It just might kill you,

Ara was growing, she wasn't the same small child — though still one, and still small. But she was bigger at least, enough where sometimes she had a moment of a walking of glowing pride that she was going to be a towering giant. In reality, taking after her mother and being about average in everything ; though her muscles being well-toned from the training that was given by her family and packmates.

But she still didn't speak, much. 

Trying her best, and always sadly with a guardian, the small daredevil was growing to do her own hunts. She couldn't very much, and yet mice and small birds were something she was relatively getting the hang of. She had learned a liking to the shadow-play the most, the sneaking within the background to grab the prey then the usual bold statement she was so prone to do. After being subjected to such tactic, Ara developed to take it as her own.

She was settled into a bush, patiently waiting for the birds to climb down from their branches. It was only a matter of time, as she sees a large mock of them hiding within the pine. Though many often would come to the ground to catch some seeds of fresh worms, she noted while watching in a boredness. To take advantage of so, she would slide into a bush.. And wait, till the time was right.

And she pounced! Seeing one finally rest to the ground, close enough, she was quick to jump out of the bush and — !

She caught it.

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The shade and shadows provided from the canopy above hid the wildcat well. Her tiny body was curled into a ball at the base of a tree, nestled between large roots that were exposed above ground. Quinn hadn't remembered falling asleep, but since it was an everyday occurrence, she wasn't alarmed. However, she could feel the cool dirt beneath her, and she knew it was unusual to sleep on the ground. It simply wasn't safe for a creature of her size. She could become prey to many others. She opened her eyes and lifted her head simultaneously to take in the area around her. She didn't move much, as she didn't want to draw attention to herself. Immediately, she realized she had no idea where she was. The scenery, the scents, everything was foreign to her. 

How had she ended up here? And on the ground, no less? The birds chirped away above her, and she realized they didn't seem alarmed. Which meant there was a good chance she was alone. At least for now. She needed to get to a more secluded spot, and then figure out where she was. 

Abrupt movement from her right had her entire body lifting off the ground, dirt flying into the air around her as her claws extended to help keep her balance, as well as ready herself for an attack. Her back arched, and her ears flattened as she faced the attacker, fully prepared to fight. Except, the young wolf wasn't going for her; it was going for a bird that had just landed on the ground. Still, Quinn growled and hissed her warning for the wolf to keep its distance. One front leg swiped quickly through the air; a warning. She really needed to get to higher ground, but she was only a few feet away from the other predator. Could she run up the tree fast enough to get to safety?
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Ara was surprised when one hissed at her, and she knew what it was.. Just never seen one. Though it wasn't a lynx or bobcat that she had been told of, but they looked more like a cat! She was all too fascinated to see something other then that of a wolf, and yet wasn't given the same as the other hissed in warning to stay away, and swiped at the air.

The daredevil wasn't fond of this challenge and her fur rose. Especially to the one who did this in Empyrean land! She knew by birthright that the entire mountain was claimed by their pack, and other creatures would be chased out alongside of strange wolves. She too would join that fray, yet so young all she could really do was learn and hunt, play the day away and gradually wait for the time of age. She raised her paw and reflected the same the other did, a claw within the air as she barked aggressively at the cat.

"This is Empyrean land!"

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The wolf turned its attention to her, swiped the air much as she did, and declared "This is Empyrean land!" If the wolf had been an adult, or been more sure of itself, Quinn might have ran, or defended herself, if needed. As it were, she could tell that experience was not on this wolf's side. She growled, and even retreated a step or two, but otherwise, didn't take the threat too seriously. 

I don't even know what that means, she retorted angrily. And I didn't choose to be here, she added, not that it would have mattered. Leave me be and I will leave, she offered. Experience or not, she didn't want to fight a wolf. While she knew she could inflict damage on her opponent, she didn't need the youngster getting lucky. 
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She continued growling, though as intimidating as Ara tried to be.. She was still a child, a small one at that. She was not old enough to properly join in hunting or patrolling and yet was steadily growing into her paws. Alas would never truly be a towering mass, but would make it up with her mothers training. She specifically knew to chase off those who enter their mountains, and didn't believe when the other mentioned of not choosing to be within.

She stepped closer, hackles raise and a snarl through as she stepped closer. Tail, unadmittingly, was slightly wagging as it rose to try and be the dominant one. She might be a little too eager to prove herself within the matter, thinking it would be the first, that she would properly chase and guard away from the claimed land.

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Quinn felt she had retreated enough to show she wasn't a threat. So, when the young wolf advanced, she was offended, and responded in kind. With a hiss, her leg reached out, quick as a whip, and her outstretched claws aimed for the nose of the canine. I am not the one you want to test, child, she growled out. I may be smaller, but my experience trumps yours and I have more to lose, she added angrily. 

Her ears flattened on her head as she eyed her opponent. She didn't want to turn her back on the other, young or not, so she couldn't simply flee. Even if she did run, she had no idea where she was, and therefore no idea where to go. If the wolf would leave her be, she could figure that out and get to a place that smelled less of the stench of dog. 
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A cry rang out, and she backed up as her nose had been ripped lightly by the cats claw. A whining of sorts was soon following as it was one of the true experienced, of unexpected man. She felt the wear and tear of training and puppy plays, but nothing that didn't heal in the span of a day — not true blood falling. Her nose dripped and she used a paw to rub it aggressively with whines..

