Jingo was a large gray wolf who bore the wounds of countless battles. His paws were reddish brown in color like they were permanately stained from
the blood of his victoms. He advanced forward toward Ruban from the mouth of the dark den, limping slightly which he paid no care to hide. There was no
doubt Jingo was only proving to him that he was Pack Leader, not a wolf to be messed with. The rest of his pack fanned out behind him, snarling at the two
intruders who came to challenge their leader.
    Ruban noticed that most of them also bore wounds and ugly scars inflicted upon them by enemies or Jingo himself. He wasn't sure which.
    "So you decided to show up." Jingo sounded quite amused. "I didn't expect you would. I always enjoy something new to play with."
    "Did you come here to talk or fight?" Ruban responded in a clever retort.
    Jingo definately had a gleam of merriment in his bright clear silver eyes. "So be it." He had a private word with Sylph while Ruban turned to Russet
who had been following him like a shadow ever since the two of them entered enemy territory.
    "Russet, if I am killed I want you to carry out the news of my death," he said quietly. "You have served me well and you will take my place if I do not
return with you."
    Russet bowed his head with deep respect, understanding the serious tone in his leader's voice. "I will. I wish you the best of luck, Pack Leader. That is
all I can give you." His head remained bowed until Ruban licked the top of his head. Russet wagged his tail with pleasure.     
    The pack stepped back, forming room for the duel between Ruban and Jingo. Fear was for prey. Ruban stood confidently against the larger, battlehungry
wolf. He advanxed toward his enemy, a growl rumbling in his throat like rolling thunder.
    "I will enjoy ripping your heart out," Jingo snarled and launced the first attack. He leaped forward.
    Ruban narrowly avoided the flashing teeth. He flinched and Jingo's teeth snapped together right out of reach, making the sound echo again and again in
Ruban's ears. Jingo, infuriated, leaped forward again and once again Ruban dodged to the other side.
    Some of the wolves watching started taunting him for evading Jingo's attacks. Ruban wasn't cowardly, not at all, but he had to wait for an opening.
Jingo was momentarily distracted by Ruban's twisting and weaving and did not expect Ruban's attack. The other Pack Leader leaped on top of him and sank his
fangs into Jingo's neck. He clung on, waiting for the moment when it all would be over.
    The fierce Jingo wqould not be defeated that easily. Fury gave him an extra lightning bolt of strength and he rolled over on his back, crushing Ruban
beneath his weight, forcing him to release his grip. The two wolves got back to their paws and circled eachother, each waiting for the other to attack. Jingo's
bite wound bled heavily, clotting in his fur but he seemed unharmed by it. No, he had dealt with injuries a lot worse in his days as leader of his pack. If anything,
the injury only made him more determined to assign Ruban the most painful death imaginable. Ruban himself was unscathed.
    With a growl of fury Jingo leaped. Ruban did not expect the attack and staggered against his weight. He felt fangs bury in his paw along with a bolt
of pain that stunned him. He retaliated quickly and reached forward, biting the only part of Jingo's body he could reach: his tail. It wasn't much, but it was
enough for Jingo to whirl around and bite down on his ear instead, breaking the skin. Blood dribbled into Ruban's eyes and he strained to focus on his next move.
    Ruban heaved himself to his paws and he nimbly dodged to the side. His paw hurt terribly, and he was forced to hold it off the ground, and he was not
even sure what was left of his ear. Still, he would not back down. He would not submit to the power of Jingo.
    Russet looked on at the duel, wincing each time Jingo got hold of Ruban as if it were his own pain. He feared for his leader and hoped that somehow
he could kill Jingo. He certainly was putting up a decent fight. He watched on the sidelines helplessly, unable to help his leader in this fight for supremacy.
    That was when Jingo leaped on top of him, pinning him to the ground under that massive weight. He looked up into those cold silver eyes and waited,
limp under the weight that forcibly held him down, waiting for it to end. He didn't even flinch when those fangs sank into his neck and he felt warm blood
dribble down his neck. With the pain came ecstacy and he fell limp. He watched Jingo's pack howl with triumph and he slowly layed his head down. His last
thoughts were only on Keera, and the last thing the great leader saw was the glint of Jingo's silver eyes.