Leader lifted his muzzle, sniffing deeply. Smallfur scent was all around. The big wolf heaved himself to his paws, sniffing harder. The scent was fresh..."Smallfurs," he grunted, looking around. Follower stood beside him, peering into the darkness on the other side of the bars. He let out a loud bark.

"Smallfurs!"

The rest of the pack took up the cry. "Smallfurs! Smallfurs! Smallfurs!" Tails were wagged and pelts ruffled with excitement. Leader gazed out at his Pack, his pride. These were the elite wolves, the wolves so powerful that the Furless locked them away so they would not hurt other Furless.

A brown and black she-wolf called Nameless Barker was Leader's own mate. Silver Follower was Leader's best friend and Beta. Blood Fang was Leader's son, a snow-white wolf with gangly legs and his father's staring eyes. No Tail was the oldest, a he-wolf with graying fur and a bare backside. His tail had been torn off by the Furless' snares. Or rather, by Leader in an attempt to free the elderly wolf.

Leader focused his wild gaze on the shadows by the bars. Yes...a Smallfur was right there. The wolf crouched down to try and coax it out of hiding. "Come," he panted in what he hoped was a friendly tone. "Come. See you. Safe."

A tawny Smallfur stepped out from the brush. She padded fearlessly up to the cage, tail held high and proud. Leader smirked, wagging his tail. The Smallfur spoke. "I come. Why? Why come?" it asked in a wolfish tone.

"See. Smell. Know," Leader replied simply. "Not hide from Leader."

"Not trying. Leader great. Leader brave. Leader strong." The Smallfur was flattering him, and Leader lapped it all up. "Leader smart. See all. Smell all. Know all."

"Why come, Smallfur?" Leader asked. "Why come to Packlands?"

The Smallfur flicked its tail. A small group of Smallfurs padded out to stand behind it. The lead Smallfur tapped its chest with its tail. "Name not Smallfur. Name Ocarina."

"Ocarina-Smallfur," Leader barked. Ocarina sighed softly, but nodded. She tapped the white Smallfur behind her. "Name Tempus."

"Tempus-Smallfur."

She tapped another Smallfur. "Name Hawk."

"Hawk-Smallfur."

Through the simple touch and repetition, Leader learned the names of all of Ocarina's Smallfurs: Tempus, Hawk, Thief, Maju, Zachary, and Hera. When Ocarina had finished introductions, she motioned for Leader to imitate her. The big wolf snorted. Like he would stoop to acting like a tasty little Smallfur!

"Pa-a-a-A-A-A-a-ack!" he howled. The Pack stepped into formation. Leader sat down and indicated to all of his wolves. "Follower. Nameless Barker. Blood Fang. No Tail. Pa-a-a-A-A-A-a-ack!"

"Pa-a-a-A-A-A-a-ack!" the Pack echoed. Leader swished his tail for them to settle. Every wolf obeyed instantly. The Alpha crouched back down to study Ocarina.

"What Ocarina-Smallfur want?" he asked curiously. "What want with Pack?"

"Have enemies. Smallfur enemies. Pack come. Pack kill. Pack and Alliance be friends." Ocarina indicated her group of Smallfurs. "Called Alliance."

Leader twisted his lips thoughtfully. "Pack. Pack want payment. Not kill for free." He looked from wolf to wolf. They all answered his unspoken question with the hunger in their eyes. "Want meat. Living-meat. Not dead-meat."

"Pack help Alliance. Alliance give Pack living-meat." Ocarina's brown gaze twinkled in the starlight. "Smallfur-meat."

Leader recalled his first taste of Smallfur-meat. His huge tongue went out and licked drool from his lips. Here was a Smallfur, practically begging to be gobbled up, offering him the chance to eat Smallfurs. "Pack help," he barked gruffly. "But...Pack trapped. Can't get free. Can't help Alliance."

"Alliance free Pack," Ocarina meowed. Leader's ears pricked forward to catch her voice. "Alliance find way to free. Alliance smart. Do many things together. Pack run free soon." She laid her paw on the scratched and gnawed bar. "We'll have to find a way to cut this silver branch," she muttered to the Smallfurs behind her. "It looks strong, though. I'm not sure how we can do it."

"Pack bite through. Pack strong." Leader gripped the bar in his teeth and started his sawing motion again. The Pack howled encouragements. After a few minutes, Leader became exhausted and stepped away. Follower took his place. Leader turned back to Ocarina. "Pack free Pack. Alliance help Pack hide from Furless. Feed Pack. Pack help Alliance."

"Alliance hide Pack. Help Pack." Ocarina waved her tail and the other Smallfurs departed into the bushes by the cage. She locked gazes with Leader, and the two stared at each other. Leader saw ambition in her eyes. Hatred of other Smallfurs. The look of a leader. The wolf nodded.

"Pack help," he grunted, sticking his paw out of the cage. "Paw-swear, Ocarina-Smallfur."

Ocarina placed her tiny, pale paw over Leader's massive, black one. Leader tipped his head back, howling wordlessly to the skies. Ocarina joined him in a yowl. Their voices mingled eerily in the night air, a chorus of dark promises and evil plots. Leader dropped his head first. Ocarina followed his lead. "Paw-swear never broken, Alliance safe," Leader explained. "Broken, Pack turn. Alliance dead, eaten."

"Understand." Ocarina turned to leave, flicking her tail as she left. Leader watched her leave. He sat down. Nameless Barker sat beside him, and licked his cheek lovingly.

"Leader make paw-swear with Smallfurs," she commented.

"Smallfurs, Alliance...Pack stronger." Leader grinned. "Alliance hide Pack. Pack help Alliance. When done, Pack turn on Alliance. Paw-swear for Packs only." Nameless Barker chuckled softly. Leader was brilliant!

"More Smallfurs to feed pups." Nameless Barker flopped down and licked her swollen stomach. Leader's eyes softened as he, too, caressed his mate's belly. His pups were inside. His pups would be born free. His pups would taste Smallfur blood. With a burst of parental pride, he threw back his head and howled the pup song. Nameless Barker joined in. The rest of the Pack remained silent. Only the Alphas sang the pup song.

The moon glowed coldly overhead. Leader padded over and sat in a ray of moonlight. The silver light bathed his black pelt. The big wolf felt a wave of peace wash over him at the sight of Silvereye. It was the eye of the Silver Wolf, Starsire, whose pups were the glittering pricks of light and whose mate was the Golden Wolf, Daymother. Every wolf knew that.

Leader's gaze shifted to the huge band of Starsire's pups. These were the greatest of his pups, and they stood in a tribal force, awaiting the day when all wolves' hearts would be searched. On that day, they would descend from their father's cave and bound across the land, seeking the strongest Packs. Those Packs would join them forever with Starsire and Daymother. And Leader was sure his Pack would be one of them.

The black wolf lifted his muzzle to Silvereye and moaned softly in an ancient language, one that was used only to speak with Starsire. Great Wolf...Give my Pack strength. Let us eat many Smallfurs and prove our might. May we be worthy. He curled up beside his sleeping mate. May we be worthy...