Live forever?

Blood. Its smell distinctive. Blood. Its smell addictive. Blood. The thing that has the power to excite any wolf. Blood. A primeval force stronger than reason. Stronger than thought. Blood. Though I might not like it, its still got the power over me.

A trail of blood leads across the floor of the forest. Incongruous technicolour against the sombre brown and green. Someone has killed something here just moments ago. Whatever I was thinking a moment ago I have forgotten. All there is is a trail of blood. Its hotwired into my brain.

Blood. Its blood of some prey. But is there wolf blood in the air too? The blood of some wolf? Its faint but it hangs on the air like the smell of woodsmoke before a forest fire. I might need to be careful here.

Blood. The smell of it makes you forget caution. Blood. Means so much. A full belly yes. But also a concluded chase. A vanquished foe. A life ending.

A long time since I had to kill prey myself. Back in my old country I had others to do the killing. I took the spoils, and plentiful they were. But it was me who decided to give this up. Now the rules were different.

Blood. And yet the rules were the same as they had always been. The taste of blood from a fresh kill. You never forget that taste. Served to an accompaniment of death. Mixed with the sound of a victims terrified last moments. The sight of a living creature being ripped apart. Blood - gateway to these sensual horrors and delights.

Killing would be easy. I know that. Even if I have not had to do it for myself. Once I tasted blood killing will be so easy.

But lets just try and think - overcome the scattered blood stench that fills my nostrils. Whatever has killed here, and I know it is another wolf, has killed recently. They will still be devouring their victim. Chance for me to take some as tribute perhaps. Or fool them into pitying me. Either way there's no need for me to play at chasing rabbits just yet. Takes too much energy when you can get others to kill for you.

Blood. Follow the trail. Blood - the easiest marker in the world.

Yes up ahead. There. Devouring the freshly killed rabbit. A female. Lone too. Should be easy to intimidate into giving me some of her catch.

And not in good condition too. She looks like she needs that rabbit. And been in a few fights too. With luck she will just hand over some food. I shouldn't even need to snarl. Well that's the plan

I'm going to just walk right over and see what happens.