♡Tussle♡

Tussle's Stand

The wind rustled through the trees, the scent of damp earth thick in the air as Tussle padded quietly through the pack's territory. His broad shoulders flexed beneath his coat, and his blue eyes scanned the area with a practiced eye. He was a wolf of few words, but his presence commanded respect. When trouble stirred within the pack, Tussle was always one of the first to step up and handle it. He wasn't the kind of wolf to let things fester.

As he trotted deeper into the forest, his keen ears picked up the sound of a heated argument. The voices were unmistakable: Bear and Passion Fruit. The two wolves' combative personalities clashed often, but this sounded different—louder, more volatile.

Tussle quickened his pace, following the angry voices until he reached a clearing. There, Bear stood, fur bristling, his eyes dark and challenging. Passion Fruit circled him, eyes gleaming with malicious delight, taunting him with every step.

"You think you're better than me, Bear?" Passion Fruit hissed, his voice smooth but sharp, like a blade ready to cut. "You're just a weakling with a big mouth."

Bear growled in response, his hackles raised. "Shut your mouth, Passion Fruit. You don't know what you're talking about. I'll show you who's weak."

Tussle stepped into the clearing, his presence immediately drawing attention. "That's enough," he barked, his voice deep and commanding. The two wolves froze, momentarily distracted by the sound of his approach. "What's going on here?"

Passion Fruit didn't take kindly to the interruption. "Mind your business, Tussle," he sneered, flashing a grin. "I'm just showing Bear how outclassed he is."

Bear snorted, a snide look crossing his face. "I've had enough of him, Tussle. He thinks he's above everyone because of his words, but he's nothing but a coward."

Tussle's blue eyes flicked between the two wolves. Passion Fruit was always looking for a fight, but Bear—while combative—wasn't without his weaknesses. He knew this well, but he wasn't about to let things escalate further.

"I'm not interested in watching you two tear each other apart," Tussle growled, stepping closer to the duo. His body language was calm, yet undeniably firm. "If there's an issue, it needs to be resolved with respect, not this bickering."

Bear's eyes flicked to the ground, momentarily ashamed, though he still held himself tall. "He started it," he muttered, his words laced with frustration. "He never knows when to shut up."

Passion Fruit snorted, clearly irritated by Tussle's interference. "Oh, please," he said, turning away. "You think you can control me, Tussle? I'm not some pup you can scold."

Tussle's voice was low, the weight of his authority unmistakable. "I don't need to control you, Passion Fruit," he said calmly. "I just need you to understand that pushing others around for your own amusement isn't going to make you stronger. It's only going to create more chaos. And we've had enough of that already."

Passion Fruit's lips curled into a sly grin, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You think you can teach me something, old wolf?" he taunted, though there was a flicker of uncertainty behind his mocking expression.

Tussle stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he locked gaze with Passion Fruit. "I'm not here to teach you anything," he said, his voice quiet yet carrying a weight that was impossible to ignore. "But I will step in when necessary. So if you're finished, I suggest you walk away, or else I will make you."

For a long moment, Passion Fruit held his ground, sizing up Tussle, but something in the older wolf's steady stance seemed to rattle him. He looked away first, the sneer on his face softening, just slightly. "Fine," he muttered, but the anger in his voice was still evident. "We're done here."

Bear let out a sigh of relief, his posture relaxing as the tension dissipated. "Thanks, Tussle," he grumbled, though his gratitude was obvious in his voice. "I didn't think he'd let up."

Tussle gave a small nod, his blue eyes softening as he turned to Bear. "You need to stop letting him get to you. His bark is worse than his bite."

Bear scoffed. "Tell me about it."

Tussle gave a slight smile, though it was brief. "Just don't let him provoke you. The pack needs you at your best, Bear. Don't waste your energy on petty fights."

Bear grunted but seemed to take the advice to heart. "Yeah, yeah. I'll try."

With a final glance at Passion Fruit, who was already slinking off into the shadows, Tussle turned to leave. His duty was done, but the weight of the pack's needs remained with him. It wasn't always about winning or fighting—it was about keeping things balanced, making sure the pack stood strong, united. And Tussle was determined to keep it that way, one step at a time.