Notes:

Sorry this chapter isn't as long as the first. I hadn't planned on adding another chapter yet, but I couldn't help myself :)

Birdflame- Thank you for the review and for favoring my story! I will add your oc, as she will have an important role in the story.

OC: Ritco- female black pup with brown eyes.

Ch.2

~Ritco~

The pup walked silently through the forest, her stomach close to the ground in a crouch. She would slowly make her way to the edge of the border before darting away again, terrified of being caught.

Ritco came close the border once again when she heard a loud rustling from inside the territory. She froze in some brush just outside the border, hoping that the sound meant the pack was after prey. Her eyes widened in excitement as she spotted a deer rushing to escape the three wolves that trailed behind it. She let herself relax slightly, knowing that if they caught the deer they wouldn't be able to pick up her scent over the scent of the prey. They were at least a good fifteen tail-lengths away, so she knew that they probably wouldn't see her as long as she remained still.

The tan, dark brindled wolf in the trio managed to latch onto one of the deer's front legs, tripping it, while the white wolf with a brindle pattern made a grab for a shoulder to help pull it down. As the deer fell with a thud onto the forest floor, the pure white wolf who was the largest of the three clamped his jaws onto the deer's throat. It was a matter of minutes before the struggle was over.

While the three celebrated their kill, Ritco wriggled in anticipation. I hope they forget a leg this time. she thought to herself as she crept a couple paw steps closer. If the prey was big, these wolves would sometimes tear it apart and take it back piece by piece. This is where Ritco would get most of her food; sneaking over when they weren't around or weren't looking and take what scraps she could find before hurrying back to the other side of their border.

The three wolves tried dragging the prey before the pure white male let go, growling to himself. "We'll have to take it apart. Both of you take a leg" he ordered as he tore at a leg himself. They did as he said, and when they each had a leg they ran off, dragging the food as quickly as they could so they could get back to the rest of it.

Ritco darted out towards the deer and tried to pull some meat from where the legs had been torn off. As she swallowed the meat by the mouthful, she had to continually swallow to keep it down. Though she hadn't eaten much, she felt that she had gotten enough for now. As she was rushing back to the other side of the border, Ritco began to feel queasy and light headed. She slowed to a trot before falling to the ground. She took deep breaths in an attempt to recover, but within moments the world went black.

Ritco woke when she felt herself being slowly dragged. She tried opening her eyes, but only saw blurred forms. She decided to keep her eyes closed as thoughts drifted through her mind. I feel like a piece of prey being dragged off to be eaten. Is whoever is dragging me going to kill me? ...Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing… It's just so hard, spending every moment wondering if tonight is the night you finally starve to death, doing anything you can just to see another day. Is it time to stop trying? …No. Mom wouldn't have wanted me to give up. She would want me to keep going. No. I refuse to die today!

Ritco wriggles weakly, opening her eyes and growling. Her vision clears as whoever was dragging her stops. She jumps to her paws, swaying slightly, and sees that she is in a large clearing full of dens and wolves. The three she had seen hunting stood before her, their expressions unreadable to her. As she stares up at them, two large wolves pad up to her. She assumes that they are the Alphas. A shiver runs through her small body as she tenses and pins her ears back. The two stare at her until the female finally speaks. "Hello, little one" she says in a smooth, rich voice. "Welcome to the Whispering Wind Pack."

~River~

River woke to the sound of activity outside the main den. She stood and shook out her fur before walking out into the fading sunlight. Her pack mates were gathering at the center of Quarters. River trotted over to them and gently pushed past them to see what all the ruckus was about. She gasped at the pitiful sight before her. A small, black pup with brown eyes sat in the center of the group, her ribs protruding from her pelt. As the wolves around her whispered to each other in hushed tones, River noticed that Birch, Tiger, and Snow were back from hunting and were standing closest to the pup. Did they find her in the territory?

Fox rose his head higher and cast his silent gaze on each wolf's face individually until they all quieted down. Surprisingly, Ivy knelt in front of the pup and spoke softly. "What is your name?" The pup looked around at all the other wolves before looking back at Ivy and answered. "R-Ritco" she replied in a weak voice. If all of Quarters hadn't been silent, River didn't think she would've been able to hear the pup.

Some of the wolves backed up a paw step or two. Though River stayed where she was, she understood why some of her pack mates would be wary of this wolf pup, even if she was young. Her name was anything but Lightbringer. Only one question came to River's mind. Did she come alone?