Wolves of The Everlasting Ice

[rainpelt]

Chapter 1
All was cold and dark. Icy wind wound its way over frozen plains and forests. All was still. Suddenly a pair of yellow eyes broke the stillness. The flicked back and forth. It's nose twitched as it scented the icy wind. It was a magnificent black wolf. Out of the darkness another pair boke the frozen black veil of night. The black wolf spun around in aggression then relaxed his body but his eyes gave away his annoyance.
"Charka, you know better than to sneak upon me. Especialy now with the wriths on our tails." He shivered as he mentioned the wraiths. Wraiths were humans that were not quite dead but not quite alive. They came forth when a flood swept through their homeland. They blamed their existence on the wolves and are trying to drive them to maddness and death by touching them and sending nigtmare after nigthmare.

[rainpelt]

Chapter 2
"Sorry Nox. I ran on ahead to say that rowan cought his paw in a wraith trap," Nox showed his concern,"But broke free. It was left in the ground too long." Charka added quickly. Nox sighed his relif then lifted his black muzzle aginst that of his expectant mate and howled. The rest of the pack replied his call before bounding towards Nox and Charka.
Wagging tails, yapping and muzzle licking greeted Nox and Charka. Rowan limped over to Charka and she gently licked his wound above his pad.
"Rowan,"Charka the kind grey wolf with brown streaks sighed,"You must be careful, especialy while the wriths pining for our blood."
"I'm sorry. i was looking for one but this years fallen leaves hid it."The solid grey wolf replied and bowed his head in subbmission and acknowlagement.
"Just make sure it doesn't happen again."  

[rainpelt]

Chapter 3
"Charka,"Nox said suddenly,"You must lead us now to the stone den. There we may be able to hide until spring comes and the sunlight may destroy the wriths."Wriths that touch the sunlight burn up and explode, A bit like vampires really.
"Very well then Nox. I might remember where it is."As Charka took the lead Nox, Rowan and the rest followed behind.
"Utulo, will we ever be free from wriths?"Nox asked a ochre, aging seer.
"When spring and sunshine comes so will freedom from the wriths. Have patience my young leader. Freedom will come.

[rainpelt]

"Come quickly I've found it." Relif was plain to hear in her velvet voice. They had been on the run for almost a month with a little food and water and charka was expecting babies. The pack ran forward and watched as Charka dissapeared inside a wolf sized tunnel. The pack squeezed inside after her and emerged in a cool and spacious cavern.
"This is the place I was born Nox," She growled, settling onto her belly and making herself compfy.
"Rest now Charka and we'll hunt to give strength to you and your little ones."Nox barked.
And with that he left and gathered a hunting pack and left.

[rainpelt]

Chapter 4
Hunting was easy. The hunting pack located a lame deer and brought it down on a flat plain. They ate, picked enormous haunches of meat, left it to the flying scavengers and loped homeward bound. But, when they arraived growls of pain erupted from the tunnel and the aged seer and last years litter were guarding the entrance to the tunnel.
"What the..."Nox started.
"Quiet,"Utulo whispered urgently,"It is her time. You may not go in there. She must do this alone. You may leave the meat outside the tunnel."
"Very well."With that, Nox placed the meat at the entrance and sat down.
They waited two days before Charka emerged exhausted but happy.
"Come"She said and sprang back into the tunnel.

[rainpelt]

A small furry mass was curled up asleep, tiny chest rising and falling in a nest of leaves and moulted hair. Next to it lay two unmoving, grimy lumps.
"Only one."Nox stated sadly.
"Only she survived. What do you nwant to name her?"Charka asked gently, looking at the light mound before lying in an ark around her. Suddenly the tiny pup squirmed towards Charka and started feeding. Charka grinned.
"Nix."Nox said immidietely, using the wolf word for snow, wich was appropriate for such a light coat.
"Nix. Such a nice name."Charka replied.
Suddenly golden shafts of light lit up the sky and a chilling scream was heard all over the world. The wriths were dead and the pack survived.
                                                             The End

[rainpelt]

                                                                     Authors Note
The winter had lasted a hundred wolf years. Utulo had been born halfway through.