[Ivyfeather]

A broad shouldered, tall wolf flicked his dark-furred tail off of his nose and stood up from his warm nest. He glanced lovingly at his light-furred mate, licked her between the ears, and stalked off. As he picked his way through the trainees towards the front of the den, he felt the chilly breeze ruffle his fur. The sun was barely beginning to peak its way over the rocky hills, but Mato knew it was time to wake the pack and discuss business for the day. After stretching his back and shoulders, he decided to hunt first, then he would wake the pack.
He stalked out of the clearing and into the pine woods sniffing for any signs of life. He turned his ears northward and heard the scuttling of a squirrel. Squirrels were one of his favorite prey because of the challenge. He ever so carefully placed each paw on the dead, brown pine needles until he was about 4 paw steps from the squirrel and he lept. Pinning the squirrels tail under his claws, the squirrel wrenched around and nipped one of his toes. Mato bit down quickly and ended the creatures life. He picked up his left paw to look at the bite the squirrel had given him. Not too bad, Meda has something to make the stinging stop, and the bleeding will stop on its own. He licked his toe a few times before picking up the squirrel and returning to the clearing. As he turned the corner of the trees at the edge of the clearing, he saw his beautiful snow-furred mate grooming herself in the sun in the middle of the clearing. He trotted down with his squirrel and dropped it in front of her.

Chenoa flattened her ears at the sight of her mate. She stood up and licked his muzzle, thanking him for the squirrel. Although the smell of squirrel blood flooded her nostrils, she couldn't help noticing a different smell, wolf blood. She urgently sniffed Mato, "Were you hurt? Are you bleeding?" she asked urgently. He lifted his foot and grunted, obviously not worried about it. "You should really watch after those things. I'll wake Meda and have her look at it." Chenoa began to pad off when Mato lept in front of her and stopped her. She gave him a questioning look.

Mato stopped in front of her, his eyes warning. "I will speak to the pack before I have myself treated. It's only fair. You can eat, then wake the pack if you wish, but please eat first." He nuzzled the thick fur around her neck.

Chenoa agreed and returned to the squirrel and bit into it, still warm and fresh, a rare occasion during the brutally cold months of winter. She would organize a hunting party to go out after the pack meeting.