Hare Hunting

Lykos' tail swished silently back and forth in the bushes. He was happy, as far as a wolf like him could be. There was a hare in the field in front of him, an old buck with greying fur and terrible senses. There was a guarantee of a meal today. Lykos quietly stalked onwards, his velvety pawpads making barely any sound on the leaves. Then, before the hare knew what had happened... he pounced. His teeth clamped around the creature's body, and it was dead in seconds, one of his easiest hunts yet. His eyes quickly darted around, making sure there were no rival wolves around, before he greedily began to eat.

Brindle and Celest were walking near by, talking loudly to each other as usual. Brindle snickered and pounced on Celest, "Roar!"
Celest yelped, "Ack! Brindle what the hell?"
Brindle laughed, "Look at your fur, it's a mess now!"
"Only because you had to go and pounce on me!" Celest whined.

Lykos's head jerked up from the hare, startled. Then his teeth were instantly bared in an instinctive menacing growl.

Celest pushed Brindle off, "Did you hear that?"
Brindle nodded, "Yeah, sounded like a growl."

Lykos knew his best tactic lay in surprise, so he crouched low and sprang through the bushes at the two wolves, growling and snarling in full angry wolf mode.

Celest and Brindle doubled down in a defensive position, baring their teeth. Celest snarled, "An intruder! What runs through their minds when they dare step on our territory and challenge us?!" Brindle muttered, "Beats me..."

Lykos growled deep in his throat. It as better to ignore their conversation, they were probably trying to provoke him. He circled around them for a moment, then leaped for Brindle's neck expertly.

Celest lunged and her teeth clashed with Lykos, snarling with anger. Brindle jumped onto his back, making a move for the neck.

Lykos tried his unique move, flipping over on to his back, crushing Brindle under the weight of a full-grown wolf who's just eaten his fill. Then he shot up again before Celest could go for his throat, spinning round so her teeth scraped a deep cut in his shoulder. Then he clamped his own around her tail.

Brindle yelped but wasted no time. Her teeth slashed at Lykos's side as Celest whipped around and snapped her jaws shut on his face.

Lykos yelped like a puppy from the pain in his nose, which was already throbbing from a mass of scars, which still hurt even though he'd gotten them 15 dog years ago. He snapped threateningly at Celest, but he knew he was beaten. He couldn't face two wolves and survive, so his head turned away in a gesture of surrender.

Celest growled, "Tell me why you're here now."

Lykos snarled angrily. "Don't play games with me, I'm not in the mood. Why else would I be in a hare-hunting place?"

Brindle and Celest both snarled at the same time, "This is fox pack territory! You're obviously not a member so you do not belong here!"

Lykos paused. "Pack territory? I had no idea." He seemed to think for a second, then... "You see, I haven't been able to smell a thing for some time now. A few moons ago a lynx slashed at my nose... I have to rely on eyesight and listening skills alone. I truly am sorry, I didn't catch your scent." Lykos' ears were lowered ashamedly.

The two seemed to calm down and Brindle spoke, "Well, it was an honest mistake." Celest mumbled, "I still don't trust him." "You're only butthurt cause when he got your tail it took out a patch of fur." Brindle grinned. Celest rolled her eyes, "And i supposed you liked being crushed under is body weight?" Brindle sighed, "Sourpuss."

"Ever since that lynx attack... So you're in a pack? Fox pack?" Lykos asked curiously, a flicker of hope sparking in his eyes.

Brindle nodded, "Yep, fox pack indeed."

"Do... do you think they would let me join?" Lykos asked hesitantly.

Brindle and Celeste shrugged, "Maybe, but we couldn't be certain."