Shatter's POV

"Kyra!"

The female ice hound glanced up, fur sticking up along her back. That was my mother. She was the strongest hound in the whole pack. Or so, that's what I had been told several times over by almost all of the bigger hounds I knew. She looked worried, deeply worried as if something horrible had happened.

She told me the story of how she and my father had joined the Varg's pack. They were once a pair of hunting hounds owned by a walrus by the name of Mactusk. After a particularly harsh winter followed by a summer far too hot to make up on the lost hunting, and they had been given up. They had traveled together for a while until Varg's pack found them hunting a beefalo together. They had joined in hopes of providing the best life possible for them and their future pups. While my father had passed before I was even born, though, I carried his spirit in my name.

I was proud to carry this name. I was still small, but I was growing quickly. Soon, I knew, I would be big enough to join my first dangerous hunting party.

I didn't realize how soon it was.

Varg was incredibly massive and incredibly terrifying. His eyes were white and beady, and today they were flaring with either excitement or anger or both.

"Shatter did very well in his first hunting assignment," Varg began.

Momma dipped her head, looking... worried? "He did."

"Shatter, are you interested in joining another hunting party? This one will be much more dangerous, but should you succeed, you will be hailed a hero."

Kyra looked as if she were about to speak, but she clamped her jaw shut and glanced at me instead. "...This is your choice, pup. You're old enough to have a name, and you are old enough to make your own decisions."

"Your mother is right, young hound." Varg's eyes glimmered. "Will you join the party against the survivors?"

"Will I!?" I exclaimed, quivering with excitement. "O-Of course!" I hesitated, then broke into a bow as I had seen the other pups before I do to address their leader. "I-It would be an honor to serve you!"

"Kyra, I expect that you would like to go with Shatter," Varg continued, and the female hound dipped her head in agreement. "And... Ebony, Coal, Midnight, Ash..." The mighty beast lowered his head in thought. "Pitch." The five black hounds barked to show their acknowledgment and lined up in front of Varg. My mother gently nudged me from behind, encouraging me to join them. I did, but slowly. Kyra joined them, and I stood beside her. Varg paced down the line, sniffing each of us in turn. He stopped at me, his beady eyes freezing me in my spot. "You're young, but you're strong. I've seen the way you can hunt and fight, and I trust in your ability to do this." A huge paw touched the top of my head. "You have your father's strength." He turned back to the pack. "These hounds will return victorious over the intruders of our hunting land!"

Yelps and bellows of triumph echoed over the group. I felt my chest puff with pride. This is my pack. I'm going to fight for my pack!

"You will leave immediately," Varg rumbled. "Good luck. The faith of the pack follows you."

The other hounds pounded the ground and barked, including my mother. I found myself deflating slightly, seeing the passion and strength in all of their shoulders and backs. It was rather obvious that I was the odd one out, but before I could say anything to mom, they were moving. Kyra naturally took the lead, and I was awed by the muscles rolling under her fur. I had never realized how strong my mother was.

We will do this! My mother is the biggest, strongest hound in the whole pack!

I will make you proud!