In the midst of the plains of the four packs, there lies the heavenly spire, a plateau that stood in the center of the four territories. The plateau burst out in between the territories as if the earth itself were reaching towards the heavens. Down its side, four paths rose up to it's peak, and it is here that the four packs meet every full moon.

It was on such a full moon that Amarok, with the Storm clan, rose to the peak. His position as pack leader allowed him to follow behind the alpha, Anurie Wavemist and the second alpha, Ujurak thundercrest. Anurie was a wolf with a pelt as white as snow, unlike her mate, a grey furred lupine with black markings on his back, paws, tail and muzzle. The alphas, along with the rest of the higher ups, trotted ahead of Amarok as he lead the rest of the pack behind him. As the others chattered quietly behind him, the alphas talked more serious matters ahead of him. Amarok realized that he wasn't an alpha, but being left out of the most important decisions of the pack was a little more than insulting. He could barely suppress a grimace as the pack continued on it's way up the plateau.

As they reached the peak, the Alphas Anurie and Ujurak broke off from the rest of the pack and headed towards the center to meet with the other alphas. The other higher followed close behind them, leaving Amarok to deal with the rest of the pack. He turned to face them, lifting his head and barking sharply to get their attention.

"As you know," he said for what seemed like the thousandth time, "The Full Moon meeting is a time for peace between the four territories. Any issues you may have with a wolf from another pack must be dealt with in a non-violent manner. Anyone refusing to comply with this will be swiftly dealt with." The implications of this last line was obvious to anyone who heard it, so much that even Amarok didn't feel the need to point it out.

Having finished his short speech, the black wolf let the rest of the pack stream past him in to the crowd. Amarok didn't follow, however. He kept to himself near the edge of the group. The others would have known by now not to bother the black wolf at the edge of the plateau, and he wasn't planning on changing their outlook any time soon. He could just as easily understand every important issue brought up by the alphas of the other packs from where he sat. Moving any closer would only be more inconvenient to himself and anyone involved. He lowered himself to the ground, leaving only his head raised to listen for the start of the meeting.

Lakan followed at the right of her leaders shoulder, the rest of the pack fanned out behind them in an eerie silence as they made their way to the Heavenly Spire, they looked like ghosts floating over the crisp Fall leaves moving in perfect harmony, they twined their way through the path in the trees that lead them to the edge of their territoy. Lakan glanced over her shoulder to make sure the pack was following, sure enough dozens of eyes reflected the moons glow back at her, she turned back around and moved beside her leader Rivrin "this night feels different, it feels cold and mysterious" he turned his blue head that looked almost silver in the moonlight to look at her "be calm Lakan, we will see what the night has in store for us" Rivrin picked up his pace obviously feeling the effects of the night as well and as they made it to the giant rock they all cast their eyes upward looking at the clear night sky and where it met the edge of the Heavenly Spire like a lovers embrace. Rivrin cleared his throat and began to move up the path that lead from their territory to the top where they'd meet up with the other three packs. "Let's go, and remember, it's a night we are at peace with the other clans" he turned his blue silver body and began the hike up the cliff face. Lakan let her blue eyes move over the pack before turning and following in her alphas wake.

As Lakan climbed higher she could feel the temperature drop and seeing her cloudy breath became common the higher they went, she could hear some of the elders behind her complaining of old bones and how the cold effected them more, she smiled in amusement and looked to see Rivrin disappear at the top. She quickly followed behind him and ruffled up her fur against the breeze that swept the top of the Spire, already she missed the warmth of the summer air and dreaded the harsh winter that was to come, she followed at Rivrin's heels as he made his way toward the other alphas and betas, the alphas would move up on the smaller rock atop the spire to be seen by everyone. Lakan cast an eye on her pack as they assembled and began dispersing amongst the other packs. Not only was Full Moon a time of peace and the meeting but for old friends from different packs to converse and for the elders to tell tales for the apprentices who got to come for the first time, Lakan turned looking at each of the other packs and scanning the crowd, she knew how her eyes must shine in the light of the moon and her pure white pelt must glow as she turned to the other Betas who all greeted her with praise of her radiance on this night, she had to admit the moon cast a strange glow on everyone and lit them up in an almost dark way, she turned her full attention to discuss the weather with the other three wolves.

