Fox

"What makes you think I'd let a runt like you join the pack?" Wicker teased the young pup.

"I'm not a runt!" Fox barked indignantly. "I'm the smartest and fastest of all my siblings." She stood as tall as she could so that her ears were almost tall enough to brush Wicker's chin.

"Prove it, then!" Wicker challenged. He scuffed her ear with a paw and took off running, tossing a smile over his shoulder as he went. Fox yelped and tore off after him. She dug her paws into the earth and imagined herself barreling forwards at top speed, the fastest wolf on this side of the mountains! She could catch up easily and show this wolf who the runt was.

Of course, when Fox lunged at Wicker, he had slowed to barely a trot. The pup hardly noticed, all fur and claws as she took down her play-pretend prey. The two of them rolled through the dirt until Fox finally declared herself triumphant, standing tall over the vanquished king. 

"Well, then, since you won I suppose I'll have to let you into the pack," Wicker said as he got to his paws again and shook the dirt from his fur. Fox yelped with joy and raced ahead.

" I'm going to be the best hunter ever!"

~~~

Fox had run fearlessly through the mountains, leaped tirelessly over the boulders, and chased excitedly after every rabbit she came across until she reached the edge of the caves. Here, face to face with her new home and pack, her white-tipped paws suddenly got cold.

"What's the matter?" Wicker asked as he stopped next to her. 

"It's bigger than I thought it would be," she replied, craning her neck to take in the soaring ceiling. Wicker laughed and stepped inside. 

"Come, let me show you where you'll be staying."

The pup stuck by him like a tawny shadow as he led the way through the cave. Wolves lounging in the clearing raised their heads curiously as they passed, each looking bigger than the next to Fox. Their tongues lolled, teeth shining... Stories of wolves who ate pups whirled through her mind. She never believed those stories in the safety of her parents' pack, but in this strange place where shadows danced along the walls, anything seemed possible. 

"This is Clover." Wicker's voice cut through Fox's daydreaming. He nodded to a gray wolf who smelled of forest and birds' feathers. Clover smiled at Fox and lowered her head to the pup's height. 

"Nice to meet you. I heard you've traveled an awfully long way to be here," Clover said.

Fox wrestled with her desire to run and hide. She looked into Wicker's eyes, searching for whatever nasty glint pup-eaters must have there. When she found nothing but reassurance and a gentle smile, she stepped out of the king's shadow. "Yeah, kinda, but my paws don't hurt or anything!" she assured Clover. 

"Your name?" Wicker prompted.

"Oh, I'm Fox."

"Fox," Clover echoed. "That's a nice name! Would you like to meet the other pups? I'm sure you'll be very good friends."

Other pups? Fox tilted her head, peering through the adults' legs to see further into the caves. Sure enough, three sets of curious eyes peered back at her. Two pups with similar pale coats stood shoulder-to-shoulder while a third, darker colored pup ducked behind a boulder when he made eye contact with Fox. She trotted right past Clover and Wicker to introduce herself. "Hi, I'm Fox! What are your names?" 

"Ash," the dappled white pup responded. She looked to her sister, but the lighter pup stayed quiet and kept her gaze fixed on Fox. 

When her sister nudged her, the quiet pup finally spoke up. "I'm Ghost." She was pretty quiet, but Fox hardly minded--she had shy friends like this in her old pack. Like her old pupsitter said, you just have to get to know some wolves a little better first. It doesn't mean they don't want to be friends.

"She's not normally this shy," Ash informed Fox. "I think you scare her."

"She does not! Hemlock's the one who's scared!" Ghost retaliated. Judging from the look of annoyance on the distant, third pup's face, he didn't appreciate being dragged into this. 

"Be nice, now," Clover chimed in as she padded over. "Meeting new wolves can be scary sometimes. Nothing helps ease the nerves like a good bite of beaver, though, hmm?" Ash and Ghost yelped at the mention of food and ran towards the entrance of the cave, Hemlock in close pursuit. Wicker stepped out of the way just in time to avoid three furballs crashing into his legs.

"Are you coming, Fox?" He stopped just long enough to glance over his shoulder at her. Fox grinned and sprinted towards him, declaring it a race. She hardly knew where she was going, but she was certain she'd make it there first.

notes: changed from charming
originally featheclaw, moved to elk for superior stalking ability
got into argument and lost prey on 1st elkguard hunt