Poisoning Ivy

From Ice Runner's second litter (1/5/23), this green pup had Cali as her father. She was always his favorite for she always showed her strength and knowledge by tricking and pouncing at her littermates. Ice Runner tried to explain how she did this too much and it was more like bullying. However, Cali insisted that it was normal for a pup to try and dominate the others, she was just more destined for a higher position. Ice Runner was not very convinced, but accepted Cali's statement. Cali named her Bitter Leaf, one for her unusual green color, but also for how she teased and bullied her littermates. Her favorite wolf to tease was not one of her littermates, but an adopted pup named Eclipse. Bitter Leaf knew that Cali loved herself the most, but the way Ice Runner looked at Eclipse with more compassion in her eyes than the way she looked at Bitter Leaf…… It made her fur bristle and she growled whenever she saw Eclipse. Bitter Leaf used every opportunity to make Eclipse look bad, often causing her to fail hunts and blaming it on her scatterbrained personality. She also insulted the way Eclipse could never pay attention that lasted more than four heartbeats. Her favorite insult was bird brain which she used often.

The day one of her sisters died (1 1/2 months old), she did not feel like doing anything. She had told Waning Moon about how amazing the world was outside of camp and how everything, no matter how scary, was a friend. She had imagined Waning Moon getting hurt by an angry swan or perhaps falling into a bear's cave. Bitter Leaf planned to trick her into some kind of trouble… but this. I guess I didn't plan for her to die… It was an alligator that got to her… and it was Bitter Leaf's fault. She felt so, so terrible. No matter how much she teased Waning Moon, she still cared for her. The rest of her family noticed this night and day that she was the quietest and somehow kinder than she's ever been. She never bothered to tell them that she was the cause of Waning Moon's death.

Months later (2 1/2 months old), she convinced her siblings to leave the clearing on an adventure to find the Secret Tree. That is, the tree that is said to be the portal to another realm. A giant bear came crashing through the forest and they had to scatter. Bitter Leaf and Silver Stars we're able to run back to camp… but Saturn Rock…. They lost her and still don't know where she went.

One day, early in the morning, Cali woke her and Silver Stars for a training lesson. This was weird, she usually trained with Cali by themself, but she didn't mind. Cali sent Silver Stars to track down a feather and when Bitter Leaf was about to follow him, Cali told her to stop. He gave her a mission. In order to prove herself a true pack member… she had to kill her brother. "What?!" She growled "Why would I kill my own brother?!"
"This is what your training was for! To succeed in this test." Cali snapped back "You will do this or you will go. Besides, don't you want the power of the best wolf in camp?!"
She growled at his before turning away without a word. This is what she had to do. She remembered her training, tracking where her brother went. She eventually came to a clearing where he was checking a bush for prey. Remember, don't feel bad for your prey. Or those who you fight. Cali's words repeated in her head. When Silver Stars sat down for a small break, she pounced, immediately aiming for his neck. He rolled over, probably also trained for protection by the other wolves. "Bitter Leaf! What are you doing?" He stared at her in confusion. "This is what I have to do to be the best wolf." She snarled before lunging at him again. After that, she couldn't quite remember. It was a blur of anger and worry. But she remembered her hatred when Shining Star ran, tail tucked between his legs, away from the Shrouded Pack's territory. She let him live, she couldn't. She gave chase, but lost him in the undergrowth. She returned to Cali, reporting that Silver Stars was gone. He congratulated her and they went back to the caves.

Once she finished her training, it was time to get her pack name. When Ice Runner howled, she ran over to the middle of the clearing as wolves started to gather. The test was ready to commence. Of course she did it perfectly. With Cali as her personal mentor, nothing could have gone wrong. Her new name was Poisoning Ivy, one for her slight unfriendliness towards others, but also for the Ivy that seemed to follow her around.

Yes, finally, she was the leader of the pack! She would lead her packmates into battle to take over the territories! She knew just the wolf to be second in command, too. It was just too perfect.