South Hunting Ground

Suddenly, laughter floated towards her, and Whim delicately stepped out of a leafy green frond. "Thinking about Africa?"

"That ain't your concern" Tynoka growled, accidently putting her foot through the puddle, distorting her reflection.

"Oh, but it is. What gave you the notion that you had to kill her, and why couldn't you rebel?"

Whim continued: "I want to know all about these 'prophecies'."

"all I'll say, is it felt like...I don't know!" Tynoka snapped, flicking her tail aggressively.

"Tell me." It only took two words.

"It felt like I was being pulling into it. There was pain, too much, and the only way to revive the pain was to complete the prophecy, and die!" Tynoka shouted out, "But I camne back, and she didn't!"

Her eyes cold, Whim told her: "You mean you were weak? Africa might have still been alive if it weren't for you!"

Tynoka hung her head in shame.
"But you wanted her place" She said in a tiny voice.

Whim flicked her tail dismissively. "You think I'm not loyal to my clan?" Her voice was dangerously sharp.

"You wanted to be Alphess" Tynoka dared.

Whim snarled. "The Clan always comes first, before personal ambitions, you miserable excuse of a wolf!"

"The pain.. it comes in waves. Washing over you, again and again, never ending like the oceans of yonder. They will keep washing, keep bringing more and more, until the day Africa walks the land once more."

"You wanted to get rid of us both, didn't you?" Tynoka hissed, then more quietly, "You don't even know what my power is"

"Both of you? I certainly wanted you gone. Certainly not Africa." Her voice broke. "Your power? Tell me what it is."

"Editing chemical pattens to change one natural element into another" Tynoka's responce came quickly, "Of course, that was your little plan, to rid of me, and I'd rid Africa for you, because you didn't want to rid her yourself"

"Oh, is that all?" Whim sounded disappointed. "I never intended for Africa to die. She was.. how do you put it? She was useful."

"You can hardly judge. What to you think you are, superior?" Tynoka turned on Whim like vemon.

Observing calmly, "I can easily turn off your power. All I need to do is tell the chemical structures to stay the way they are. Poof! No more changing."

"Geez, you do think your better than everyone else" Tynoka muttered.

"The question is; am I better than everybody else?" Turning on her heel, Whim paused to leave.

"Bugger off" Tynoka whispered.

"And you too, 'bugger off'." Tynoka shot away from Whim and landed hard.

Tynoka groaned, shooting Whim as nasty look before wandering off.

Whim snorted once, then settled on the hard ground. A war is brewing, she mused. Which side had the better bet of winning?

Tynoka realised instantly she had headed back into Starcliff territory, and went to turn around. But the smell of elk hit the roof of her mouth, and her stomach rumbled. Catching sight of a small calf, Tynoka crouched down, and waited.