The young ones frolicked in the middle of the circle of adults seemingly without any care. The regular cries of hunger were soothed by the watching adults and parents when they could. But, it had been a while since any of them had eaten.

“When we move and hunt?” was the question on everyone’s mind, but the Leader wasn’t giving an answer. He had rested in the shade most of the day, but now he was stirring to take his watch during the night with some of the others. He stretched his long, feline body as he stood up from his rest.

Scar was ready to rest for the night, but it was his Mate that pressed the issue. “The Pup hungers. When we hunt food?”

The leader looked at her with tired eyes. “You know can’t hunt when green ones near. Kills cubs and pups.”

Scar Mate softly growled and fixed her wolfen eyes on Leader. “And, if my Pup starves?” she asked. The others made small noises of agreement.

“Soon. All want to eat, but must be safe.” Leader walked away, working out the last bits of sleep from his body.

Scar licked the Pup quickly as he moved to take his position inside the circle for the night. The green ones had been cruel in killing all of Pup’s siblings, and Scar worried about him being alone. He knew that Mate was conflicted between safety and food.

The parents were starting to grab their young ones and get them ready for sleep. A few protested, but eventually all settled down into a quiet slumber. Shadow performed her nightly ritual of circling her sleeping area seven times then twitching her bushy red tail before laying down; she claimed it made her, and by extention the group, harder to find in the darkness.

As the last bits of light faded from the sky, the watchers turned all their senses to watch the surroundings. The light of the moons was bright this night, so all movement on the plains were easy to see with their watchful eyes. A gentle breeze brought the various scents of the area to them, letting them know that nothing unknown was nearby. In the distance, sensitive ears picked up the rolling of the waves through the night in addition to the typical noises in the area; noises that might be prey, or that could be predators.

Suddenly, after many hours of quiet, something crashed through the brush a small distance away from the group. Leader’s ears pricked up and he glanced that direction. The old wolfen one, Growl, stood up and took a slow breath to focus himself. He looked toward Leader, who nodded and motioned toward the sound. Growl crouched down and moved silently toward the brush and blended into the night.

With a quick sniff of the air, Growl caught a familiar scent that he couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t one of the pack, or an animal, but something he had scented before…. As he crawled around the bush, he saw it: a creature putting rocks together in a pile. He watched quietly for a short while. As the figure stood up, Growl jumped slightly and got ready to pounce. The figured looked up and opened its eyes wide as it recognized the sleek form before it.

They both stood there for a while, both keeping careful eyes on the other and tensed up to counter any sudden move. It was the bare one that took the first careful step backwards. Then another, and some gentle sounds. It held its hands in front of it, protecting itself from any sudden moves. Growl took a few steps backward and relaxed a bit. The other figure slowly got down to the ground, touched its head to the ground, then crawled backward slowly. It was out of sight before Growl turned around and headed back to the group.

“What?” Leader wanted to know when Growl returned.

“A tall, furless one, but no hunting stick.”

“They hunt green ones?”

Growl nodded as he took his place back in the circle and turned his eyes outward. The rest of the night passed quietly as Leader was left with his thoughts.

As the sun rose, the group started stirring. Sleepy adults were starting to wake up and prepare to take their place on the watch. Leader decided it was time to share the news.

“Pack!” the Leader yelped, getting everyones attention. “The tall ones who hunt the green beasts have returned. Our cubs are safe.”

Small noises of joy echoed through the pack. Finally, they would hunt!