Alpine Lake He we go again.

The young slate colored female felt she had been cooped up in the Copse for too long. The pack had grown, and not just with the addition of Otter and Skipjack. As much as she was comfortable in the tight knit group, since so many were related by blood, she sometimes wondered if she was the odd wolf out.

Nyssa wasn't the type of wolf to dwell on such little things for long, what with her positive attitude and all. Instead she broke free from her sun dappled home, striking out to the North. She had been isolated to one small part of the wilds. She was still young and wanted to see more. To see what else was out there.

She started by not going far. Only for a day trip to a sprawling lake, where feathered ducks gathered in great numbers. On this early summer day, a cool dip in the water didn't sound all half bad. But as she studied the ducks, admiring the brilliantly colored feathers of the mallards, a hunt sounded more appealing.

So, why not go two for one? Silently she started to step closer to the lake, where the tree line thinned. And noticed that she was not alone. Another solitary hunter, cloaked in dark brown furs. She tried to catch his eye, hopeful, while without spoiling the element of surprise.