Alpine sighed as Halo nuzzled up against him. His eyes shot to his sister slipping by everyone with her head hung low. With that being said he jumped up brushing Halo off and wandered towards her. "Hey stranger!" Alpine barked out to the small she wolf, "Shhh, go along with it so Halo will leave me alone..." He whispered the last bit under his breath. Willow nodded and sat down padding her tail next to her as saying, "Come sit!" That was his sister for you. Doing the least she can do to communicate. Alpine sat beside her starting to chat with her but then his fathers howl went on. The hunt was beginning. He leaped up, tail standing tall. "Well I gotta go, father seemed like he was testing me today when he asked me to his hunt." Alpine barked out before leaping through the pack and into the hunters group leaving camp. His paws hit the ground fast as they ran there way down the territory. Alpine sped up working his way beside his father. His father had the look again, eyeing him down as if he thought Alpine wasn't worthy yet. He did this every other time he thought Alpine would slip up and fail. Truth is Alpine hasn't failed since he was a juvenile and never will again in front of him. Alpine gave his father a look of determination in his eyes as he kept his steady lead beside his father. They raced down the quarry, down the brook-side, and past the maple field. Till they finally made it to the prime elk herd. A elk herd purely of male bull elks. Some young and scrawny, some huge and dangerous. Something flipped in Alpine knowing this wasn't a normal test. This was like a final test.

double post srry-

Winter sank her teeth into the elk's shoulder. Blood filled her mouth and dripped down her jaw. Crow had the elk's ankles locked in his jaws. Snow some how got a hold of the thigh. Slowly, the elk slowed. He was still alive, but barely. Moon griped the neck. Stumbling, the elk failed to see Crow let go and lunge for the stomach. Letting out a bellow loud enough to rival a howl, it breathed it's last. Winter lead the pack in a thanksgiving. Then "Crow, you and Snow and drag that leg to camp. Moon, see if you can grab the other. I can help." Winter heard a howl echoing across the valley. Winter lets one out in return. Long and melodious, it stretches deep and going higher at the end. Winter takes her time putting her head back down. Then she turns to help Moon.

Alpine set his eyes on his father who gave the go away. Then he was off sprinting to scare the bull elks to run. The elk let gruffs of determination. They weren't afraid, but soon they would be. Alpine snapped his jaws at them swerving away to avoid their hooves. Then one by one they started to run. His pack member in view started chasing them and turning them. It was time to pick off the straggler. With his paws beating the ground he was ahead of his father. His jaws parted as he watch each elks legs. Then there was the fine male elk, many points on his rack. There was no hesitation in his lunge. The elk straggled behind. Hooves running too fast for it's body. Alpine struck tearing his teeth into the haunches of the bull. It thrashed giving Alpine small and very ineffective hits. His jaws locked in crushing deeper within the elks muscle. He could see his pack in his vision running to catch up. First his father caught up latching his jaws into the elks leg. Alpine took his chance and let go. Blood had stained his fangs letting the crimson taste fuel his hunger. With his father slowing the elk he made a hard, shouldering blow to the elk. His father crashed off from the impact. The elk let out a smoldering cry. Then it was that father hunkered back down and more and more pack members launched on. Soon it fell limp, gone with the wind. Father let out a snarl to the others as they yipped in glee for fresh meat. Alpine sat a look of pure determination on his face.

Winter dragged the hunk of meat to her pack. They had wandered far to find the elk, so they had to walk far to bring it back. Trudging on, Winter let her mind relax. Was that Alpine's howl she heard earlier? No, it could not be. It was different than the way he talked to her. If only she could see him again. Focus. Winter and Moon had fallen behind. Redoubling their efforts, the catch up, slowly. They can see the camp from here. Winter speeds up just a little more. The one wolf standing guard spots them and hurries to help. Sinking his teeth into Snow and Crow's haunch, the new comer starts dragging too. Faster, the camp approaches. Entering, Winter's father stands to greet her. He motions for the leg to be set to his left leads the pack in a thanks giving. Just a small one before the pups jump to be the first to taste it. "Good job" Winter's father seems to say, but it could have been the wind.

Alpine licked his jowls as his father flicked his tail signaling Alpine to join in. Alpine bathed in the glory jaws tearing around at the fresh meat. He got the choisest parts. Snatching the liver whole and gulping it down. Red ran down his chin as he ate. Once he ate till his bellly went round he stepped back letting out the most prideful howl. He had proved himself to his father and that was all that mattered. His howl rang the trees with victory and courage. It shook the snow off trees and rattled the ground floor. He was victorious. Alpine kept repeating it to himself, "I have won dirty mut!" Referring the dirty mut to his father.

I let the young pups eat. So happy, so carefree. Someday, I want pups. Someday. Alpine does not cross my mind until a distance howl shreads the sienlance. Deep, melodios, prideful, Alpine? The sun is getting low. Maybe I will see him tomarrow? Why are we rivals? Alpine seems so nice. Is the rest of his pck like that? Is he really like that, or is he acting. No, I do not think so. The fresh kill smells so good. My eyes ask an unspoken question. My dad awnsers. "Yes." I more in to eat the prey. No much, but enough. I had already ate when I was with Alpine after all. I step back, letting the mothers eat. I move to my section of the den and laydown. Should I sleep outside tonight? No. Too cold.

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