Family

[Avena]

The days dragged on and on, the forest no longer was enjoyable for Melody. Her and Bane had searched weeks for a pack to hopefully join, but it seemed as if they were the only two wolves in the entire forest. She plopped her butt down on the ground, "Bane, I'm getting tired...and hungry...where are these packs?"

[Raven]

"They move north in the winter if they can."

He too sat on his butt, Dewi's hind leg coming up to scratch at his huge coat.

"I heard them howling last night - we have to be close."

[Avena]

She shook some dirt from her hair, "Can we rest for the day, I don't think I can go much further..."

[Raven]

"Of course, if you're tired I'll go find some food and you can rest here."

Dewi shoved his wolfsnout to one side, licking Melody's cheek.

"What would you like to eat? Deer? Bear? Duck? I bet I could find just about anything for you..."

[Avena]

"Whatever is easiest, you know I only drag you down," she turned and licked at his cheek, "I still haven't quite mastered hunting..."

[Raven]

"That's alright. The man is supposed to provide for his mate. I'll be back soon."

He darted into the underbrush, a giant shaggy form, dark in the scant moonlight. Soon Melody was left all alone by their little encampment, to wait until her mate's return.

[Avena]

Melody set to work making up a makeshift bed for them, she had hoped to again try to get pregnant since they hadn't had such great luck lately. Some rustling in the bushes had her jump and turn. She wasn't ready to fight anything, unless it was smaller then her but even then she'd have trouble. Her eyes darted around as the rustling seemed to be behind her now, "H-hello?"

[Raven]

At first she may have thought it was Dewi coming back to see her, but the wolf that came into view was white, far less shaggy, and also smaller. He cocked a head and ear to one side, and then raised his muzzle skywards to call more of his compatriots. More wolves gathered around him, maybe five if even that.

[Avena]

The last to join them was a younger wolf who looked to be coming out of his teen years and coming into adulthood. He looked at Melody with a curious look, it wasn't often that they found a wolf all on her own.

Melody looked around nervously, "I-I don't want a fight...please."

[Raven]

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" said the white wolf.

Truly, he was smaller than Dewi. But he was also a good size larger than all the rest. As he drew closer to Melody she saw that part of his right ear was missing, as was his right eye. Little ugly scars covered his body at random intervals. Clearly this was a hound that had seen much violence in his life.

[Avena]

Melody cowered, "M-my name is Melody...I'm here with my mate. He's looking for food right now...I don't mean any harm I swear it."

[Raven]

"Food!" one wolf howled. "Food is already scared enough in the winter!"

Murmured ascent followed. The old white wolf looked on at Melody with narrow and dangerous eyes, stalking towards her at first, and then circling around the honey-colored she-wolf.

"Call your mate."

[Avena]

Melody nodded before raising her head and howling, Bane wasn't too far so he was sure to hear her.

[Raven]

Dewi, the wolf form of Bane, eventually trotted into the clearing, carrying a deer's body between his massive jaws. His face was sweet and his eyes friendly as he walked towards the wolves.

"Mmmldy mound you!" he mumbled, unable to articulate with the piece of food clutched in his mouth.

The wolves all looked horrified, he had hunted and killed one of their scarce deer! The white wolf snarled, trotting up to Dewi, a black night wolf besides the snowy patch of white on his chest.

"Put. That, Down!"

A hairy paw struck across Dewi's face, causing the deer fall and the large wolf to yelp, his face falling to the ground where he pawed at it.

[Avena]

"Bane!" she ran over to him licking at where his face had been hit.