twisted and terrified

Unlike some wolves, Luke did not make enemies of other predators unless he had to (almost never). Foxes in particular he seldom had an issue with. They were master rodent and rabbit hunters, and rarely tried to steal prey from the wolves. Most barely made their presence known.

His tail wagged more enthusiastically as Scratch announced he had finished. He felt immensely better. The staining on his fur did not bother him, it would be washed away with cold water and time. "Thank you. That's perfect." he smiled appreciably. He wanted to rise to his feet, to be on his way to check on his companions, but he felt weak and dizzy still and so remained as he was for the time being.

"I'll give you a tip," he said, wanting to thank the fox somehow for his treatment. "If you take these fish, and dry them in the sun - lay them out on a rock or somewhere dry, they'll keep better in a caches." There was a bounty strewn about them. It was an ideal opportunity to stock up on food and stave off hunger for many weeks, perhaps months, to come. "They'll be chewy, but delicious."