Overture Downs One life

The world was in a weird place.  Not much prey, but winter was soon.  She wanted to bolster their ranks, but at the same time, that meant more mouths to feed.  But if they fell into a bit of a slump again, they'd find themselves without much of a pack with winter at their door.  Perhaps it just meant that they would have to work a little harder in the short term.  At least it was something for her to think about while she searched for something edible or entertaining.

The weather had certainly shifted to be colder in recent days.  Snow clung thinly in places on the shaded side of hills, a warning of what was to come.  Yet as Arbiter looked out from her current vantage point -- as she had done quite a few times recently, with or without the terrible trio in tow -- there was not a hooved beast to be seen.  Was it bad luck?  She thought the smoke coming from the distant mountain had lessened, so perhaps things would start turning around.  Or maybe she was just dreaming that was so.  Arbiter searched -- for anything.