nascence

The smell of wolf immediately shattered S'ari's calm. And it was not a wolf she recognized, which made it a thousand times worse. Suri and Towhee had proven that not all wolves were unkind, and she already knew that from her childhood, watching the Tribe trade with wolves who came to them. Still... there were some who thought of coyotes as enemies, as nuisances, as competition for food and water.

S'ari sprang to her paws, looking this way and that in the dying light. And there! She reared back her head to yip-yap-howl for the others. Kusuma! Zoug! Mercedes! Not Candle... Candle would only run and hide. But... But...

But the wolf had done nothing yet, and S'ari did not wish to make a scene. Still, she was too close to the Ravine. To home. Home for now, anyway. On quick paws, she dashed toward the wolf, and blurted, You, wolf! You must leave this place! The others... they will not like you being here! Turn back now!