Silvertip Mountain after dark

Leader moved to Toothless's flank, her dark gaze roving upward to observe the herd for herself. Her little cohort smacked its lips in anticipation, glancing over its shoulder when Leader removed herself to issue another howl. The noise made the wolf's ears quiver. It watched the goats' reaction up above; they seemed largely unbothered by the sound. So confident were they in their rocky fortress that they didn't bat an eyelash at the cry of a hungry wolf.

But Toothless could do things that larger wolves couldn't do, could go places where other wolves couldn't. Even Leader wouldn't be able to follow it now. Sweeping its fangs with its tongue, Toothless gave her a final glance before beginning its ascent. Perhaps Leader hoped for Toothless to simply spook the herd, chasing one of its members into her waiting, snapping jaws. Yet Toothless had never, ever hunted cooperatively and it didn't even occur to it now to attempt such a thing. It would do this thing alone.

Cunningly, it crept up the sheer rock walls, defying gravity and looking much more like a panther than a wolf. It slipped up and over a small outcropping just below the wide shelf where the herd milled. It then sprang toward the ledge, its forelegs grasping it and its hind legs dangling in midair momentarily. Silently, it hoisted itself up and over the edge, pressing itself against the mountain wall like a tiny, flickering shadow. Little did the herd know that a wolf had entered the fold.

Instead of giving chase, Toothless found a narrow footpath leading further up the slope. It tiptoed along it, reaching a point about ten feet above the herd. It then settled down, waiting for one to wander nearer to the wall. Several did brush past it, though they were too large. Toothless patiently licked its paw, waiting watchfully until a smaller specimen drifted into the targeted range. In fact, it stood in the bullseye.

With a screech that would freeze the blood of every prey animal within a mile, Toothless flung itself into the night. Although dainty, it came crashing down on the unsuspecting animal's back, its teeth and claws ripping and tearing before the young mountain goat could make an about face. Like any good predator, Toothless quickly latched onto the back of its throat, digging its teeth deep into the flesh there. As it sought to empty the beast of its life, its eyes flicked up to see the rest of the herd scattering, some bounding over it and others dropping to unseen cliffs below.

When the mountain goat gave up its last, bubbling breath, Toothless released it and then climbed atop the carcass, releasing another singular note into the air, one of savage victory. It then licked its bloodied lips and crouched on top of the slain goat, awaiting Leader's approach.