Ash: The Wolves of the World's End

Chapter 3

Selena knew they were in for trouble by the time they could smell the carcase. Fresh. She swallowed her saliva bubbling up from the sweet smell of moose.

     Moose were hard to take down without at least ten wolves.

     Her soft feet padded silently as she crept across the frozen ground Since they had been on the mainland, a thin layer of early snow had blanketed the ground. At least it gave her a bit of camouflage to work with.

     She watched as Ash trotted before her recklessly. All the time she had known him, he had sacrificed stealth for speed. She had never cared too much about speed, even if she was one of the pack's faster females.

     But you don't have a pack anymore, she thought to herself.

     And the scent of fresh meat grew stronger.

     The barks and whines up ahead told her they were getting close, and that the pack was still there. "Stay low, " she hissed at Ash. He slowed his pace.

     They came to the top of an icy basin. Not a far distance was the pack, along with a half-devoured moose carcase. Selena instinctively grabbed Ash by the fur and pulled him behind a mound of snow.

     "Oww!" he hissed at her. "What was that for?" But she did her best to ignore him as she studied the scene. There were around six in the pack altogether; two or three were resting near their feast. The others were younger, probably no older than herself, talking amongst themselves. She leaned in closer to try and hear in on their conversation.

     "How long until you think spring comes?"

     "Stop it! You already got the ticks out of my fur!"

     "If you wouldn't squirm around like a newborn so much-"

     "Oh really?"

     Two of them, a white wolf with reddish hues, and a jet black wolf began circling each other, playfully nipping at each others' tails. Selena felt a pang of loneliness; she should be back on the island, playing with the other pack mates. Even if she got the opportunity again, it would be the same.

     "Wait. Did you see that?" Had they spotted her? She quickly retreated behind the piled up snow, her blood rushing. "Ash, they've seen us, " she whispered. "Let's head back to-"

     Ash was pinned on his back by another wolf. "No, I  don't think you're going anywhere," the stranger snarled.