Spirit Stalker

"I remember when she was a pup," An older wolf snorted, tail wrapping around his paws. "Always getting into trouble. It's how she got her name."

"What did she do?" One pup out of a group yipped, little tails wagging in excitement.

"Well, let me tell you the story..."

Even when she could barely walk on four paws, Spirit Stalker was as adventurous as could be. She wanted to see the world and explore! The little pup had a very different personality from her siblings, trusting almost every wolf that she met, in comparison to their indifference and aggression.

It was the dead of winter, and almost all wolves were out of camp, doing overtime on their jobs to help provide for one another. Her mother, Crow, was incredibly distracted at the time. Despite her usual keen eye on her pups, she, as the lead finisher, was coordinating with the other hunting teams to bring in as much prey as possible. While her siblings played, the she-pup got quickly bored. Like any pup with the opportunity for no hovering adults, she went out on her own. Surely she could help provide for her pack!

It was so cold...The little pup could see little puffs of ice-colored breathe in frosty air. Still, she continued on.

Her dark pelt didn't blend in with the snow at all, but the little pup was damn determined to try her best to help her pack. It took her a long time to eventually catch a scent, but she managed eventually to smell something similar to what was in their buried food pile. Shivering, the pup plodded forward, trying to keep her feet as light as possible in the growing snow.

There!

She knew that animal! It was a...rat? At least, she thought it was a rat. It smelled like the ones that were in their buried food back at camp. Despite her very young age, she wasn't completely unaware about how to hunt. Her mother was the lead hunter, after all. While her mother could catch prey with brute strength, the female knew she wouldn't be able to do the same, so she came up with a different idea altogether.

Trembling, she dipped down further into the soft white blanket of snow, shoving her body under as much as she could. Ice and snow stuck to the long hairs easily, forming an interesting camo blend across her fur. That would have to do. The pup clumsily stalked forward, holding herself stiffly to stop her own shivering. The skinny rat twitched, but didn't move.

You can do this

With a huff, she bolted forward as fast as she could, stumbling over her own paws as she did so. Still, the rat didn't get away, or move for that matter. It sat, paws stuck to the icy ground, eyes wide in fear. Oh.

The little pup cringed, bowing her head. She knew the basics of the kill bite, and would be sure to give the poor creature a quick end. Crunch.

The now lifeless creature hung limply between her maw as she let out heavy breathes, shivering harder due to the cold. Where even was home? A muffled wail was beginning to let out between her lips before she heard a deep voice, not too far from her left.

"Well done, young pup. Although, I would prefer if all of my little pack members remained inside the camp from now on. The alpha, Raven, stepped out from the treeline, pelt a stark black against the snow.

The pup's ears flattened and she nodded, though remained silent. Raven padded closer, letting out a reassuring rumble as he reached down, pressing his heavy fur against hers. "I'm not angry, little one. Just worried, as is your mother and siblings. If you truly want to help, I think everyone would appreciate being saved of the possible heartache of losing you."

The large male paused, ears flicking before his sharp green gaze met hers. "Still, you did good little pup. I understand that my sister has had some trouble naming you. Well, I think I know just the one...Let's go home, pup."

-

"That's how she got her name?" A pup cooed in awe, eyes bright in amazement.

"I want my name chosen like that as well! I'm gonna do something awesome, just you wait!" Yelped another.

The older wolf laughed, tail wagging gently. "Yes, that's how she got her name. And no, you're not little pup!" His voice turned stern as he spoke to the other.

"She, like her siblings, are turning into damn fine hunters, and we couldn't be more proud of them, despite what they may sometimes think. You should aspire to be like them."

You should aspire to be like all the wolves before you. Remember that, because they are doing the same.

--------

As she got older and had her own litters of pups, some surviving, some being more unfortunate, Spirit Stalker remained the ever-quiet wolf, though was encouraging to her packmates and her own pups when they needed it. As her muzzle turns grey and her paws turn heavy, there is no pack that she would have prouder served.