Zuko looked proudly down at his pack from his favorite rock. His pack consisted of nine wolves, three were pups. He jumped down and briefly licked his black paw. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fleck coming his way. He stood up and turned to meet his friend. Fleck was a young, grey wolf with black spots running down his body. He had a scar on his right hip from a battle with a young bear over a carcass.

"What's new?" Asked Zuko.

Fleck shrugged his shoulders. "All fine, Zuko. There are no signs of cats, bears, or other wolves on or close to our territory." He sat down. "There was a fox running closer to the den than we liked, but me and Snowfire finished it off." Fleck nodded in the direction of a white female wolf. She turned to look at him and flicked her ears. Fleck continued his conversation with Zuko. "The preys running low, but we will find enough to last the winter, I'm sure of it." Zuko nodded.

"So is there any prey close by?" He asked. Fleck seemed to brighten up a bit.

"Yes, there's a herd of deer about a half mile away from this spot!"

"Good."

Zuko stood up and walked in the middle of his pack of wolves. Fleck ran over to him as he made his way over to Daisy, the tan, creamed colored female. She had been a pregnant wanderer and Zuko had taken her in, which also gave the pack three new members.

"I'm taking the pack hunting. Do you want Keovi or Ash to stay with you and the pups?"

Daisy answered without hesitation. "Ash," She said. "For sure. Keovi would be tearing through my den. That boy is too full of energy. It will do him good to be out hunting."

"Ok." Said Zuko. He turned around. "Ash!" He shouted through the crowd. The gray coated male made his way over to Zuko and sat down.

"Yeah?" He said.

"You are to stay with Daisy and the pups while we go hunting." Ash looked upset for a moment, but quickly nodded his head. "If that is what you wish." He said, but didn't sound too happy.

After Zuko had rounded up Fleck, Snowfire, and Keovi, the four of them set out through the woods. Fleck led the way because he knew where they were. Soon they had picked up the scent of deer, and they crouched to the floor.

"There." Said Snowfire quietly, nodding in the direction of a spare brush area. A second later, an antler popped into view, then a head, then a body. Keovi bounced on his toes but was quickly silence by a growl from Snowfire. After five minutes, young, red Keovi started to fidget.

"When are we going to attack?" He asked in a hushed voice. When no one answered, Zuko said,

"We're trying to find out which is the best to attack."

"Ok."

Zuko let out a sigh and studied the animals. All the deer were in poor condition, because there was little greenery this time of year. Zuko thought that they could take any one of them, but they needed to be careful. They could not risk any injuries.

Zuko saw a female deer, slightly smaller than the rest walking near the back of the group. Excitement started to bubble in him when he saw that the deer was limping. Fleck saw it too, and looked at Zuko. He nodded, and fleck started whispering to Snowfire and Keovi.