Traveling Through the Forest

Oula led the wolves deep into forest. It was the best path to take to keep from being out in the open. She turned back making sure that they were keeping up. "Come on, pick up the pace you two." She knew that soon they would have to hunt for a meal but first they would have to find something. "If either of you spot potential prey, be sure to let me know." She said, calling back to them again.

Aniyu rushed to keep up with Oula. Since she did not know the territory, it was best for her to stay close. She kept her eyes open for any sign of large prey such as deer or maybe even moose.

Neeju rushed up to his sister's side. "Keeping up is never a problem for me, you know that Oula." He said with a smile. Just then he caught the scent of a herd of elk in the distance. "We maybe eating sooner then you think. There are elk near by."

Oula sniffed and caught the scent of the elk. A grin grew on her face as she looked at the other two. "I guess dinner is served then." She raced into the woods following the scent and only looked back briefly to make sure that Naava and Aniyu were following behind her. With blazing speed she charged at the elk herd and managed to bring one down. She clamped her jaws firmly on it's neck and waited for the others.

Neeju rushed over to Oula and he too clamped his jaws tightly on the elk and refused to let go. He watched as his sister had it by the neck and it took it's final breaths. He laid down beside Oula and began to eat.

Aniyu too rushed to join the adult wolves. She was starving and couldn't wait to dig her teeth into the elk. Without hesitation she tore into the elk and pulled off a big chuck of meat and devoured it.

Oula too had began to fill her belly. She looked over at her brother and Aniyu and smiled. She was happy to have the company along with her as she was on her way to her den. She had only hoped that her mate Kodiak would be there as well. She continued eating but then her ears began to perk as a strange noise had traveled across the wind. She paused for a moment and gave a low growl. She licked the blood from her mouth and stood up. The fur on the back of her neck began to raise up and she became more and more on edge. Something or someone was in the area...

Aniyu looked up from the carcass for a moment. She wondered just what Oula had heard and looked at Neeju. "What's the matter with Oula?" she said softly to him.

A large young black wolf watched from a distance in the shadows as the three wolves ate their kill. It was a young male by the name of Raven. He hadn't eaten in days and his stomach was truly rumbling but he knew better then to just wander over to the wolves seeing as how he was in unfamilar territory. He stayed put for the time being and tried his best not to make a sound hoping that they would not sense his presence.

Neeju glanced over at Oula. He too was becoming on edge from the strange sound but did not want to alarm Aniyu. "She hears something..." He said whispering back to her. "It might be best to keep our guard up just the same." He quickly finished his last few bites and stood up. He gazed into the distance but saw nothing. He turned to Oula once more. "I could be wrong, but I do not think we are alone." He whispered to her hoping that Aniyu would not hear him.

Aniyu looked at Neeju curiously. She too had finished her meal in a hurry and stood up. She looked all around by saw nothing. She began to sniff the air and her nose had picked up a very faint scent. It was not of anything she had smelled before but knew that it couldn't be good. She stayed close to Neeju and Oula just the same.

Oula nodded to Neeju. "I think your right." She too had picked up the strange scent. It was not of their pack but of a rival pack. She bared her teeth and let out a deep and menacing growl while the fur along her neck and back began to stand up. She hunched down to the ground ready to attack if she had to. "We know you're there! You're outnumbered, show yourself!" She placed herself in front of Aniyu. If the wolf she was smelling was larger then her, then she knew Aniyu would be an easy target if a fight broke out.

Raven knew there was no sense in hiding any longer. He could see that he was outnumbered and even though he meant no harm, it was clear that he would have to prove that. He cautiously made his way out of the shadows and gazed at the other wolves. He kept a good distance from them but kept his guard up just the same.

Oula growled once more. "What is your business in Animus pack territory?" She glanced at Neeju briefly. "Protect Aniyu." She whisper to him. She then turned back to the strange wolf who was standing just a few feet from them and awaited an answer.

Neeju nodded and stepped in front of Aniyu. He too growled at the strange wolf and was ready to help his sister if he had to. He fixed his gaze upon Raven, waiting for him to even think about trying anything.

Raven took a step closer but with caution. He was not up for a fight nor did he want to start one with being outnumbered. "I do not mean any harm to any of you." he said staring at the other wolves. "I am a loner and I was just looking for a new pack to call home."

Oula growled deeper as Raven stepped closer. "I find that hard to believe seeing as how you smell of a rival pack." She said in a low menacing voice. "Perhaps you were sent here to retrieve information about us." She bared her teeth and she became more and more on edge. She did not trust this wolf nor did she have any reason to.

Raven could hear the anger in Oula's voice. "I assure you I am not here because of another pack. I left my pack some time ago and have been on my own ever since." He stepped closer once more even though something inside his head was telling him to stay put. "I do not wish to fight any of you, I was just hoping to join your pack."

Neeju glared at Raven. He couldn't help but feel that maybe he was telling the truth. Still, it was not their place to allow anyone in the pack without their brother Naava's consent.

Oula growled again to warn Raven to stay back. "If you wish to join the pack, you will have to speak with our brother the alpha male. He is the only one who can decide whether or not you will be allowed to stay." In truth, Oula did not want to deal with his stranger right now. Her priority was to get back to her den to check up on Kodiak. She turned to Neeju once again. "Neeju will escort you if you truly do wish to be apart of the pack but don't expect Naava to be all that welcoming towards you." She then turned to Aniyu. "You will come with me Aniyu. It's not far from here now."

Raven bowed his head. He knew better then to move towards Oula so instead he simply walked around her to stay out of her way. He stood in front of Neeju and gave another bow. "I suppose it would be best if I introduce myself to you now." he said while lifting his head. "I am Raven."

Oula watched as Raven walked around her. She did not take her gaze off of him. Before he stood in front of Neeju she whispered, "Don't let him out of your sight." She nodded for Aniyu to stay close to her just incase. Turning to Raven she said, "I am Oula and as you might have already guessed, this is my brother Neeju." She still kept up her guard around the strange loner. The pack had many enemies and she was right not to trust anyone who smelled of a rival pack. "You will stick with Neeju and listen to his every word. I guarentee you that if you try anything funny, you will not live to tell the tail." With that she then gave her brother a nod and continued on her way through the forest with Aniyu.

Aniyu followed closely behind Oula. She did not know what to make of this new male who had seemed to of appeared out of no where, nor did she really want to find out. She turned back for a slight moment hoping that Neeju would be alright before rushing to keep up with Oula.

Oula continued on her way to her den. She still couldn't get that foreign loner out of her mind. She shook her head. "Naava will sort it out." she thought to herself. She called back to Aniyu. "Come on, keep up young one. We're almost there."

Aniyu nodded to Oula. "I'm coming." She picked up her pace to keep with her. She started to wonder why they were heading back to Oula's den but thought it best not to ask questions at this time. She was confident that she would find out soon enough.