Chapter 4
Lincoln quietly padded through the forest as he sniffed the air. Lincoln was currently on a hunting patrol with Lori. He hadn't originally planned to go out, but Lori asked him if he wanted to go on a hunting patrol with her which Lincoln quickly agreed. When they made it to the area known for having decent sized rabbits, they split up so they would be able to catch more. Lincoln was currently sniffing the ground trying to get a whiff of rabbit and so far, he hadn't caught anything.
"C'mon you stupid rabbits!" Lincoln growled with frustration. "I've been out here since this morning and I haven't caught a whiff of rabbit. Maybe Lori was wrong about this area."
Lincoln continued his search for rabbits when all of a sudden a black and white badger head popped out of a nearby bush.
"Hey Lincoln." the badger greeted. "Having fun?"
"Hey Clyde." Lincoln greeted. "And no, I'm not having fun. Have you seen any rabbits around here?"
"I heard one run by a few minutes ago." Clyde told him. "Since when have you been a hunter?"
"Since yesterday." Lincoln told him. "I went out on my first hunt yesterday. I helped bring down a moose and I caught a gopher. Sadly, the gopher didn't last long because Lola and Lana devoured it as soon as I put it down."
Clyde could only chuckle at that last part. He was really lucky that the pack didn't like the taste of badger. So, Clyde didn't have to worry about the pack hunting him. Plus, the pack was cool with him ever since he helped get Lincoln free from a bush when he was younger. So as a thank you, the pack promised not to eat him. So Clyde could be friends with Lincoln without fear of being eaten.
"Good to hear Linc. So are you hunting by yourself?" Clyde asked. Lincoln shook his head.
"Nope. I'm on a hunting patrol with Lori." Lincoln answered.
"Cool. Listen, I'd love to keep talking to you but I gotta head back to my den for some sleep." Clyde said. "Later Lincoln."
"Bye Clyde!" Lincoln called after him.
After Clyde left, Lincoln continued in the direction that Clyde told him the rabbits went. As he continued down the trail, Lincoln started to get a strange feeling that he was being followed. Lincoln quickly sniffed the air. He caught a faint scent of rabbit, but he also caught a whiff of something else. The scent seemed familiar, yet different. As he sniffed the air, he thought he heard something. As he went to investigate, he was suddenly tackled by something.
Lincoln not one for backing down, wrestled with his attacker as they rolled on the forest floor. After a few minutes of wrestling, Lincoln was pinned down on his back. He looked up to see his attacker and saw a familiar young black she-wolf on top of him with two paw planted on his chest and smile on her face.
"How's it going Lame-o." the she-wolf said with a smirk.
"Hey Ronnie Anne." Lincoln greeted. "What are you doing out here?" Ronnie Anne took her paws off Lincoln so he could get up before she answered.
"What does it look like? I'm hunting." Ronnie Anne said as she walked around Lincoln. She stopped in front of brushed her fur against him. "What are you doing?"
"I'm hunting." Lincoln answered. Ronnie Anne stopped walking and sat down next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder with Lincoln doing the same.
Due to the fact that they were too young, Ronnie and Lincoln weren't mates just yet. But it didn't that they couldn't be together. So they had, what humans called, a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. Same went for Lincoln's sister Lori and Ronnie Anne's brother Bobby.
"So where's Bobby?" Lincoln asked.
"He's out hunting." Ronnie answered. "I was actually on my way to meet up with him when I saw you."
"I see." Lincoln said. "I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he's with Lori right now."
"If he is, I'll drag him by the ear because he's supposed to be giving me a hunting lesson." Ronnie growled playfully. "Well I better go find him. See ya Lame-o." She gave him a quick lick to the cheek and ran off.
Lincoln let out a chuckle and continued with his hunt. As continued down, he caught the scent of the creature he was looking for. And looked over a bush and saw a rabbit hopping around a tree. Lincoln quickly crouched down and started to step lightly towards the rabbit. As Lincoln got closer, he saw the rabbit stop hopping and look around. Knowing that he was running out of time, he leaped out of his hiding place and charged at the rabbit. The rabbit didn't have time to react as Lincoln was on top of it. Lincoln gave the rabbit a sharp bite to the neck, killing it.
"Finally got something." Lincoln said relieved. "I wonder if Lori caught anything. This one rabbit isn't gonna feed thirteen wolves."
As Lincoln was about to pick up his catch, he heard a rustling in a nearby bush. Lincoln looked up and turned his attention towards the bush.
"Ok Ronnie Anne. Nice try. I know it's you." Lincoln called. However, it wasn't Ronnie Anne that stepped out. Instead, what stepped out were three coyotes. The lead coyote spoke up.
"Hey there Larry. Thanks for catching that rabbit for us." the coyote sneered.
"Not so fast Chandler." Lincoln growled. "First off, my name is Lincoln. Second off, this rabbit is for my pack. So I suggest you get out of here or else."
"Whoa there Larry." Chandler said calmly. "There's no need for a fight. All you have to do is give us the rabbit and everyone walks away happy."
"Not going to happen Chandler." Lincoln growled.
"I suggest you reconsider." Chandler said threateningly. "Cause last time I checked, there are three of us and only one of you. So I suggest you give us the rabbit or get torn to shreds."
Lincoln looked at the three coyotes with narrowed eyes. He knew that he could take on one of them. He knew he could probably take on two of them. But three? He didn't stand a chance. But Lincoln wasn't going to give up the rabbit that easily. He took a step over rabbit, crouched down and bared his teeth. Chandler and the other coyotes didn't seem fazed.
