An Unbalanced Balance

[Flame]

Crtch. The leaves crunched from beneath Blaze's feet. He froze, right forepaw in midstep. The tiny brown mouse's whiskers quivered ahead of him. Blaze sat his paw down gently, then crouched once more and advanced cautiously.
The mouse continued about its business. The wolf was soon upon it and before it knew it, he had dispatched it. Satisfised, he turned his tail and headed towards the camp.
When he arrived, he was surprised to find that the other hunting crew he had sent out did not come back with as much food as Blaze predicted. Strange, he thought. Normally, the first hunt of spring is very bountiful and we have a huge mound of kill. Why is it so low? The pack was expecting a feast, but too bad. I suppose I can just make up for it by hunting harder. Maybe they won't notice our prey shortage.
The patrol came into camp with some birds, not much to report. "Go try down by the river," he ordered. "There will be plenty of animals next to the water."

[sparky]

Sorra obediently set out towards the river, lagging behind the others. Why is Blaze being so strange? she thought.
She and the hunting party arrived at the riverside, eager to kill. She hoped no wolf would stray to the other side.
Maybe if I go onto the island, I can catch some fish! Sorra waded through the
murky river water until she reached the shore of no man's land. She painstakingly settled herself on a rock at the edge so as to not injure her back. Sorra peered into the water doubtfully. I've never fished before. But maybe this is what the pack needs if birds aren't enough.
Sorra dipped her paws into the water, trying to scoop up a lucky catch. Her pack mates were still bumbling about on land, trying to find some measly mice or whatnot. Imagine what the others would think if I could get a fish! But no matter what, the fish still evaded her desperate paws. Blast! How do those ice wolves do it?!
Sorra moved down the way into a bit of water that looked promising after several tries. She teetered over the edge. She saw many flashes of scales beneath the water's surface. "C'mon..." She muttered. "You can do this!"
Sorra's paw darted into the water with a huge splash. The other wolves looked up from the riverside. Sorra's claw hooked into a gill. YES! A floundering fish leapt from the rushing water and wriggled on her paw. As it began to slip, she slammed it down on the rock she was perched on and sunk her teeth into the slimy form. It was still.
Sorra whooped in excitement. She began to jump up, but squealed in pain as her back howled in pain. She flopped onto the rock, ears burning in shame. She peeked up at her fellow hunting partners, whose eyes were wide in shock. "You're not supposed to hunt on the island!!!" one shouted.
"Look at your fish!" Another cried.
Sorra looked down at the fish between her paws. She clenched the fish between her jaws by the tail and went as fast as possible towards Blaze. She ran into the camp, and placed her lucky catch at his feet.
Blaze gasped in astonishment. "A two headed fish?!"

[Flame]

What could have caused this? Blaze was lost for words. He stared at the dead fish at his paws. He had never seen anything like it in his life. It just wasn't natural.
There was a long silence. First the food shortages, and now this? If the lack of food continues, will he be forced to invade the ice pack's territory? "... Show me where you found this fish," he said.
Sorra lead him towards the river with a steady, limping gait. He could tell she was trying to look normal somewhat by going as fast as she could and masking her winces in pain. But she could fool no one. Strange to think she caught a fish, Blaze contemplated. I didn't think Sorra had the strength or dexterity with her... disability.
As if Sorra could hear his thoughts, she hobbled faster and kept her head low.

When they reached the river, Sorra motioned to the island with her muzzle. "I caught the fish over there,"
Blaze balked. "But you are not allowed to hunt on the island. It does not belong to us." he said angrily, eyes bearing down on Sorra.
"I was just doing my duty and feeding my pack!" She defended eyes raising. "And besides, if it does not belong to us nor the ice pack, then it is neutral. And who says we are not to hunt on a perfectly fine chunk of land if nobody uses it?"
Blaze surveyed the island. "Something is not right. Look at the trees, they haven't grown any leaves yet. They should have begun to get green by now since it is spring."

I've a feeling something is about to happen.

[sparky]

The trees don't have any leaves? "Strange." Sorra said dreamily. "Why are all of the plants and trees around the river sick? ...Maybe it's the water...?"
Sorra nudged some droopy brown reeds with her paw. They smelled sour. The distrurbing image of the diseased two-headed fish flashing behind her eyes. She shuddered. "Perhaps we should not drink the river water," Sorra suggested.
What are you thinking?! What other water is on our territory? We NEED this resource. It's probably just a coincidence.
"Don't listen to me." Sorra whispered.
I don't like the feeling of this.

[Timber]

FFFFFwwwoooooo The wind was howling through the trees, seemingly mocking him. Velox, after hearing that the pack was hunting again, decided to climb a tree. 'Squirls make this look so easy!' He thought, sliding down the tree for the twentieth time.
<< I am bad at making rps.... there might be more... just reply to it though>>
<<<and his tree is by the river>>>

[Flame]

<<KK. Btw, nice onomatopoeia!>>

Blaze stared thoughtfully into the trees over Sorra's head. A movement snapped him out of his daze. Something was making a racket over there!
Blaze brushed past Sorra and investigated the movement. "Velox!" Blaze yipped. "What are you doing? I have never before met a wolf who could successfully climb a tree like that." He gazed warmly at Velox as he slid down the trunk yet again.

[Timber]

<<thanks>>

!?!?!?! Hearing blaze talking to him, Velox begrudgingly slid down the tree once again.
'And I almost got to the lowest branch too!' He thought, trotting over to where Blaze and Sora were waiting.

[Flame]

The strange and bewildering events of the day buzzed uneasily in the back of Blaze's mind. Something is going to happen.
"C'mon, let's go to camp." Blaze said.

[Timber]

"WHAT!?!?"
Velox was shocked when he saw the two-headed fish.
"What kind of sick minded fiend would do such a thing to the river?"

[Flame]

Blaze sighed. He was beginning to feel genuinely worried. "I don't know. Maybe it its something in the water that is doing strange things to the fish. We should really speak to Lumiere about this. I don't think this is only happening on our territory."

<<END. >>