Wolves of the Moon #1: The Paws of Darkness

Prologue

It was midnight, and two shadows could be seen in the undergrowth. A huge glossy white wolf, and a smaller silvery one. The larger of the two sniffed the air, and turned to the small she-wolf.

"Well?" he queried the younger wolf in a deep, gruff bark. "What can you smell?" The silver wolf lifted her nose to take in the lush smells of the forest. Her forest, her home and territory.

"Rabbit," she informed. "A bit of another Pack, smells kinda like the Pack of Shadows and Night." She let her tail drop in relaxation as she listed the many scents she could detect. "There's a mouse in that bush over there, an owl up in the tree eying the mouse. In the hollow over there is a possum with its young, about seven or eight." The older wolf looked down at her with pride.

"Very good, Icicle. You're getting good, and in a few days you can join the hunt," he praised. "Smell anything else?" He looked around. "Or anyone else?" he added with a low growl.

"No, I don't think so - wait." Icicle lifted her snout, and her pale hazel eyes widened. "A wolf pup. Smells of milk and blood, it must be newborn. Come on, Avalanche!" The silvery-white learner broke off into a trot, then a run with Avalanche on her tail.

"Here," Icicle barked over her shoulder as she skidded to a halt beside a clump of frost-laden ferns. Whimpering softly with anxiety, she pushed her nose gently through the plants until a small wet figure could be seen. Its eyes were tightly shut, and it slowly crept back into the heavy growth from the cold and the brightness of the full moon.

Avalanche peeked into the hole. Slowly and carefully, he poked his snout in and gently grabbed the minuscule pup by the scruff. Careful not to puncture the skin, he carried the young into the open.

"Come on," he barked softly, to Icicle, the pup still clamped in his teeth. We'll take her back to the Pack."

Meanwhile, a prophecy was being told:

Found in the forest, a wolf shall prevail,

The paws of darkness, the strongest gale.

The other wolves of the packs, side-by-side,

In the forest, hear the final cry.

Searching through the woods they will defeat

The dark of the woods, the greatest feat.

The healers of all the packs recited this as Avalanche and Icicle came back to the Pack of Snow and the Mountain's territory. Little did they know, starlit wolf looked upon them as the small newborn was put into the nursing den. Unknown to anyone of any of the packs, she had a forbidden pup that must fall to Earth.

"She must be the one from the prophecy," a voice in the healer's den whispered. "She will save us all."