It was around two am when Orion heard it from across the field. Looking up from the dehorning tool he was oiling he heard the tell-tell sounds of their caribou in distress. Putting the tool back Orion felt himself growling. Of course they would strike when he was alone. Not wanting to risk anymore lives being lost tonight he set off to handle the problem.

  The dim lights from the porch light weren’t able to penetrate far enough to see more than a few feet. That was fine though. Sight was nice but hearing was what Wendigo were known for. At a cool seven feet two inches he was standard sized for his species. Proud he was almost a foot taller than his older sister. Slipping into the dark he stalked through the grazing fields careful not to spook any of the residence there.

  His coal black skin made him disappear into the night. If there was too much light his bone white Caribou skull would give him away. The commotion had tapered off and he could hear the wolves feasting on their ill gotten meal.

  Orion hated wolves on a good day. When they poached his bread and butter, well, his claws saw to them. More than once he thought about trimming them but the hunter inside him protested that idea. He was some helpless Dyraid! He was able to protect what was his with his own two claws thank you very much!

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  One of the wolves skipped closer to Orion completely unaware of the danger it was in. With a well-placed swipe the wolves went limp on the ground. It was dangerous for him to take on even this smaller pack on his own. He was tall and stealthy but if the wolves were to discover him they could swarm him on all sides.

  ‘Yrsa should be here.’ He thought bitterly as he waited for another one of the wolves to get too far from the rest. He loved his sitter but he hated how she took nothing serious.it was like she didn’t care about anything. Orion always had some sort of interesting going on even on top of his love of the ranch. He loved the constant of life here on the ranch.

                  Spring. Summer. Autumn. Winter.

  A beautiful wheel of things to look forward to. Unlike his sister was the reason he was alone tonight. If their father hadn’t packed up to go get her from the middle of literally nowhere the three of them could’ve made short work of these intruders no problem. But no. Constancy wasn’t good enough for her. Soon the four wolves were dead, and Orion was truly alone again. Grabbing two tails in each hand he dragged the carcasses away to skin them in the barn. He was sure someone would purchase them off him at the Litha Festival. Soon his father would be home with his wayward sister in tow. But for now he would have to change out of his blood stained jeans and shirt. Light blue plaid and blood looked terrible together.