The pack stared at the brindled wolf. He returned their gazes. He was the only one left that was fit to rule. He turned, and snarled at the white wolf. The white wolf didn't challenge him. He rolled on his belly and licked the brindled's muzzle. As if this was a cue, the rest of the pack gathered around and pressed against him and rolled onto their backs before him. He stalked up to his mother on stiff legs but she barely noticed. Instead she had her muzzle pressed in the tawny wolf's fur and a howl of grief was bubbling in her throat.

~

The pack stayed in the ravine with the body of their fallen leader for three days. In that time, the black wolf neither slept nor ate. On the fourth day, she staggered to her feet and moved back to where the pack lay not far off. They greeted her with wagging tails and shining eyes. Even the brown wolf, who often remained aloof butted her fondle with her nose.

The brindled leader made the 'line' bark in his throat and the pack formed up. The black female stalked up to him with a snarl on her face. She slid ahead of him in line as if to show that she was also leader still.

There was no fresh scent of the opposing pack and the tension that gripped the wolves slowly melted away. They stalked up to every area that the enemy pack had travelled and marked it as theirs. The brindled leader howled and the rest of them circled around him and did the same. They claimed the territory as theirs with their loud voices. That done, they headed off in pursuit of a heard of deer that Blue-eye scented on the wind.

~

Kiela licked her muzzle to rid if of the remaining blood. She wrapped her strong jaws around the bone that she held pinned between her forefeet. The bone splintered in her mouth, revealing the marrow which she snapped up. The red wolf wandered over to her prize, intent on having some for herself. Kiela nipped her in swift rebuke and settled down with the rest of her meal.

She mourned the passing if the tawny wolf. She missed his steady presence and unfailing courage. In her mind, he was still her leader. She found it impossible to see the brindled wolf occupying the spot that until the attack had been held by his lustrous predecessor.

She shook her ears as a droplet of water fell on her head from a tree above. The thaw and the attack both posed excellent reasons to leave the forest. The vast plains of the past gel her heart and wouldn't let go. She knew that the other wolves felt it too. The black wolf's belly was swollen with her unborn pups and Kiela knew that she would want to birth them where she had birthed her many litters before. She glanced over to where the black female lay. She was panting. Running with the pack seemed to tire her know. Kiela only wished that they would be able to get back to the plains before the pups came.

THIS CHAPTER IS UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THE WOL IS THE RED PUP.