The Last Night

He hadn't gone far. Tracking the scent of a few rabbits, he stalked in the darkness after their trail. He was glad his coat blended in with his surroundings, be he had to admit...trying to hunt in this area was tough. He felt himself getting tired faster then usual, joints aching as if the medicine Quake had given him no longer had any effect. He guessed it wouldn't, but coming to the realization and accepting it was harder then he thought.

It wasn't long before he had caught his first rabbit. The body still warm as he debated stashing it away to find another one. One rabbit wouldn't be enough to fill them both up, but if he could just find one more...

Then he heard it. A sound that was half howl, half yelp of terror. Quake!? He whipped around, dropping the rabbit from his jaws as he dashed back the way he came. His heart pounded in his chest, blood roaring in his ears. She was in trouble, he knew it! But from what? Had he missed something lurking nearby? Was it a band of rogues? Had something been sleeping in the cave? His sense of smell still worked pretty well even with his old age.

As he got closer and the cave opening came into sight, he smelled it. Cougar! He put on another burst of speed, alarm bells going off in his head. "Quake!" He shouted, the old male skidding to a half several feet from the opening. The smell of the mountain lion was thick in the air, its trail coming from outside. So, it had set up an ambush? Hoping to get at the smaller wolf, maybe? Had it already gotten her...? "Quake!" He shouted again, and through his pounding heart, he heard her. Thank the gods she was still alive!