down the hall.

'What now?' Ike asked.

'I set the ground rules, and guidelines. . . and I talk with our kin.' I answered.

'Then let us go, Chief.' Ike said, walking ahead of me.

I still don't like it. . .

'Right behind you.' I said as I followed his lead.

The doors to the throne room were held open by piles of stones. The throne room beyond was cleared of all the fallen stones, the tapestries that hung overhead remained but all the furniture was piled in the center of the room along with stones that fell from place. The wolves were gathered around it, around thirty of us all together, excluding the young blood. I climbed the pile and sat at the top. I took a breath and let out a howl, the pack then joined me.

'Alright. . . this is a New World, we have to adapt! Our lives for so long were lost in the hunt and violence, we lost our honour and our titles. . . but we are here, and here we start again!' I began, 'But, we are not alone anymore; the ponies are our allies and in accordance with out allies rules have to be set. Our code must change!'

'Change how?!' somewolf in the crowd piped up.

'Hunting, is now restricted until I say so-!' I answered, but there was an uproar from the crowd.

'How long will that be?!' another spoke up.

'Depends, the ponies do not eat the creatures of the forest but rather respect them, we will hunt again in time I promise.' I told them.

'What else?!' somewolf asked.

'Our customs will change, we will no longer gather trophies as we once did,' I told them, some of them grew louder, 'Lastly. . . The Pairing Festival, its is coming up and we will go through with it, but as I said, the ceremonial hunts may not go on-'

There was another uproar.

'BUT THE FESTIVAL WILL GO ON! It will be the first held in these lands and It will commence. . . anyone who seeks to challenge me with with what I command, step forward!' There uproar went silent, no one stepped forward, 'Good, we have a reserve of food we will share until another hunt is allowed or the ponies give us more. That is all!'

All the wolves began to go their separate ways, some stayed to talk and some. . . took one last glance at me, something dark and malicious hidden in their eyes. If they wanted me to lead, they wanted to hate me.

'Chief!?' I looked down to see Koma was climbing the pile to meet me.

'Koma, any news on Loka?' I asked.

'Nothing, she may be gone for another day yet.' He explained, 'Anything you need us to do?'

'. . . Can you portion the food?' I asked.

'What does portion mean?' he asked.

'. . . Nevermind, just go have a break.' I told him.

And when he left I took one last look at the wolves around me.

It will be a long night. . .

Things were settling down for the night. All of us gathered in the den and chose a place to sleep. Unlike in the snow of the mountains we don't have to huddle for warmth, thus we all slept alone in our own places. I decided to sleep at the bottom of the pile and Ike joined me. We were all supposed to sleep, and yet all our eyes were on each other, trying to drift off, but none of us could.

'This night grows long. . . and boring. . .' Ike told me.

'Yeah. . . it is.' I agreed, sighing.

'. . . Remember what father did when we settled to a new place?' Ike asked.

'Yes, I remember. . .' I looked at Ike, his stare told me what he wanted, 'I'm not going to sing.'

'Please? You always did it with dad-.'

'Because sister wouldn't.' I reminded him.

'. . . I thought it was because you sounded better.' He mused, I stared at him and laughed a little.

'. . . Maybe. . .' I said, thinking about it, 'How do you think sister is?'

'. . . I try not to think about it. . .' he said, it was clear he didn't want to talk about it.

'. . . Alright. . .' I sat up, 'Feel the cold. . . feel the cold. . . feel the winter, feel it come, remember. . . were all old. . . old and cold. . . were here again out of the cold. . .'

I didn't notice it at first, but all the wolves seemed to perk up to listen in.

'Anymore songs Chief?' somewolf asked.

'. . . I know pony song I like, would ya like to hear that?' I asked, and a few wolves nodded and yelped in agreement.

Ponies had weird songs, but they were good and needed music. I started rubbing my paws over the stones, getting a strange rhythm. I sang to them a strange song I heard, and when I was done I looked to see wolves with smiles and wagging tails.

'Guess you did have the better voice.' Ike mused.

But I wasn't laughing, I was more stunned than anything else.

'Still all quiet Chief, I put up a few wolves to watch for anyone who approaches.' Nara assured me.

I asked her if she'd seen her, but still nothing.

'CHIEF!' Koma came running at us, 'Some wolves got a stranger, in the den!'

He raced off and we followed him. He lead us to the main entrance, where many wolves were gathered around someone.

'Make way!' I ordered, moving through the crowd, 'back up!'

