Chapter Text
Twigs snapped as paws stepped on them. A dark she-wolf stepped into the forest, pricking her ears and sniffing the air. All she could smell was elk, mule deer, and Territory markings from the Fox Rapids pack.
She could hear the roaring of the river ahead, she trotted until she eventually reached it. She carefully slid into the small canyon, making sure not to fall, and stepping into the muddy water.
She closed her eyes as the water ran over her paws. When she opened them she turned to the grassy hills ahead. She bent down to take a drink of water, before continuing and swimming to the other side.
She shook her thick, black coat out and went to the top of the hill, her gaze sweeping the land. Where was he? She wondered. Had he forgotten? He told her to meet at this time.
But sure enough she saw his gray figure bounding towards her, she raised her tail as he approached.
“Fire!” he called.
She waited for him to reach her before responding. “Wind,” she said, sniffing his nose. “You're a bit late,” she barked, backing away.
He chuckled awkwardly. “Pups were being chaotic, Pebble ran off, had to find him.”
“Pups are always doing something.” Fire grumbled. “Parsley ran off during an attack on the den and almost got her butt bit by a coyote. Now she's too scared to leave the den! I had to drag her out myself!” she complained
Wind sat on the ground, it was damp from yesterday's rain. He lifted his snout to the air, sniffing.
It was silent for a moment, before Wind spoke up.
“What do you think happened to them? The old pack, I mean.”
Fire turned, surprised at the question. She shrugged. “I dunno. Probably disbanded.”
Wind let out a breath. “Ya’ think Smoke went with that she-wolf she always talked about? I don' t know bout’ you, but I think it was pretty clear she had a crush on her.”
Fire laughed, “I think everyone knew that, if that wolf didn't she’s more dumb than a newborn pup!”
Wind let out a growl as he shifted. When Fire looked at him confused he just shrugged. “I'm old. My bones ache.”
Fire rolled her eyes and pushed him slightly. “Your acting like aches are the worst thing imaginable!” she laughed.
“Close enough,”
Fire snorted. “Okay Mr. Ow, oww, my bones hurt ughh im so old!”
He rolled his eyes. “We're the same age.”
“Yeah but you're older than me, by a few minutes– I think.”
Wind raised an eyebrow. “You think?”
“I mean, probably, you act older.”
“Whats that supposed to mean?”
“You act like you know everything! Maybe I should start calling you Smarty-paws!” she snickered
“Hey! At least I don't bite others when they try to get to a carcass!”
“I don't do that!.. Anymore!”
She looked in the distance. It was getting dark. “I should get back to the den, they'll be worried about me.”
“Oh,” Wind woofed, disappointed. “Meet again sometime?”
“Sure, the third day of the warm-season is good?”
Wind thought for a moment, before nodding, “well then, Farewell, Fire.”
Fire flicked an ear at him. “Why do you sound like we're never going to meet again? We've already picked a date.”
Wind rolled his eyes at her. Fire lightly smacked him with a paw and walked back to her den. Wind watched as she wandered into the forest, where he couldn't see her anymore. Watching her go, he longed for the past, where he was still in Cougar Creek territory With Fire and Smoke. Now Fire was the leader of a rival pack, while they had a truce to never kill one of the other pack members, although they still fought. And he didn't even know where Smoke was. If she was still alive.
He shook his head, trying to get rid of the flood of memories he was drowning in. With a sigh he turned around and trotted back to his own densite.