Yo Ho, Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)

Pump had returned to the Horizon ridge few days earlier than she had expected. A bit walking around, seeing other places and meeting new people had done her a lot of good. She had understood that the life without a pack didn't particularly appeal to her. After all she had lived here for almost three months and didn't particularly fancy moving away. The one thing she had sought here during winter had been fulfilled - she was alive. Not only that - pretty well fed too. Therefore the rational creature she was, she made the rational decision to remain here.

It was news that Pied and Kisu had left the pack, because of all the people Pump had believed that they were the most devoted. Not like her, who believed for the most time that she didn't need anyone and wasn't particularly keen in making friends and allies among the ranks. Yet it turned out that in an odd twisted way - she was more loyal than those too. Oh well - leaving was their decision and her attitude to this was - once out sight, out of mind too.

She had gone looking for Kennedy - the last time they had successfully scared away a couple of crows and got a reasonable prize for that. Plus, he had been a very pleasant companion to have her - quick to grasp things and see her perspective. However she didn't get anywhere far, because she heard a howl not far from the place she was. Her first idea was to ignore it and let Akhlut deal with it, but then it occurred to her that this could be an enemy and as far as she was concerned, she was bound to protect the land that provided her so well.

So she leaped to the borders and very soon caught sight of a jolly-merry wolf, who was sitting there. The wolf-dog's pace became slower, the fur along her spine bristled and her tail was raised a little above the level of her body. "State your business here!" she barked at him, feeling every ounce of mistrust and dominance a stranger at the borders deserved.