You pad along quietly through a thick forest. The smell of a stagnant pond a few miles off that you're oh-so desperate to find and the subtle musty scent from the fog rolling in fills your senses. The moon has long risen into the sky, filtering through the thick of branches above you to dimly light your path.
Those must be the reasons you aren't alert to the silent shadows following you, eyes vibrant through the fog when catching the moonlight just right as they stare.
You quicken your pace when you catch the shimmer of light reflecting off the still surface of the pond you were sniffing out, causing you to lick your flews with a dry tongue. Before stepping out into the clearing, you scan carefully; ears swiveling around as you raise your head, sniffing the air.
There appears to be nothing but you and the symphony of bugs singing their songs for Igaluk. You gently snort a huff and walk down to the water's edge, the sound of leaves trembling being easily brushed off as a breeze blows over you.
"You're far from home, iglaak."
A gruff voice cuts through the silence, startling you during your peaceful drink. You react by charging forward a few steps into the water, fur bristled as you quickly turn and stare into the darkness of trees and fog with a low rumble starting in your throat.
"Do you know where you are?"
"I doubt it. Poor thing couldn't smell us for miles."
"Maybe it's ill?"
"Well, now... We can't have that around, now can we?"
Hushed voices talk all around you. You aren't sure if their words are bouncing off the stones surrounding the water's edge or if you're genuinely being circled. You snap your head around at every small sound, ears swiveling to the next before you look. Your tail tucks slightly as your body stiffens.
How many are there..? Fighting a pack is the last thing you wish to do... Maybe you can run?
Amber eyes stand out among a background of black, gaze boring holes into your skull as they start to move. You hear it now, the distinct sound of paws moving through the brush all around you as the pack closes in.
Your heart races, all the blood pouring into your legs in preparation to flee, as you catch a glimpse of all white fur moving through the bushes to your left, nearly distracting from the two golden pelted wolves closing in on the right.
Before you know it, three wolves are closing in on you. A shiver zaps through you, causing your fur to stand on end even more as icy eyes send chills down your spine; A fourth now emerging from the protection of the trees to join their white-pelted packmate on your left.
The wolves curl their lips and rumble low growls when you attempt to move, giving you no way out other than fighting as they surround you. There's a nip at your tail that has you twisting around with a yelp, stumbling into the two golden-pelted wolves who snarl and snap at your side, biting light enough to hurt without breaking skin. The group starts up in a chorus of heckling barks and howls, something akin to laughs as they continue to push you around.
"That's enough."
That gruff voice from before booms out, cutting an end to the noisy pack as they stiffen and focus on a single point in the trees. A large black and white wolf emerges a few moments later, lip drawn up and tail held high as he stalks closer.
The group surrounding you slowly back off the closer he gets, causing you to lower yourself more in submission with your tail tucked tightly under you.
The wolf stops, staring down at you with bright eyes as he seems to take in your appearance.
"You're in Orpippalik territory, iglaak."
You lower closer to the ground as the wolf leans in, a toothy grin spreading across his muzzle.
"And you won't be leaving without meeting our Alpha."
The wolf turns, head lowering as he starts back into the forest.
"Tapeesa, Iqniq; See to it that our guest does not flee. I'd hate to have another chase tonight."
"Yes, Tarĸik."
They speak in unison, sticking closer to your flank as the other two wolves walk a few steps ahead of you.
"Don't worry much."
The one to your left, Tapeesa apparently, starts. Her voice is soft and kind, a contrast to her ice-cold eyes.
"Our Alpha is much kinder."
She offers with a gentle smile.
You look ahead, eyes focused on the grey to black tail swishing almost out of sight, as you're led to meet this pack's "Alpha"...
Hopefully, you'll be sent off on your merry way with not a single strand of fur out of place...
