I was just hangry.

Her pale pink eyes scanned the dense forest in between one of the valleys of the mountains, her stomach growling with a hunger that had become all too familiar. At four months old, she was still learning how to hunt on her own and navigate the dynamics of the pack, but the gnawing emptiness in her belly was leading her to be a bit more adventurous than usual. Did she really need assistance? How would she even find anything on her own?

The scent of pine filled her nose as she trotted through the forest, her white fur blending with the patches of snow that still scattered the ground at this altitude. Despite the beauty of her surroundings, her mood was sour. Hunger did that to her, making her more irritable and impatient than usual.

Inferna paused at the base of a pine tree, her breath coming in soft puffs of mist in the chilly air. She had to find food, but she needed help. Swallowing her pride, she tilted her head back and let out a long, urgent howl that echoed through the trees and called for companionship and assistance in a hunt.