The meeting went as every meeting went. The leaders talked about everything that leaders usually talked about. They all told stories about how strong their pack was growing, and about how much food their was, but everyone knew that this was only a cover story. The packs would never share weaknesses with each other, lest some pack take advantage of it.

The meeting went on as expected, and everyone started to prepare to go. Suddenly, there was an outburst of growling heard at the edge of the group. Two wolves, one from the frost pack and one from Storm were growling and snarling at each other. A circle of wolves formed around them, uncertain at how to proceed but curious to see a fight. Amarok could see it all happening from his position. He leaped up and raced through the crowd. Closing in on the fight, he recognized Hati from his own pack. This couldn't go on for much longer. Amarok broke through in to the circle an barked. Hati turned, annoyed

"This doesn't concern you.. so stay... uh... oh..."

His voice trailed off as he realized just who was talking to him. Amarok towered over the younger wolf. Of all other wolves, this was the one that Hati didn't want to start a fight with, even more than their own alpha. Hati's growling crumbled in to cowering as he tried to apologize.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean -"

"Do you truly believe that I allowed you to accompany us so that you could carry on like a pup?" Amarok didn't care that so many other wolves were watching, this young warrior needed to be taught a lesson.

Lakan swiveled her blue eyes to the commotion across the rock, she could make out Axel's deep growls of aggression and she exploded through the crowd pushing her small body through the masses, breaking out to the two wolves her eyes pinpointed Axel and she rounded on him, his eyes lifted from the other wolf he had engaged and went wide when he saw Lakan, tucking his grey tail between his legs he pressed against the group behind him, she flattened her ears and bared her fangs "what is going on here, you know we are not to engage in minor or major discrepancies at a full moon meeting" she advanced on him lashing her white tail in anger "not only have you embarrassed your entire clan this evening but you have brought bad luck on us from the Goddess" her blue eyes blazed as Axel fumbled for a reply "I-I'm so sorry Lakan, I do-don't know what went through me" Laken steeled herself into a cool calm and looked down at the apprentice "For your lack of self control and decision to act like a pup you will be treated as such, you will move from the apprentice den to the nursery and your warrior training will commence in six months" she sat infront of him curling her tail neatly ariund her paws as he stared ar her in disbelief.

Amarok and Hati watched as the silver she-wolf delivered her punishment. It was a harsh, but just punishment for acting so childishly at such an important event. One could hardly expect Axel to get away from this with just a warning.

Hati began to snicker. "Serves you right, asshole... " he muttered under his breath. He turned to leave, only to find Amarok in his way and glaring at him.

"Did you think that you get away from this without punishment?" Amarok's voice alone was enough to know that Hati's punishment would be just as horrible, if not worse. Hati started cowering again. He started to object, but Amarok was in no mood to hear it. "Save it for someone who wants to hear your excuses," the black wolf interrupted, "I trusted you to act as a proper warrior at a simple meeting, and this is what you make of that trust? Starting a petty fight with another cub? It's clear to me that you still have much to learn, and the Frost pack's deputy has made a fine decision."

Hati suddenly found his voice again as he realized what was happening. "Y-You can't do that! You're not even-"

Amarok growled back without hesitation. "I may not be the Alpha, but I am still your superior. You will do as I say without question. Do I make myself clear?"

Hati could only stare at the ground and nod in defeat. Amarok continued.

"Your title of warrior will be stripped, and you will return to your position as an apprentice and sleep in the apprentices' den. It was obviously too soon for you to graduate, and you will now have the time to learn what it means to be a warrior."

Again, Hati could only nod. His head hanging low, he trotted solemnly to join the group of warriors forming at the end of the path towards their territory the crowd had begun to disperse as they were talking, and by the time Amarok had finished his tirade, the other wolves had dispersed and started to meet with their separate packs with only a few lagging behind to give last words. Amarok waited patiently for the warriors under his command to meet with the others, ready to interfere if anything else happened.

