king of the hill

The Vale had disbanded.

It had not been announced, but the scent of piss around the outskirts of the forest was weak at best. Bazi had not caught the scent of Vale wolves upon the neutral path through the mountains that divided their two territories, and curiosity had driven her further into the sheltered valley. Nothing, she concluded after several hours' careful examination. The place was devoid of wolves.

Her first instinct was to celebrate their demise, whatever had caused it, by romping through the pleasantly cool forest and rolling around in a few softly lit clearings. Her coat was thinning in the heat, and every wriggle left a mat of thick, white hair behind. It felt naughty, but the overwhelming feeling was one of relief. The end of the Vale meant meant a stronger presence for the Creek, who now ruled supreme as the only pack to the east of the mountains.