Pack (The Ulfhednar Saga bk 1)

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The wolf inside of her was free and primal. Coarse fur, fast moving paws and sharp eyes taking in her surroundings. Leaves crunching under her thick pads, tail high in her pursuit. She could taste the blood, feel the meat give way under her sharp teeth as the heart stopped beating and life left the now useless body and the rabbit hung limp in her jaws. The thought of this, of food for her pack being provided was what propelled her forward, making her legs move faster, more agile and accurate. The rabbit shot to the right snapping Valdis out of her reverie. Sunna's rays were beating down on her as if in homage to her glorious hunt, she drank in Sunna's blessings as she rounded on her prey.
​The rabbit moved quickly but she was faster, cutting hard to the left. She was on the rabbit, jaws clamping down over the throat, applying deadly pressure until the rabbit went limp, still and without life.
​She reveled in her kill. In what this meant for her pack. She sank her teeth in, feeling the flesh give way as it did during her daydream. The rush of blood that poured into her mouth as she ripped into the tender flesh of its belly invigorated her senses. The sweet meat was a welcome change after months of eating scraps she had been finding around the forest. One more bite, she thought, then she would bring the rest back to Bran.
​Valdis moved through the forest. The sinews of her muscles were strong, propelling her forward. The dead weight of the rabbit hanging from her jaws. She was careful not to mangle the flesh too much. Bran probably wouldn't mind because he was so hungry, but she thought he deserved better than mangled dead meat.
​For months their food supply had been dwindling. Prey animals had fled the forests. They were able to get by for a time before the lack of meat weighed on the pack. What food they could find was usually tainted with some sort of disease or was so malnourished that hardly any meat was left to consume. They could fish and they could forage, but that wasn't enough for a whole pack to live off of, especially through winter. In addition to the lack of food, most of the pack had become weak. Sickness plagued the wolves like nothing she had ever seen or heard of before. Their losses had been great, the pack was falling apart. Her family was dying and for a wolf, that meant the world was coming to an end. She feared for her pack, for the forest and for herself.
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She skidded into the village, shifting into her human form in one swift motion, not breaking her stride. Her human form was long and lithe. She was strong, female and wolf. Her waist length blonde hair was flying around her, creating a sort of yellow veil, changing from the white of her fur. Rabbit in hand she couldn't care less that she was completely naked. She ran towards the beach, towards her home.

The door flew open startling Bran. He hadn't felt well in days and it had caused his senses to weaken. He didn't hear her or smell her approach, and that was very frustrating for a young male wolf. Not being able to sense the possibility of danger terrified him, made him fear for his life.
​He was lost in his torturous thoughts of fear and darkness until her voice brought him back to the present.
​"I brought you food Bran. I got lucky today. I ate a few bites but most of the rabbit is still there for you." Her voice was firm and confident, but her eyes were rimmed with unshed tears. Was she afraid?
​She went to her room to dress after throwing the rabbit on the table. She was so proud, elegant and confident. He knew that his sister was their only hope.
​"Thank you Val. I don't mind that you ate some you know, you have to eat too" He exclaimed. As she dressed he thought a little about shifting. He hadn't been able to take his wolf form in a few weeks because he was so weak. The loss of that ability was debelitating, like not being able talk anymore or breathe. Not being able to shift was drowning and his fingertips could only just break through the surface. He had been devastated by this particular loss. Along with the illness, he also hadn't seen his parents or friends. None had come by and from what he was told, he was the sickest living member of the pack. Val took great care of him, but she couldn't take his parent's place or replace his friends.
​"Eat Bran, get strong. I am going to talk to them. Be ready just in case it doesn't go well." She exclaimed.
​he rolled his eyes at her and smiled, "I will" Good luck he thought.