"You asked for this." Chandler growled. He looked back at the other two coyotes. "Sick him!"
With that, the two coyotes charged at Lincoln. Lincoln, however, was ready and he jumped up to meet them. He landed on top of him and started to bite him on the neck. The other coyote jumped on his back and pulled him of the coyote Lincoln was on top of. Lincoln quickly turned around and swatted the coyote in the side of the head. As Lincoln tried off both coyotes, Chandler saw his opportunity and started to sneak around. He continued to sneak around Lincoln until he was right behind him. As soon as he was in position, he pounced and landed on top of Lincoln. The three coyotes started biting and scratching Lincoln as he tried to fight back. Suddenly, Lincoln felt some of the weight lighten and he realized that one of the coyotes wasn't on top of him. He looked over and saw that Lori had come to his rescue. While the coyotes were distracted, he took advantage and got to his feet and jumped on Chandler, taking him by surprise. The other coyote jumped on Lincoln's back in an attempt to help Chandler. Lori quickly chased off the one coyote she was fighting. She turned her head and saw Lincoln battling the other two coyotes and quickly ran over to help him. She pulled off the coyote off Lincoln's back and tossed him to the side, causing him to retreat. Chandler, seeing that the other two coyotes have retreated, quickly started to back down as he looked at the two wolves with hatred.
"Keep the stupid rabbit." Chandler snarled. "But I promise you that one day you'll get what's coming to you." With that, Chandler retreated after his two lackeys.
"And keep running!" Lori growled after them. She then turned her attention to Lincoln whose white fur was stained with blood. She also noticed that his right ear was torn and he had a deep bite mark on his shoulder. He also had several scratches that didn't seem serious. "You ok Lincoln?" Lincoln slowly stood up with a grunt.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Lincoln answered. "How did you know I was in trouble?"
"I was actually looking for you so we could head back to the pack." Lori told him. "I heard growling and barking and I realized that you were in trouble and immediately rushed over. I take it Chandler tried to steal your catch?" Lincoln nodded. "Figures. But, you held your own pretty good. Considering you were outnumbered." Lincoln flashed a pained smile.
"Thanks Lori." Lincoln said. "Do you think you could help me get back to camp? I can barely stand?"
"Sure thing. I'll grab your rabbit and you can lean on my shoulder." Lori told him. With that, she picked up the rabbit while Lincoln slowly stood up and leaned on Lori's shoulder as they made their way back home.
In another part of the forest, Chandler and his lackeys limped into a cave. And they were not happy.
"Stupid wolves." Chandler growled. "Think they run the whole forest."
"Yeah." one of the coyotes agreed. "They go around acting all high and mighty."
"You said it Mack." the other coyote said. "Those wolves think they own the forest."
"Ed, don't get me started." Chandler scoffed. "Wolves are so stupid."
"And annoying."
"And smelly."
"And most importantly," Chandler continued.
"They are ugly!" all three said in unison. After that, the three coyotes burst out laughing.
"Oh I wouldn't say that." a voice growled behind them.
The three coyotes jumped when they heard the voice. They turned around a saw a dark figure step out of the shadows of the caves. The figure was a giant black male wolf, covered in scars. He also had a completely white eye due to a scar that ran over his eye. From the looks of it, he wasn't happy.
"Not all wolves are that bad." the wolf growled.
"H-hi Zeta." Chandler greeted shakily. "Didn't see you there."
"Yeah, hi boss." Ed said fearfully.
"We didn't mean you Zeta. You're cool." Mack said with fear.
"I see you came back with nothing." Zeta said coolly. "Do you not remember our deal? I give you protection while you provide the food. Does this deal not matter to you anymore?"
"O-of course n-not Zeta." Chandler said trembling. "We almost had something, but those stupid wolves kept us from bringing it home. That stupid Loud pack." Then out of nowhere, Zeta was on top of him.
"What have I told you about mentioning that pack?" Zeta growled. "I don't want you to mention that pack at all. Not until they are gone."
"What do you mean?" Ed asked.
"Simple, for past few months, I've been watching them." Zeta told him. "Seeing how they move, and getting an idea on how their guard works. Soon, I'll take them down."
"So you are just going to drive them out of the forest?" Chandler asked.
"Do you have a better idea?" Zeta growled. None of the coyotes answered. "I thought so." Zeta turned around and started to walk back to his den.
"So what's the plan?" Chandler asked. Zeta stopped and looked back at the three coyotes.
"We attack them when they least expect it." Zeta answered.
"Hey, since we're going to be outnumbered, how about the three of us get some friends to help out." Chandler suggested. This caught Zeta's attention.
"How long will it take them to get here?" Zeta growled.
"It will probably take a week for them to get here." Chandler answered.
"Fine." Zeta growled. "Get them. Now!"
"But we were just in a fight." Mack complained. "We're exhausted."
"Are you questioning me?" Zeta snarled.
"NO!" the three said in unison.
"Good. NOW GET GOING!" Zeta snarled.
With that, the three coyotes were off, running in fear.
"Enjoy your last week living in the forest Lynn." Zeta growled. "Cause in one week, your pack will be finished."
Yes. The figure who has been watching them was Zeta. Also, you guys are probably wondering why Clyde is a badger. Now before you guys attack me by saying "Your racist! The reason Clyde is a badger because one dad is white and the other is African American!" Let me explain. I can't make every character a wolf. Reason Clyde is a badger is because badgers are cool and awesome. So there is your explanation. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.