The Blizzard (Stories Etched in Snow)

Chapter Twelve

Warning: Swearing. There'll probably be cursing throughout the rest of the book.

Nix groaned, words penetrating through her peaceful dreams. She raised her head, ears perked, in an attempt to listen in on the two conversing wolves, both male, since she doubted she'd be able to fall back asleep with them squabbling like crows.

"I got here first, so it should be mine!" An unfamiliar voice growled lowly.

"Well, we caught it." The other was Skull.

The white arctic wolf peered through the leaves surrounding her. A timber wolf, larger than Skull, towered over him, fangs bared. Skull was crouched so low that his belly fur nearly scraped at the ground, body drawn back, back arched furiously. They seemed to be about to launch themselves at each other. Nix opened her mouth to stop them, but was beaten by an undersized she-wolf, who lept in the middle of the two.

She restrained the hazel canid with a sharp glare and dipped her head apologetically at Skull, her gaze still fixed angrily on the Timber, who Nix assumed was aquainted to her.

"I know that we've been searching for food for the past few days, but don't fucking take it out on somebody smaller than you." She shifted her pupils, directing them towards Skull, her head unmoving, seeming to know fully that she'd openly admitted that she and her companion were weak.

Skull frowned, "Well, then, it would be rude of me not to share this with you." He chuckled, "Dig in." He turned to Nix, who only then realised that he'd known she was awake the entire time, and flushed with embarrassment. She trotted shakily towards the site, to join them in eating breakfast

Caution forgotten, the cinnamon canid introduced himself through rapid chews, "I'm Val." He grinned, and ruffled his friend's head-fluff with a fond paw, "And this grouch, here, is Vera." She fixed him with a scowl, glaring daggers at him. Val flinched, "Ouch, Munchkin, you're mean." The skin near Vera's brow twitched with annoyance, and she looked back down at the elk, tearing into its belly, as if to let out her frustration slightly less savagely.

"Well, I'm Skull." His black pelt rustled softly in the crisp, winter breeze, "And this is Nix." He pointed his tail affectionately at Nix, who waved a paw awkwardly, too flustered by the sudden appearance of these friendly strangers to talk, and besides, she had food in her mouth. Pandora had once told her that 'Manners can take you a long way.' She took that to heart.

The leaves of the bush rustled slightly more violently than the wind could have blown it. Nix turned instinctively to it. Gradient was stirring, confusion apparent in his pained grunt. "Oh, that's Gradient. He got kicked in the flank yesterday by this guy." Skull poked the calf's half-eaten corpse with an outstretched claw.

Vera shoved Val roughly with her hind leg. "OK, OK, I get it!" He was now addressing Skull and Nix, "I've got some herbal knowledge. Lemme take a look at him." The two oppositely palleted young wolves exchanged suspicious glances, but decided silently that he could do no damage. "Sure, c-come in." Nix held the leaves aside for the large Timber.

The canid ducked, squeezing through the entrance with minimal difficulty, whilst a soft snicker was observed, coming from Vera. Val gently pressed his rough pads against the bruise. Silence fell over the surrounding wolves. The bush's leaves stopped rustling. Even it, too, seemed to hold its breath anxiously.

He examined Gradient's ribs, asking if it hurt every time he applied pressure to his skin. Gradient never recoiled, and neither did he ever complain of pains. In the end, Val concluded that he was just shocked, and would recover the next day naturally with rest.

Nix's tensed figure suddenly slumped to the ground, relief flooding her azure gaze.