I shoot to my feet when I hear growling. I crouch down over Zeke, watching the area that the sound had come from, only to see around ten wolves come out of the bushes, the lead wolf looking like it's going to seriously hurt me.
"Get away from us!" I growl as I crouch down threateningly as they begin to circle around me.
"Why don't you tell us who you are and why you are here first. Considering that this forest belongs to us." The lead wolf says as it comes forward to stand a yard or so away from me. I lower my head at the memory.
"My pack was killed by hunters, leaving only I and the young one alive." I say, looking at the ground momentarily before looking back up to meet the leader's stare, only to see sorrow and suspicion in his eyes.
"And how are we to make sure that you tell truth and don't lie in order to come among us and kill us one by one?" He demands, walking forward to sniff at my neck. I freeze instantly before looking at him.
"I do not seek to join your ranks. I merely wished to rest for a short time and allow the young one to sleep. We have been traveling for quite some time." I say, meeting his gaze. He snorts before looking between my legs.
"Is it of yourself?" He asks, looking pointedly at Zeke. I shake my head before lowering it in sorrow.
"His mother was killed by the fur hunters at the same time as the rest of the pack. I could not leave him there to fend for himself." I say, sighing. The lead wolf looks at me for a moment before turning toward his pack.
"You are to bring them to the den. Once there, guard them in a corner where they shall have no chance of encountering others of the pack. You are not to harm them unless they try to escape." The leader says as he walks away from us. I stare at him with wide eyes for a moment before I hear Zeke yelp. I turn toward the sound, fangs bared and growling at the wolf that had walked behind me. I register another wolf growling in some part of my mind before I find myself on the ground with the leader on top of me. I whimper before exposing my neck, and going completely still. He turns toward the wolf that's currently holding Zeke. "You will put the young one down before I tear you open!" He shouts, glaring at the wolf, who lowers its head, and drops Zeke, who immediately runs over to me, and whines when I don't get up.
"What's wrong big brother? Why won't you get up?" Zeke asks, looking at me with worried eyes. I watch as the leader walks toward us, causing Zeke to whimper and burrow himself into my fur on my neck.
"It is all right, young one. I shall not hurt either of you." The leader says as he lowers his head to tap Zeke on the side of the head in a comforting gesture. I release the breath that I wasn't aware I had been holding. He turns toward me. "Come." He says. I sigh as I lower my head, and follow him heading north.
"Where are we going?" Zeke asks, looking up at me as he trots along next to me in order to keep up pace with me. I smile down at him.
"They're going to allow us a temporary safe place to rest before we head off again." I say as Zeke skips around in front of me saying something about how excited he was about something...