Redtail Rise stoneward

Another wolf might’ve made an attempt at conversation as they walked along. Masque could’ve asked where Ancelin had been, for instance. But she wasn’t one for small talk. Anyway, every ounce of her concentration was already channeling into the upcoming hunt.

The wild pigs’ strong odor led the three young wolves into the undergrowth growing on the far side of the rise and into the adjacent territory. It was difficult to walk stealthily here, though Masquerade had been practicing nearly all her life and passed with ease, hardly making a sound.

Whether or not the same could be said of her two cohorts, they managed to get closer to the sounder of pigs. There were no males, only a handful of sows and their collective children. Several of the piglets were quite young. There were so many—perhaps two dozen, altogether—that the wolves might have their pick. It should be no great numerical loss to the group.

After assessing what she could see of the swine moving through the underbrush, Masque said, We could stay concealed and watch them a while, see if one of the babies strays from the group. Or two of us could rush the herd and a third could stay behind to snatch a straggler. What do you think?