The cracks that have begun to show

The coolness of the earth reflected upon the early morning, with the faintest drops of dew still fresh against the grass and the quite of the brutes paws broken against the light crunch that sounded underfoot. It was not enough to disturb the early morning roaming?s of the prey he sought as his steps brought him within sight of the ferret that paused, nose twitching against the wind. Muscles would still, head would lower as he waited for the ferret searching to turn up empty, when at last the creature turned its back on him and sniffed against the undergrowth he would pound forward, paws trampling against fur and jaws snapping quickly about its neck. In moments, the prey would be held limply against his jaws and his steps would start up once more, bringing him in the direction of a den.

He had known there was a newcomer within the pack, which was hardly surprising, considered the influx that had flowed to Valhalla in the rest weeks. It had been on passing however that he had caught her scent and known it immediately for what it was; pregnancy. Alpine always went out of his way to look after the mothers of the pack, and the fact that there was no mate nor brother in the picture to aid her only strengthen his resolve to take her under his wing. He did not even know her name but in the cool breath of morning air he was there anyway, outside the safety of her den and stretching lightly at the surface of the wolf as he ?woofed? a light greeting and put the prey down against the entryway and stood back, his tail wagging lightly behind him as he waited with a tilted head and half a smile to see if she would come out and say hello. If not, he of course leave her both the prey and solitude, but he hoped she would show a little more life than that.