Durhza stalked toward the Moonsong camp. "Those worthless, brainless mongrels! Why did Dyrm give me a bunch of juveniles to take on patrol?" he growled under his breath. That morning he had been assigned three juveniles to take out and warn off a small group of rogues that had been running around near the borders of the forest. Five rogues, mostly scrappy, barely a threat, but it had been Durhza's job to make sure they didn't get any closer to the pack's camp. A simple task, or so it would seem.
The half-wits that Durhza had been assigned were young and headstrong. The task had seemed just as easy to them as it had seemed to Durhza, so they had taken it lightly, like a joke. In their confidence they had let one of the rogues slip past them, deeper into the territory. Durhza's eyes narrowed as he thought of it, a growl rising in his throat. Who knew what trouble that mangy scrap of fur stirring up at that very moment...
Durhza stopped mid-step, ears perked up. A rustle in the bushes.. Whether prey or intruder, it didn't matter: Durhza was in a foul enough mood to pick a fight and almost hungry enough to eat a whole deer.
He stalked forward, carefully measuring his pawsteps to be quiet and light. In one quick burst of speed, he leaped through the cover of the bushes, the thorny branches tearing at his thick black-and-white pelt. But instead of landing on a rabbit, he had pounced on the mangy rogue who had slipped past his group earlier. A growl rose in Durhza's throat as he saw it, but was cut off as he actually looked at it. Its fur was a dull, scruffy brown. It was thinner than a rabbit in the cold seasons: its ribs peeked through its stretched pelt, and its thin face looked unhealty at best. The only strange thing was its eyes: they were a rich, full brown color, bright and keen. The wolf grinned, eyes narrowing. Its breath puffed in Durhza's face: it was foul, smelling of rotting meat.
A look of disgust crept over Durhza's face. He stepped back, allowing the other wolf to get up, and carefully wiped his paws on the grass.

As the rogue steadied himself, Durhza growled, "You do not belong here."
The wolf grinned again. "Oh really?" he asked. "And I assume that this is your territory, for you to be telling me this?"
Durhza's eyes narrowed, his glare cold as ice. "It is my pack's territory, yes. And you should leave before I shred you for trespassing."
Ah, your pack!" the wolf exclaimed, completely ignoring Durhza's threat. "As in your pack? You are the alpha, yes?"
Durhza snarled, "No, I am beta male of my pack, which should make you just as nervous as you would be if I were the alpha."
Oh, such a pity," the rogue crooned, his eyes narrowing. "Such a powerful wolf, not in power," he taunted.
Watch your tounge, filthy rogue," Durhza snarled. He wants a fight.. Durhza thought. Well then, I'll just have to give him one..
The wolf backed away from Durhza, wheezing laughter. "All right, all right! I get it! I don't want a fight! Even I know not to test the limits of such a specimen as yourself." A viscious grin spread across his face.
Durhza's ears twitched forward, but his glare lost no coldness. "Good then." Fighting the almost overpowering urge to destroy the mouthy wolf where he stood, Durhza growled, "Then you should be leaving this territory, before I decide you need some help doing so."
The wolf turned, then looked back at Durhza, the viscious grin still on his face. "Oh yes, and I thought you should know: My name is Rhanan. You'll be wanting to know that name, soon. Well then, I'll be seeing you." Then he turned and trotted away, towards the closest border.
Durhza glared after him. "You better hope we don't meet again," he growled under his breath. Then he turned and stalked back towards the Moonsong camp.

Later, when he had calmed down a bit, Durhza couldn't help but think about that rogue, Rhanan. The other rogues they had chased off had seemed a bit fearful, and almost amazed at the strength and healthiness of the pack wolves. They had at least been a bit respectful! Rhanan, on the other hand, had been sarcastic, spiteful. He hadn't seemed a bit worried that Durhza was about twice his size and at least three times as healthy. He had even laughed at Durhza!
What a strange wolf... Durhza thought, then put Rhanan out of his mind. He was gone now, nothing more to worry about.
Wait... Was he worried?

A week later, Durhza went out on a midnight hunt to clear his mind. The day had been rough: a pair of juveniles had picked a fight with im in the middle of camp. Of course, he had sent them running back to their dens quick enough, but it was still embarassing to know the lowly wolves had challenged his authority.
He stalked down a well-known path, ears pricked for any rustles in the bushes. The night was clear, calm. Perfect for a hunt under the light of the moon.
Durhza closed his eyes, breathing deeply. The sharp, cool air stung his lungs pleasantly. The night seemed calm, quiet, but at the same time everything but peaceful. The quiet chirping of a cricket turned into a full orchestra of chirps and cricks as Durhza listened closely; the slight rustle of the leaves in the wind became an overpowering sea of noise, threatening to sweep him away.
One ear twisted backward, and suddenly Durhza heard quiet, almost silent pawsteps coming his way. Before he could turn, he heard a deep, quiet voice ring out: "Hello again Durhza."
Durhza opened his eyes. The darkness of the night faded in the pale glow of the moon as he turned slowly. He tried to puzzle out who this could be, without even seeing whoever it was, but the voice was completely unfamiliar to him. So he turned, and saw a strange wolf grinning at him with narrowed eyes.

