Sawtooth Spire Mollusus

His efforts to get the wolf to hang in there were all for naught. The boy breathed his last and fell silent. He breathed no more. Iqniq's gaze narrowed. His jaw tightened as he fell into an instant state of denial that swept quickly into anger. Damn it. They'd accepted this kid in. He'd fought valiantly, but it had still been their job to protect him. Curse those coyotes. Their unnatural presence had brought death upon them all.

A low growl escaped him as he turned his gaze to the rest of the fray. The remaining coyotes were exterminated. Now they could deal with their dead. Slowly, Iqniq eased his paw from Kanik's throat. The wolf bled out. White tainted by crimson and Iqniq too was covered in it. He stood, easing himself out of the puddle. He awarded the wolf a moment of silence as Nanuk barked orders for the rest of the pack. It was all well and good. The coyote corpses would feed them all and their bones on the borders would serve well to warn others off.

For now? They had a lost brother to mourn. Iqniq tossed his head back and released a long, sorrowful howl. This wolf, no matter how short his time here had been, would be remembered.