As soon as the pack crested the ridge that protected the lake, the pups ran out of the den. They were followed closely by the brown wolf. She looked harassed and irritable. She had been aunting the pups while the pack was hunting. They were growing fast, but were not quite ready to join the pack on a long hunting trip. The pups bounded up to the black wolf and nipped and licked her muzzle. Kiela pulled up beside the black wolf and looked at her questioningly. The black nodded to her as if saying "Watch!". Her belly heaved and she disgorged a steaming mouthful of partially digested food. The pups fell onto it with eager yelps. The brown wolf nipped at the muzzle of the brindled, asking for the same but he warned her away with a snarl. Blue-eye came over and pushed her muzzle into the brown's fur. She disgorged a similar pile and the brown licked her face before lapping it up.

Kiela went over to where the pups were finishing their dinner. She curiously sniffed the meat. The red pup took that moment to pounce on her tail. She worried it with needle sharp teeth. In mock outrage Kiela turned and growled at her. The gray pup pounced on her back and snarled at her. Kiela pretended to be overcome, rolling onto her back. The red pup left her tail and sprang onto her belly, knocking all of the air out of Kiela's lungs. She rolled over and chased the pups around. Finally, she staggered back to the leaders and colapsed, totally overcome with exhaustion. The pups didn't look tired at all. They were bouncing around and getting on the nerves of the white youngster.

The black wolf ran out her tongue laughing, and her mate was surprising a grin. Kiela raised her eyebrows quizzically. The black wolf shook her head and rasped her tongue over Kiela's ear. She sat on her rump, pointed her nose upwards and howled, long and lonesome. Joyously the rest of the pack gathered around her and raised their voices in song. The tawny leader's voice a low rumble under the rest of the pack. Blue-eye howled, her clear voice winding in with the rest of the chorus making an unearthly harmony. Kiela's throat vibrated with the music. She almost laughed. The pups were also howling, or trying to howl. Their shrieky voices were comical. Kiela stopped for a moment to catch her breath. She padded around the circle and then froze. The wind had shifted, bringing with it a message of another pack on their land.

The tawny leader caught the scent as well. His howl raised in volume as he warned the invaders off. Keila understood the message as clear as if he were saying it.

This is my land. Leave now. We are the six of the grassland pack and we have marked this land as ours.

The rest of the pack joined in. The pups were silenced and the wolves let a snarl creep into their tone. Kiela threw back her head and howled loudly and aggressively. The rest of the wolves looked at her, surprised. She felt fiercely protective of her new pack. She wanted to defend it. Blue-eye pressed her pelt against her and matched her volume and intensity.

The voices from the other pack replied.

We are the black ridge pack. We mean no harm. The deer are running and we follow. We will be gone in three days time.

The tawny leader seemed pleased. He howled a reply and then lay down to play with the pups. Blue-eye's black pelt blended in with the night. She beckoned to Kiela and they curled up side by side for the night.

THIS CHAPTER IS UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. P.S. THE ABOVE WOLF IS THE LEADER'S MATE