I broke through the crowd to see a cowering Fluttershy, hiding behind her hooves.

'I told you. . . ponies ARE FRIENDS!' I howled at them.

'S-sorry chief, she was. . . I kinda panicked. . .' a wolf spoke up.

'No, SHE'S panicking!' I told him, but as I looked at him I could see a tuft of pink fur in the corner of his mouth, 'What is that?'

I asked, and he just sucked the hair in his mouth.

'. . . Alright, clear out and leave her be. . . NOW!' and the crowd broke up.

'. . . Runt. . .' Fluttershy mumbled, I leaned in and nudged her.

'They're gone now. I'm sorry, they are. . . still rough, are you alright?' I asked, she sprang up and hugged me.

'I'm fine, they didn't hurt me.' She assured me.

'What happened to your hair then?' I asked.

'It got caught on a branch. They were gentle. . . but they did scare me. . . a little. . .' she explained.

'Okay. . . I'll deal with that, what are you doing here?' I asked, finally getting free of her.

'. . . I know its nature, and your supposed to hunt. . . but. . . somepony's been hurt, he said. . . I don't want to believe it, b-but-' she tried to explain.

'A wolf attacked?' I asked.

'I. . . know you're trying to make friends with everyone, b-but ponies are getting scared. . .' she explained, I could tell she was trying her best not to cry.

Its taking her so much will to stay strong like this, I have the feeling the only reason she came was because she's a friend to animals. . . and yet we are not animals. . . we are monsters.

'Fluttershy, what colour fur did they have? Other wolves may come down, and they may be dangerous. What colour was the fur on his head?' I asked, but before she could answer a wolf ran up to us.

'Chief, another watcher came in, he saw Loka and other wolves approaching!' he told me.

'. . . EVERYONE TO THE MAIN HALL!' I ordered, leading Fluttershy further inside, 'Hide here.'

'What's happening?' she asked.

'I'll explain it later, just stay here.' I raced back to the door to the den.

All of the wolves came inside, and all of them took place behind me to face what was coming. The corridor ahead was dark, but there was movement coming down it. First Loka came limping out, she was hurt but following her was the old wolf himself, with a tuft of orange hair on his head. He had the look of experience, his coat was grey and there were patches of scars running through it. The wolves following him were similar, but they looked younger. . . young blood.

'Welcome Kyre. I am-'

'Son of the Wolf Mother, I heard. . .' he explained, pushing Loka, 'Your mother was. . . strange, she was so kind when younger. . . but that fire she grew. . . I liked that. . .'

'. . . Kyre, why are you here? Do you-' I asked.

'I Challenge you.' he said, almost immediately, 'That leaves when and where. The Fang miles, forty moons from now.'

'. . . Why so generous with time?' I asked.

'Your home is. . . nice, when I take it I would like to see it. . . properly prepared.' He said, as he turned to leave.

On his way out, he approached Loka and rushed her over. He started to stalk towards her as she tried to crawl away, but I jumped between them.

'BACK OFF!' I ordered, staring him down.

Teeth were bared. Anger roaring. Then in the middle of it. . . he was smiling.

'There it is. . . the fire. . . you impress me Runt. . .' he turned and walked away, 'very impressive. . .'

He left, then his kin. The den fell silent and all eyes fell on me.

'. . . Make sure they do not harm anyone, ensure they return over the mountains. . .' I ordered, but none of them showed sign of moving, 'NOW!'

They all scattered, following Kyre out, and I turned to see Fluttershy and Ike standing there.

'Kyre wanted to see you mad. . . why?' Ike asked.

'. . . He wants to see my fury. . . he will see It in full. . .' I answered, I turned and saw Loka still on the floor still.

I ran up to her and helped her up.

'Chi-!' she gasped out.

'Breath.' I told her, 'are you alright?'

'. . . I'll live. . .' she said, freeing herself from me, 'I'll help. . . get them over-!'

She was going to collapse, but I threw myself under her and carried her over to the others.

'Fluttershy. . . she needs help-.' I was about to ask her, but she beat me to it.

'I'll need to take her back to Ponyville.' She said.

'I'll carry her.' Ike offered.

'No, I'll take her-!'

'Brother. . . you need to stay if they return. . . the chief needs to maintain control. Be the alpha.' He told me, as he carefully slid beside me and took her weight off me.

'. . . Why does it seem you would make a better chief?' I asked.

