The distant past

[Timber]

(Just a few years ago in the middle of winter)

Morana was hungry. Patrolling the river, by will of her own and a need for some movement, Is exhausting. Sensing some movement on the other bank, she looked warily across. Seeing a wolf, she instantly crouched down.

Meanwhile

Velox had decided to try to fish. He was bored back at the Fire Pack, and wanted to see some action. Looking across the river he sighed When's this world going to give me something fun? All of a sudden, he saw some movement on the other bank. "Lucky Ice Pack," he said to himself "they've got some rabbits"

[Eclipse]

Felsen loved his life and everything that came with it. What wasn't to love about being young, carefree, and beautiful? It didn't matter that it was winter and prey was scarce. He was a growing wolf, and he could take care of himself.

There was just a little part of him that was empty. One thing he wanted. Something he was itching to have. He felt a very strong yen within himself.

And that was why he'd followed her down to the river. He hoped to catch her attention, maybe impress her with his fishing skills.

Felsen stood in the bushes, watching Morana's slender body pacing back and forth along the bank. She was keeping an eye on the fire pack's bank, while at the same time looking for any fish she might be able to catch.

Suddenly, she froze. She'd seen something on the other side of the river. Morana slowly lowered herself into a crouch. Felsen squinted his eyes, searching the shoreline. He saw a wolf, standing next to a tall tree.

I must protect her! he thought to himself, forgetting that she was still unseen by the other wolf, and that that other wolf was on the other side of the river. His young passion made him forget their safety. He wanted to impress the she-wolf.

He immediately jumped out of the bushes that concealed him and ran to Morana's side and crouched next to her. "I just happened to be walking by," he said quietly, "and noticed your, uh, situation. I figured you could use some help." He looked at her with bright eyes.

But the look she gave him was anything but thanks. "You idiot," she hissed. "He's seen us now!"

And sure enough, when Felsen looked back across the river, the wolf was now standing alert, ears pricked, looking at their almost exact location.

"Oops," was all Felsen could think to say.

[Timber]

Watching the "rabbits" Velox got hungry.
Loosing interest, and not wanting to get yelled at for crossing the river, he started looking for fish.

"You idiot," Morana hissed at Felsen. "He's seen us now!"
Warily eying the wolf across the bank, she started backing up.
All of a sudden, the wolf seemed to loose interest in them.
"Why isn't he trying to attack?!?" she yelped feeling hurt that he had seemingly lost interest in them.
This is the most interesting thing that's happened in months!

Hearing a yelp, Velox looked up.
Is it an enemy wolf? Finally!! I've had a yen for this all year!

[Eclipse]

[fang granted for using the WOTW!]

"Why isn't he trying to attack us?" mumbled Morana, frustrated. Felsen looked at her in surprise. She wants to be attacked?
Suddenly, his effort to save her seemed much less chivalrous and attractive.

Felsen paused for a moment, trying to come up with a solution. Aha! he thought to himself. Clearly, she's just the feisty type who's looking to defend her territory. This, he decided, made her that much more appealing.

The more he thought about it, though, the more he realized how pointless this situation was. They were both on their proper sides of the river, neither causing any harm to the either. Felsen, try as he may, didn't quite get it.

That was, until the fire wolf on the other side called out to them.

[Timber]

"Hello?" Velox called out across the river.
Is it really a wolf? he thought. The more I think about it, the less likely it seems.

Hearing the enemy wolf call out, Morana realized that she had not yet realized that they were there.
"Ha" she caught herself before saying more.
Quietly chuckling, she told Felsen "He doesn't see us! Isn't that funny?"

[Eclipse]

"Isn't that funny?" Morana chuckled softly.

Felsen met her beautiful eyes and laughed lightly back. Truthfully, he was at least a little bit worried. Something wasn't right in this situation. He had a feeling that things weren't as simple as they seemed.

He quickly pushed those thoughts from his mind. He was Mr. Tough Guy, and he wanted to impress the lady. So he laughed at the foolish fire pack wolf, standing awkwardly on the other bank.

"Look at him, standing there," Felsen snickered. "He has no idea what's going on!"

Morana was laughing too. "He looks like a lost pup!"

Felsen was loving every minute of this. "How ridiculous he looks!" Felsen howled.

Big mistake.

Both the adolescent ice wolves saw it in the other wolf's body language. Any doubt he'd had that the movement he'd seen wasn't a wolf was gone in an instant upon hearing Felsen's loud laughter.

[Timber]

It is a wolf! Quickly though Velox realized that since they were not on each others bank, they were not immediate threats to each other. So instead of howling to his pack, he instead settled down to make sure the Ice wolf did not cross the river (He still doesn't realize it's two wolves) and called across "Don't you try to cross over on my watch!"

"The nerve of that wolf!" Morana growled to Felsen, "He thinks we want to go over there?" After a few minutes of glaring at the Fire wolf in disgust, Morana decided to go do what she had come for, to delve for prey.

[Eclipse]

Felsen chuckled. How stupid of that silly fire wolf! he thought to himself. I'm much happier staying over here anyway.

Morana shuffled off a little ways into the bushes that lined the bank, looking for prey. Her sleek body moved slowly and gracefully. She crouched down, ears pricked up. She must have found something! Felsen watched as she slowly glided forward, then in one quick movement pounced on a squirrel, nipping it quickly.

Felsen saw all this from the bank, and a slight shiver ran through him upon seeing her showcase her hunting skills. She definitely was a special wolf.

He decided he would need to catch something too. He stood up on all four legs and, as Morana began to eat her catch, stalked towards the dense undergrowth. A perfect place for catching prey, he realized.

Upon hiding himself in the leaf cover, he crouched down and focused on all the little sounds of the wild. A bird flying back to her nest, her chicks chirping in hopes of food. A squirrel digging up soil, trying to find the exact spot where he buried his acorns last fall. And - aha! - a rabbit nibbling on some small green plant.

Felsen targeted his ears toward the sound and slowly and silently padded towards it. Now he could see the rabbit, a nice plump one. He didn't move, waiting for the rabbit. Unknowingly, the little creature started to walk towards him, seeking more greenery. And then.....he jumped!

"Ahhck!" Felsen grumbled as the rabbit darted from beneath his paws. He landed on damp ground, not the warm furry rabbit he'd been hoping for. Something had startled it away.

He'd heard it, too.