The Heartwood Heartwood Snacking

"It is a very important job, and I bet you were wonderful at it," he remarked. Scarlett was a sweet girl, just the type of wolf he'd want looking after his own pups. Perhaps he and Kesuk would recruit her, if that ever happened.

"You'll get settled in soon, just give it some time," he assured the she-wolf with the ruby eyes. He was also trying to reassure himself. Koda had been living among the Blacktail wolves for months, yet he still felt like a total stranger to them. And it wasn't for a lack of trying, Koda had been working hard to integrate himself into the pack. His effort hadn't gone unrecognized, he held the highest rank among the subordinates. But even so, he didn't feel close to any of them, something he desperately wanted to feel. Just how much time was it going to take?

His thoughts about his pack faded away as they reached the meadow, and his mind switched into hunting mode. Koda's yellow eyes flitted from deer to deer, analyzing the herd to find a weakness. A quick scan revealed most of the herd were young and fit, hardly easy targets for the hungry predators. Koda was about to suggest they go look elsewhere when his sharp ears picked up the distinctive sound of a cough. His eyes followed the sound, looking for the source. A yearling buck had bedded down in the meadow, partially concealing himself from sight. His labored breathing made it easy to see he wasn't laying down for a nap; he was too weak to graze with the rest of the herd.

"See that one laying down in the grass?" Koda's voice was a whisper as he gestured to his intended target with his muzzle. "He's on his way out already, we're gonna go finish him off." The hunter didn't feel a twinge of sympathy for his prey. The relentless winter would have claimed his life anyway. Better he die in their jaws today than suffer a slow death in the icy jaws of winter.

It was time for Scarlett's hunting lesson. "Go get him," he said, flashing a toothy smile. Koda was a big believer in learning on the job. "Don't worry, I'll be right behind you."