Iode's blood had not yet sunken into the ground when Alpha Lykos called a pack meeting. The summoning howl that she uttered rang strong over the packlands, and Kimmik paused from where she had lain, grooming the salty, metallic liquid from her fur. Her eyes drifted over the wolves that lay on the ground around her, settling on the Death's dark form. The she wolf's bat-like wings were folded nearly over her back. Kimmik had never before noticed how beautiful they were, delicate veins travelled just blow the skin, and thin bones stretched out to their tips. Death too was quite pretty, she observed, beautiful even. Her red eyes were bright against the dark of her fur, and Kimmik had observed that she was a good fighter.

A second howl echoed over the feel, and Kimmik jolted out of her reverie to notice that the rest of the wolves were watching her with a wariness generally reserved for rabbits as they gazed after a hungry fox. Kimmik snapped her jaws shut, realizing that she had been staring at Death for an uncomfortable amount of time. A low growl rumbled up from her chest, and the wolves surrounding her looked away quickly. Death shot Kimmik a questioning glance, having seemingly missed the Gamma's attentions. She glanced away, her eyes hard. There would be no room for distractions, and she had no time for Death.

***

Kimmik stood before the crowd, the wind ruffling her fur uncomfortably. She had removed her armour for the event, however she had refused to lift the helmet from her head as Lykos had wanted. When the Alpha had made the request, the whispers had immediately erupted into a a frenzy of hostile hissing. She wishes to steal us from you, one had said. She wants you weak so that you will be more easily killed.

We make her nervous. Your power is greater than her own.

Your willingness to kill scares her. She is weak, unfit to rule. She wished for you to be equally useless.

Kimmik's eyes had narrowed as she studied Lykos. I will not allow her to order me as she pleases.

Kimmik remembered the strange twinge of regret that she had felt as Lykos looked away from her, disappointment clear in her eyes. The memory was swept out of her mind as a third round of howling opened the meeting.

"You have all been called to witness the appointment of our new Beta. Iode was a traitor, and has now been killed." Lykos's voice was loud and strong, commanding. She stood tall and proud as uneasy mutters filled the air. Kimmik glanced over at Scout Garwen, an ambassador from the White Shadow Pack. He had always made her nervous. No larger than a pup and with bright blue fur, Garwen's wisdom was as unnatural as his appearance. He was fully grown, yet still spoke with the voice of a child. His presence made Kimmik's fur prick. The ambassador had a thoughtful air about him; he was likely thinking of what he would report to Alpha Eden. Kimmik had objected greatly to his attending the meeting, however Lykos had batted her concerns aside. "Ambassadors have always attended our meetings before," she had said, and his seat had been secured. Still Kimmik watched him, sure he was pinpointing a weakness of the pack. If she was to rule, she did not wish for some White Shadow Pack Scout giving away her pack's secrets.

Lykos's voice sounded again, as clear as when she had first spoken. "Gamma Kimmik has lived with us for moons now, and has proven her worth as a member of this pack. She has taught us moves of combat and lent wonderful support to me. For these reasons, Kimmik of the Kingdom of Íglisia will be our new Beta." The whispers exploded into noise, painting an image in her mind of herself standing where Lykos now was, speaking to a pack, no, a clan of warriors before her. Lykos's torn body lay on the ground at her paws, and her eyes gleamed as the frightened warriors cowered before her.

The strength of the vision threatened to overwhelm her; Kimmkk could taste the sticky blood in her mouth, and feel it on her fur. Blinking rapidly, she fight to banish the images and sensations from her mind. Walking forward like a wolf in a dream, Kimmik bowed low before Lykos, suppressing a shiver of distaste at the motion. She rose, turning to face the assembled wolves. "I am honoured to take this post, and will do my best to serve you as your Beta." Kimmik's tone was dominant, her head and tail held high. "Do not hesitate to approach me if there is something you would like to change, or an issue I should know about."

The first should be the leadership of this pack, one of the voices snorted derisively. Nothing can change until the leadership does.

Kimmik flicked an ear, listening to its words as Lykos stepped forward once more. "As Beta Kimmik has been promoted, it is now time for us to appoint a new Gamma. Warrior Death has been a fine fighter, using her intelligence and strength to ferret out evil within the pack. It was she that found Iode's corruption, and I have decided to reward her by granting her the position of Gamma."

Cheers and howls filled the room as Death stepped forwards, a dazed look in her eyes. She shook herself, and then seemed to turn to face Kimmik, her eyes locking onto Kimmik's face. She spoke steadily, and Kimmik found herself unable to look away. "I thank you for this promotion, and I promise to do my best in order to support the pack." She pulled her gaze off of Kimmik and leaped back into the crowd, her black fur shining. Lykos dismissed the meeting, and Ambassador Garwen immediately approached Death, seeming to congratulate her new position. The tiny wolf leaped onto her head, balancing there perfectly as Death laughed.

Turning, Kimmik stalked back to her den. Her mouth felt dry, as though she had returned to the cold, dry air of Íglisia. She could not move her mind away from the dark she-wolf, her image imprinted permanently in Kimmik's mind.

You must forget her, the whispered called. Their voices has been heard more and more often now, choosing to interact with Kimmik almost all the time. You will kill her, see her bleed. You want to taste her flesh, do you not?

Yes, Kimmik growled, I do. If the words were true, why did she feel as though she was lying when she said them?

If you wish to be Alpha, Lykos's supporters must go. Death is a strong follower of the Alpha, you must separate them.

Kimmik's heart seemed to stop. She froze, her blood turning into ice. What must I do? she asked hesitantly. Fear pulled at her, threatening to drown her in its waves. She was terrified of the answer, afraid of what the voices would tell her to do.

You know what you must do, they taunted.

I do not.

Beta Kimmik, you are weak. The sound of their laughter filled her mind, sharp shards of ice digging into the base of her skull, tunneling through her mind. You must find Gamma Death, and you must kill her.

Heavy chapter, hoping things will pick up now. I've left this for far too long, it's tons of fun to write. Again, I hope I did the characters of GarwenTheBlueWolf  WolfLover1670  and AlphaKasumiRose  correctly. Let me know!