Athena watched her mother carefully. The pup was now lying down on the first human they found. 

One of the humans, Simmons came back with a piece of meat "I had to steal it from Grif-" He trailed off as he saw Athena lying down on what she suspected to be his companion. "I hope that pup isn't comfortable." He remarked as Markaira barked a warning.

"Athena." Wash muttered as he grabbed the meat and waved it out in front of him. "Athena?" Simmons asked "It's what I named the pup, Athena." Wash remarked but Athena could smell the tenderness of the meat which made her mouth water but Markaira didn't seem to care about it. 

Her mother stayed in one spot. "Oh great are we keeping them now?" A yellow-orange pelted human snapped as he stood by "No, but it makes it less confusing." Wash stated as he kept on waving the meat. 

Athena whined and looked at her mother. "Come on Markaira..." Wash urged "Great? So mom's Markaira?" Grif asked and Wash apparently ignored him. Markaira growled then barked as she stood her ground.

Athena looked at the meat before launching herself off the human and toward Wash. Markaira barked her protests but Athena no longer cared, she wanted the meat. The pup grabbed onto the meat that was in Wash's hand and yanked on it but he wouldn't let it go.

Athena whimpered as she tried again but he didn't let go. "Come on Athena, you should know better." Wash chuckled briefly 

Buddy, who had scampered down to in between her shoulders, squeaked and rolled around on her pale fur. Athena tried again to yank the meat out of his hand but he had a tight grip on it.

Markaira barked furiously and charged forward. Instead of attacking, she grabbed Athena's scruff which made Buddy leap off to escape her jaws. Athena barked angrily as Markaira began to run off. 

Once they were a fair distance away, Markaira dropped Athena and looked back. The mother eyed Wash warily as Athena growled in disappointment. 

The humans were still watching them. The others expect for Wash had started helping the other human in the metal bird. 

Wash was still watching them before he threw the meat at the two wolves. Markaira leaped backwards, and dodged the meat but the meat bonked Athena's head before falling into the snow. 

Buddy climbed her head when she went to pick up the meat. Athena grabbed it firmly in her jaws before looking at Wash. 

Markaira by then was beginning to run away, soon she was being followed by her pup.

Soon Markaira and Athena were back in the dense woods. Markaira looked around before she began to dig in the snow. 

Athena tilted her head curiously and sat down, still holding the meat. Markaira quickly had made a hole in the snow about her size. Athena started to go in the hole, she turned around to face her mother.

Athena yelped and cowered. Behind her mother was a giant cougar, Markaira turned around and snarled at the beast. 

The cougar hissed back before seeing Athena. It chopped his lips hungrily before lunging at Athena but Markaira intercepted it and hit it's side with her powerful paws.

The cougar hissed and bit at her mother which Markaira quickly returned the favor. 

Athena has dropped the meat and now was hiding. She watched with wide eyes and barked in terror when the cougar landed a deep blow into her side. 

Markaira was then slammed up to a tree, she tried to get up but fell back down. The cougar turned away from her mother then to Athena.

Buddy squeaked wildly as if saying 'Run! Run! And never look back!' Athena quickly started running in a random direction. 

She could hear the distant fighting behind her as she ran. Athena though got her paw tangled in a fern and she began to roll. Buddy fell off her head and she didn't see where he went. Athena kept rolling until abruptly she was wet and couldn't breathe.

Athena realized she had fallen into a pond but it seemed to be dragging her one direction. Athena's spine shivered as she realized it was a river.

—————————-

Athena was drifting and flailing through the water, occasionally she'd float up and get some air but now she was going deeper. Her lungs burned for air and soon her vision was being flanked with different-colored spots.

Athena abruptly was yanked upwards and thrown onto land. She coughed up water and looked up to see Markaira above her, frantically licking her and nuzzling her. 

Markaira's face was scarred but Athena could notice a gash on her side. Athena whimpered and her mother nudged her up. 

Once onto her feet, Markaira began limping. Athena instinctively followed her mother.

They were fine, together... Maybe broken but not dead.

Where'd Buddy?