The wolf's coat was a dark, rich brown color, with just a hint of red running through it. He wore a cord around his front leg, decorated with decorated with dangling bones, feathers, and beads. He had two large feathers affixed behind his left ear, one dark red and the other a darkest of grey. His back left leg was covered with hundreds of indecipherable characters, and the same kind of strange text bordered both of his eyes.
Who are you?" Durhza growled, but cautiously. This wolf was large, his muscles rippling through his thick, shiny pelt. He was larger than Durhza, and very obvoiusly stronger.
Oh Durhza," the wolf teased, taking a step closer to him. "You know me. Sure, when we last met I looked a bit different," the wolf flashed a toothy grin, "But I'm still the same. And I know you know that." His voice was dark, layered with secrets untold, yet light and carefree as if he was chatting with an old friend.
I've never met you before," Durhza said warily, backing up a step. Was it possible this wolf was crazy? Durhza thought he would remember someone like this...
Really...?" The wolf's eyes narrowed, his smile relaxing into that of one who knows beyond doubt he is right, yet he still waits for another to realize it as well. Durhza's eyes searched his face, seeking some clue to who this wolf could be, to where he could have met him...
A slight glimmer of light on the wolf's eyes. His eyes... Durhza thought. They were the same, the same rich color of melted chocolate. The same color of eyes of that rogue, whom he had chased away only a week before. That rogue... "Rhanan...?" The name escaped Durhza's lips unbidden, nothing but a whisper on the wind.
But the other wolf heard him, and his smile widened. "Good." He looked overly content, like a cat ready to purr.
Durhza was shocked, confused, doubtful. "But.."
Oh, yes," Rhanan said, the teasing tone back in his voice. "It is me. That pitiful rogue you chased away from your territory. But it's not possible, you say! By your terms it may not be. But your terms are not the same as mine..." Rhanan looked pleased with himself. "What would you believe? Trickery? Demonic powers? Magic?" He chuckled to himself. "Well, magic would be what you would call it, if I am not mistaken. A glamour in my words. Nothing but a simple illusion." He looked at Durhza closely, a somewhat haughty look on his face. "I am a sorcerer, a shaman of the dark arts." A sharp, fierce look entered his eyes, but not a touch of it reached his bemused smile.
Durhza shifted nervously in place. He had heard tales of such wolves, banned from their packs and families for the practition of the darkest of arts. They were dangerous, unmerciful, ungracious. They had no regard for the life of another, and were often driven insane by their doings...
You need not worry though. I will not harm you Durhza." Rhanan grinned fiercely, and the sight seemed somewhat terrifying. Durhza took several more steps back.
Why are you here, playing tricks with my mind? Why not leave me be?" Despite himself, Durhza was somewhat curious about this strange wolf.
Why not? My trickery was harmless. Just a little mind game. Nothing to worry about." Durzha's look hardened a bit. "Ah, you mean in the long run." Rhanan grinned again. "Durhza, you must believe that I only with to help you. Why look, you haven't even let me get to my point yet!"
Durhza's glare was cold as ice. "Then do so."
Rhanan shook his head. "Tsk, tsk. Hurrying me along like this. You should have more respect for your elders." The grin grew sly. "Power. Simply power Durhza. I can see it in you, see that you are destined for it. You yearn for it, I can see that too. It is there, teasing you, just out of your reach. I, however, can tap into it. I can bring it in your reach, release it into you. Let you harness it."
Durhza felt a battle whip up inside of him. A part of him was instantly tempted, wanted that power promised. Another was frightened, of what it would do to him, of what it would do to his pack. He backed away from Rhanan, the wolf who seemed to see into his soul. "Don't let me find you again, stranger. Next time we meet I swear I will destroy you, 'glamour' or no," Durhza snarled, then turned and ran away from that place as fast as he possibly could.
He heard Rhanan call from behind him, "Don't kid yourself Durhza! You know you'll be back. We will meet again."

Durhza paced bakc and forth in the limited confines of his den. It was morning now, and light spilled through the entrance, but Durhza didn't feel any safer than he had earlier that night, standing alone in the dark forest before Rhanan. Something about the wolf had troubled him, made him feel small and insignificant, like a small pup standing before an adult bear. But something else inside of him reveled at the memory of their meeting. Something that had awakened that night, that now felt alive and restless. That part of him thirsted for that power Rhanan had promised, no matter what the consequences. It whispered in his ear: what he could do, what he could achieve, what he could be.
All Durhza wanted it to do was be quiet, stop! But it wouldn't go away, and Durhza knew that. He almost wanted to break down: he felt like he was being torn apart from the inside out. But he had to stay strong, if not for himself then for his pack.
Durhza stopped pacing, his thoughts grinding to a sudden halt. His pack? Of course the pack was equally every wolf's, but he was almost thinking of it as his own, as if he were the alpha and not Dyrm. But he didn't want to be alpha: he was happy here, as beta. He was happy being a member of the pack, and felt no need to be alpha, to grow in power.
Tsk, tsk. Don't kid yourself. That little part of him, the part that wanted the power. The corrupt.
Durhza shook his head, trying to silence it, but all he heard was a tiny burst of laughter. He leaped out of his den, out into the glowing light of the day, trying to seem calm. He spotted Dyrm, the pack's alpha male, across the glen that made up the pack camp. Durhza made his was toward him, focusing his will to silencing his thoughts and calming down. To his great surprise, they all quieted by the time he approached Dyrm.
Hello Durhza," Dyrm smiled kindly. The two were brothers, best of friends and always in good humor with one another. They never seemed to fight, and the pack seemed to look up to each for that.
I'm going out for a hunt."
Dyrm looked somewhat amused. "And why do I need to know...?"
Durhza almost felt offended, then realized Dyrm was just poking fun. He smiled back. "Oh, no reason. Just thought you might be interested in the deer tracks I spotted near the northern borders yesterday."
Dyrm looked mildly interested. "Really? How many do you think?"
Looked like two sets of tracks. Smelled like only two, though it's never that easy to tell. Must've got lost."