Wolf AU

She's small, and white, and the bright red of her leg wound leads a clear trail across the snow to where she's curled in a small cove of trees.

She's so small he thinks she's a pup, at first - at least until she uncurls herself to her full (but still not quite impressive) height, and bares her teeth. A low growl slips from her throat and he can't help himself - maybe it's the isolation, making him a bit mad - he lets out a short chuff of amusement.

She narrows her eyes at him, shrinks back on herself, stumbling - that leg really is bad, and she's going to need looking after, at least for the night.

Just one night, he tells himself, moving to stand between her and the night. The smell of his blood is thick on the air, and predators will have smelled it.

Let them come.