Silver Moraine BWP3: PREY OPPORTUNITY

Wildfire's head pounded as the sun streamed down from the clear May sky, the heat, humidity and hunger hammering into her skull. She did her best to ignore all of it, focusing on the fish swimming slowly in the shallows of the Qeya River. She remained motionless as she sat in wait, holding out for the perfect moment to make a strike. The odds were against her—her fishing skills hadn't improved much since her impromptu lesson with Sadie—but at least she wasn't expending any real energy by sitting here.

Despite her concentration, the distant cry caused the young hunter's head to jerk up immediately. She was on her feet before she could even think what the sound meant. She ran along the riverbank until it curved away to the north, Wildfire herself shooting like a bullet to the west. The bleating continued and every drop of blood in her veins sang in response, realizing what it most likely meant: meat!

When she spotted the struggling moose calf and identified the source of its misery, Wildfire's mouth flooded with saliva. But she bit her lip and froze, debating. Would it be foolish to go after such relatively large prey on her own? Yes, she answered herself. Then there was the treacherous terrain to consider. If Wildfire tried to go after the young moose, she would likely only get herself killed. But if she didn't eat soon, she would probably die anyway. What was better: a quick, bloody death or a slow death by starvation?

Before she could arrive at a decision, another factor complicated the matter—and possibly made the decision for her. A wolf rushed onto the scene, closing in quickly on the young and injured ungulate. Wildfire's breath hissed through her teeth as he made to pin the calf. Without really being aware of it, the Delta rushed forward, her instincts eclipsing her better judgment as she, too, made to fall upon the calf.