'No better. . . I just know what power does.' He said, 'I'll be back as soon as I can.'

'And I'll take care of her.' Fluttershy promised.

'. . . Thank you. . . both of you.' I thanked, bowing my head before they left.

As they vanished, I was alone again, left to ponder in my. . . desolation.

It was quiet as the night set in. There was tension in the air, thick enough that a blade could pierce it. I felt as if all eyes were on me, waiting. . . waiting for me to falter, to fall. . . to give up. . . do they expect me to die. . .

'Whoever wishes to, speak!' I said aloud, calling out to anyone.

There was no movement or sound for a moment, but then a wolf stood and approached me.

'Speak, Sigma.' I told him.

'. . . Chief. . . you are a fool.' He told me.

'. . . And?' I asked, expecting more.

'You want to challenge one of the most ruthless of our kind. . . alone at a place of his choosing, at a time he decided. That makes you a fool.' He told me.

'Do you expect me to die?' I asked, and he nodded, '. . . then if I die. . . wont you do the honor of following a dead chiefs wishes?'

'. . . How can we honor that if we must honor our code?!' he yelled at me, 'We do not know what Kyre will do when he wins. . . what will happen to us. . . I. . . can't let that happen-!'

I stood up and stared at him.

'If you won't allow it. . . challenge me. . .' I told him, 'take control, lead us somewhere they wont find us, and let the ponies die.'

'. . . I'm no fool, with your magic id never-!' he tried to say, but I shook my head and flung off the neckless.

'I have no magic. . . I can't control it anyway. . . CHALLENGE ME!' I demanded, but he just bowed his head and backed away, '. . . fine, then all of you. . . ANY OF YOU!'

I started to call everyone out.

'THINK ME WEAK. . . THEN TAKE MY PLACE. . . ALL CHALLENGE ME. . . KILL ME. . . CAST MY NAME TO THE WIND AND BE DONE WITH IT!' I was calling them all out, but. . . none of them were moving, '. . . If you think me a fool than why bother make me chief?'

'Brother,' Ike called as he approached me from the darkness, 'why do you think they wanted you to lead.'

'They wanted you to lead, not because you won the challenge to your mother, because after everything you held onto our tradition.' Loka limped up beside him, 'You carried all of our honor when you were cast out, and you still held it when you returned. That is why they still chose you.'

'How are you feeling?' I asked her.

'I'll live.' She mused, I turned to sigma and the others, 'They wanted you because your strong, but I did because. . . I always knew you'd be strong.'

'. . . I follow the path as it unfolds, and I do not want. . . blood to be spilled. . . but if I die against Kyre. . . please defend the ponies. . . that breaks our code, but will you promise me that on my death at least?' I asked, afraid of the response I would get.

'. . . I'm with ya chief!' Koma piped up.

'So am I!' another wolf called, then another.

Before long they all called out, or barked, in agreement.

'I'm with you brother.' Ike said to me.

'Me too. Win or lose.' Loka told me.

Among all that acknowledged my call, Sigma stood silent before me.

'. . . Sigma?' I called, 'Should it come to it, only one should die. . . and that should be me. But I know Kyre will be ruthless if he wins. . .'

'. . . On your death. . . I will defend the ponies, chief.' He promised, and I bowed to them all.

'Then we will build our home, and we make it our fortress. . . and we will defend it. Now. . . go to sleep! I'm tired, and I want you all to stop staring at me.' I said, a few laughed before the crowd started to disperse.

'Well said brother.' Ike commented.

'Yeah, and chief.' Loka began, 'the. . . nice pony, said she wanted to have a tree party tomorrow, and she wanted to invite you.'

'It's said as just: Tea.' I told her.

'. . . Te. . . Tia. . . Tea. . . weird.' She said before she limped off.

'. . . She's as stubborn as ever.' Ike told me.

'Yeah. . . I can't help but admire that.' I told him.

'. . . So, you think you'll die?' Ike asked.

'You heard the stories. Kyre will kill me, and he wont stop there. . .'

'. . . Then why accept the challenge?'

'To distract him.'

The calm came and the judgmental feeling in the air faded. . . I was no longer being watched. We all picked our spots and started to drift asleep, eventually I drifted away as well. My dreams of late were pleasant: I was on the ice slopes over the mountains again, basking in the warmth of the rising sun through the cold winds. I was alone. . . and that was fine, for I could see the very world I wanted to protect before me. I felt. . . like how my father must have felt, looking out for what he cared for.