The deflated Axel went and fell in line with the rest of the Frost pack as their leader joined them ready to depart, Rivrin cast his old wise eyes across Axel and his fallen happiness then padded his way over to Lakan who still sat with her tail wrapped neatly around her paws. "I hope you feel the punishment was enough Rivrin" Lakan lifted her blue eyes to look at his expressions then to the young wolf at their pack, Rivrin nodded and looked over at the black wolf who had punished the other young apprentice "You know when you do right Lakan and I feel that was the perfect response to such childish squabbling especially at a clan meeting" he shook his head in disappointment then locked eyes with the black wolf "do you know what started it?"
Lakan followed her leaders gaze and for the first time looked at the other wolf, she tipped her snowy white ears forward to listen and gave off a small yawn, it was getting late and the other two packs were already leaving casting dark looks at the pups who had stepped out of their place, Lakan hopped the Goddess would see past this pup squabble and spare her pack, last winter had been rough and the Frost pack had lost many to hunger and the cold, even now food was scarce and they weren't even well into Fall yet, the air just got its bite and the glass blades would frost barely each morning. Lakan drew her attention back to the black wolf and listened.

Amarok was startled from his thoughts when the leader of the frost pack, Rivrin, addressed him. For a moment, he was confused as to why Rivrin would address him instead of Anure, but he realized that they were here because of Hati and Axel's idiocy. I'm going to have to explain Hati's foolishness, he thought to himself. How fortunate.

The alpha's eyes locked eyes with Amarok's own. "Do you know what started it?" he asked.

Amarok shook his head. "I'm not sure what started the battle," he admitted, "Hati is hotheaded and rash, but even he should have known not to look for trouble during the full moon. I will talk with him after we leave."

Amarok's gaze turned towards the Alpha's mate, Lakan. She was the one who had broken up the fight, yet he seemed to immediately relinquish control of the situation to Rivrin, which seemed a bit strange, but Amarok could hardly comment on the decisions of other packs. He instead decided to focus on the matter at hand."Can you tell me why Axel would be involved with this?"

Rivrin casted his dark eyes on Lakan and she immediately released whatever her thought was moments ago "Lakan? Would you please address this matter as you see fit, I'm going to return the pack to our territory as it's getting cold out" with that he blew out a cloudy breath and gave a nod to the other wolf and turned and made his way back to the Frost pack, Lakan watched her leader go mystified at her role in figuring out why Axel would choose to fight another wolf at a full moon meeting. Turning Lakan zeroed in on the male wolf, letting her blue eyes roam across his muscled body before meeting his eyes. "I'd assume they were squabbling over normal childlike things, maybe something offensive was said or a tease over a female" She really didn't have a clue and blew out a frosty breath and fluffed up her snowy white pelt against the cold.

Amarok scoffed. He should have guessed that it was possible. He wasn't familiar with Axel, but he knew that with Hati's brash nature, it wasn't too hard to believe that he'd forget where he was and thought of nothing but his would-be mate. It would just happen to have happened in the worse possible place.

"Starting a fight here over a mating squabble?" the black wolf groaned, " I'm ashamed to say that it's not all that impossible. Hati's a brash wolf, and it's possible that he may not have been thinking. All the while, if he was arguing over this with a wolf from another pack, then it may be the grounds for even more trouble." Amarok sighed. She obviously knew nothing for sure about what happened, and it didn't seem like asking her anymore questions was going to help.

Lakan thought long and hard about Axel's strange behavior, she was beginning to fear it might put tension between the packs if it was anythibg serious, in the past young wolves would fall in love with another pack member and more often than not cause problems by meeting up in the territories and further more by switching packs, it was hugely frowned upon and hard for all packs involved. Lakan hoped if it was something like that then they could catch it early, she didn't watch Axel cause he had a mentor for his apprentice training and wasn't nearing his end finals and definitely not now they he'd been set so far back. Lifting her eyes from the frosted rock Lakan looked at the male wolf "This could be just rash behavior, or something potentially worse like love between packs, I cannot recall Axel being to fond of any other pack wolves but I'm also not his mentor, if you feel your young wolf could be the one with a mate in another pack please inform me" with that she gave a polite nod and stretched out her frozen muscles and released and huge yawn, it was late and she wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight.