~Chapter Two~
Soot's fur was drizzled in snow from morning's snowfall. Light gray clouds specked the sky, and little light came from the still-rising sun. Soot parted his jaws to find prey, for most will come out in the beautiful weather of this morning.
The scent of rabbit filled Soot's nostrils. The rabbit was a little northwest of him. After a moment of silent walking, he spotted the rabbit, a young one at that, but pretty plump. It would provide a good fill for most of today.
Soot dropped into a hunter's crouch, his belly fur just barely brushing the blanket of snow. The young inattentive rabbit nibbled around in the snow, unaware of the predator rearing closer. Soot pounced, and brought his paws square on the rabbit's shoulders, and gave it a hard, quick nip to the neck, killing it.
The wolf picked up his prey and started heading east, his paws making gentle marks in the soft snow. He'd only traveled about two yards when he heard voices drawing near. Pricking his ears and becoming more alert, Soot charged for the nearest bush - praying that his scent would be hidden well enough.
"Is it true you saw a loner last night, Crooked Heart?" A youthful and curious voice asked.
"Indeed, he was black, with some gray you could say. Looked like soot," Another voice answered, Soot assuming it was Crooked Heart.
"We haven't had a lone wolf in years, only our oldest elder experienced a lone wolf, and lost his ear in a battle!"
"It is true - Ragged Pelt has been the only one to experience a lone wolf so far, and me being the next." Through gaps in the bushes, Soot could make out a strong gray wolf, puffing out his chest.
A solemn silence filled the area, it was easy to hear an ear flick. In which, that is what Soot heard.
A red snout pressed to the floor, and the sounds of sniffling filled Soot's ears. He started to get a little frightened, he was going to be found.
"What is it, Red Sky?" Crooked Heart stepped up to her until, he too parted his jaws.
"I smell someone, and he's near," Red Sky responded.
"I do too, and in fact, the smell is awfully familiar.."
It was a flurry of claws and fur. Soot felt incredible weight crash him down onto the ground, his head hurt from the fall. He was now out of the bushes, bearing the weight of Crooked Heart, and bearing the stare of Red Sky.
The big, gray wolf snarled,"It's you! What do you think you're doing here, in our territory?"
Red Sky parted her jaws, and walked over to a small rabbit, the rabbit that Soot had caught. The black wolf gulped as he realized he caught the prey on their territory.
She brought the rabbit over to Crooked Heart,"I think he's been hunting on our territory."
Crooked Heart sniffed the rabbit, and looked back at Soot, lips curled back,"Indeed he has."
Soot felt slices of pain go up the upper half of his body as Crooked Heart dug his claws deeper into his skin. Soot whimpered a surrender.
"Crooked Heart, let go, he certainly had no intention of this. Lone wolves are usually born outside our Packs, they never really learned the true importance of not crossing territories."
The gray wolf looked down at Red Sky's paws,"I suppose you're right," He looked back at Soot,"If I catch you on our territory again, you're haredung!" And with that, Crooked Heart let go of Soot, and stalked away with Red Sky.