Though slowly was turning toward growling. An anger, surging through Ara as she grew upset over an invader not only trespassing, but striking! Her first fight wasn't going as well as expected, for within a dreams eye she saw as a one-hit KO or having the other be chased off. The feline stood her ground though and even attacking.

A series of small howls could be heard, but it was similar to a kitten trying to roar like a lion. (@Dirge @Hydra)

She charged with her puppy teeth, fully intending to try and tackle down the feline with her fangs and claws. Yet.. Instead like a bull, as Ara was coming toward she made a quick leap to the side, trying to use the form of surprise. She tried to grapple the other by their right side.

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Quinn heard the whine, saw the blood, and knew this was goin going to go one of two ways. Either the pup would back off, or she had some dumb courage that she was going to use to attack. Quinn hoped against hope that she would just back off, and then the feline could exit the area with haste. Unfortunately, the youngster didn't back off, and instead charged Quinn. 

With a growl, the agile feline leapt into the air, twisting her body away from the head of the wolf. As soon as her paws touched a hard surface, be it the back of the wolf or the ground, she leapt again, this time aiming herself for the trunk of the tree. Claws extended, they caught on the bark and Quinn effortlessly climbed up until she felt she was high enough off the ground that the wolf couldn't get her. She picked a hefty branch and looked down at the wolf, hissing her anger at the canine. You should have just let me leave! she yelled. 

Now that the pup called for reinforcements, Quinn knew she was going to be stuck here for a while. Stupid pup.
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Her charging was with a fail as the other gotten away, and high within the trees. Ara placed her paws onto the trunk and started to bark aggressively at the other, through hissing and screaming from each and own but either way — was met with a silence upon the childs turn. She would continue barking and growling for some time, clawing at the trunk and trying to jump in effort of 'climbing.' She was more angry that the other attacked her on her own land! It was her very birthright to defend it!

"You leave now!" though Ara didn't really understand that in order for that other to leave, she actually needed to stop attacking, "and not return!"

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She settled onto her branch, but did not relax. Her ears were flat on her head as she growled down at the determined pup. I can't leave with you still trying to attack me! she said angrily. She was now hoping her parents were on the way to knock some sense into her. How was Quinn, a small cat, supposed to safely exit the area with a larger predatory threatening to eat her? 

The barking was annoying Quinn, and she almost wished she had done more damage to the pup. But, she had a hefty supply of self preservation within her and she wouldn't put herself in such a dangerous position without cause. Right now, she would simply have to wait the pup out. Eventually, hopefully, the wolf would bored, or tired, and go away.
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She paused her barking, and looked down in thought. The cat did have a point, if kept trying to chase and attack her, she couldn't leave.. Ara concept was perhaps 'to the death' in some almighty battle, though reality is it never really happens. Maybe this was enough ; that she did her duty to topple any hope that this cat could live upon the sacred lands of Empyrean.

She placed all paws back on the ground, and stared up in the tree with a glare, "You leave now."

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The barking stopped and Quinn laid her eyes upon the wolf below, her expression turning to distrust. However, she needed to get out of this area, and a temporary truce would ensure that. After a moment, she spoke. Promise that you will not attacked or chase me, she demanded. She probably wasn't in the greatest position to be making demands, but it was something she needed if she was going to come down from her protected perch. 

I promise I will come down, and leave immediately with the intention of never coming back, she added, hoping her own promise would prompt the wolf to not only agree, but to actually follow through on it. She didn't want to be attacked or chase, but Quinn would understand if the wolf followed at a distance to make sure Quinn left. 

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Hydra was far enough to not be prompt in her arrival, but close enough to arrive before things escalated further. Her searching eyes were prompt in following the line of Ara's own—something within the fucking trees. It would be an opportune time to summon @The Eagle, if only to start some sort of game to brinng it down so she could have her way with it (though the truth of it was, if he disposed of the critter, all the better)... the matriarch caught onto only the tail end of what was said.

It was then Hydra caught wind of her daughters wound. The red that limned the lines of her muzzle. Superficial at worst, but Hydra saw all else in the shade of it.

“You drew blood the blood of my daughter,” she rumbled, “you expect a peaceful departure? From her? From any here?” From me? The unsaid words rang like the low knoll of a bell. How she so wished she could climb a tree, to wring the things neck. Tempting though it was, the creature was out of reach. But it would grow hungry, Hydra knew. And Hydra was nothing if not a patient woman. She reclined onto her haunches, eyes not shifting from the place it loitered. “That seems unfair,” she drawled, licking her chops.

Hydra was a fair woman, too. A woman of justice. She would be the one to mete it out, alongside Ara.

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She nodded in a promise. Wasn't what she said enough earlier? Ara already was giving such grace, as the preference would be to run her off — but she had to play fair and let the other leave. They didn't have an intention to really cause harm, and she knew that. Was just very, very eager to prove herself that easily. She hadn't really learned to cover her face that well either as she scowled lightly, even though behind her tail signaled otherwise in a tail wag..

Which continued as her mother approached. She circled her mother with a head held high, an unspoken 'look at me!', even if her nose bled ever so lightly.. She didn't clean it. She was more onto showing the matriarch her first battle scar, and how she managed to get the cat up into the tree. Ara hoped to do her proud, as this was probably the first of the many in the future, against those who appear too close to the Empyrean land.

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