Fenrir appeared from around one the cabin tents as the crowd reached the circle. There could be no doubt it was Fenrir. He and his brother shared too many features and he bore the stance of man who would claim to be Wolf King. He gazed at the crowd.

"Been a challenge," someone said to him. "Over a campsite. Leidulf versus Fleischer."

Fenrir looked at the speaker for a moment and then shrugged. "Should be interesting. Carry on." He had an oversized wooden seat, practically a throne, set up and he took it.

Both Soldier and the Fleischer wolf had ditched their packs and the Fleischer wolf now pulled his denim jacket off as well, flexing his muscles for the crowd. Soldier watched him, impassive.

The crowd hooted at the Fleischer man, calling out to him. He made a great show of flexing, stretching out and then began a series of martial arts movements, jumping and kicking.

Connor was impressed, he had to admit. The man was athletic and skilled. He leaped in the air, throwing kicks in a wide circle. He cartwheeled around the circle like a stuntman or kung fu monk.

Soldier stepped into the circle, his hands low in front of him. He stood there, breathing deeply, his eyes concentrating. With each breath his body tightened like a spring and his eyes grew fiercer.

Arthur, standing next to Connor, pulled a cigarette out and lit it. The entire crowd was shouting, whipping itself into a fervor over the upcoming challenge. The tension was palpable. And yet Arthur seemed perfectly calm as he watched the Fleischer go through his acrobatics. Soldier stood and breathed.

The Fleischer faced off against Soldier. He gestured Soldier forward, dropping into a deep defense stance.

Soldier ignored the gesture, breathing deeply and staring intently.

The Fleischer did another series of moves, sending the crowd wild. Soldier waited, stared and did nothing.

With a wild yell the man sprang into action, launching himself forward with a series of strikes. He slammed straight into Soldier's fist. There was a bone cracking snap as Soldier's fist caught him upside the head. The man went down and didn't stir.

The crowd froze. There was silence.

"Good job, Soldier," Arthur said into the silence. "Let's set up our camp. Be dark soon." He dropped his cigarette, ground it out with his heel and turned and calmly walked off.

The man on the ground groaned and a couple of people went forward to help him up and inspect his injury. Soldier did a short bow and hurried after Arthur.

"Wow," Tanner said at Connor's side.

The crowd was breaking up, going back to their campsites.