Chapter 3 - Something Strange

After resting for a while, Ajax wondered what was on the other side of their den site. He hadn't traveled that way yet. "You two want to explore the back side of our Den?" Ajax asked Red & Riot. "Sure" they both replied. Ajax smiled and trotted off.

Once over the hill, they all spotted something strange. A cougar, just walking in constant circles. Something wasn't right with the Cougar at all. Ajax growled. It made him uneasy. They decided to keep their distance. It seemed sick or something.

They continued on. He realized they weren't missing much on the other side of the den. Not much to see and definitely no new, good places to hunt. He doubted they would spend much time over here.

They rounded the mountain, back to where they normally were and headed towards the river for a drink. Once there, they all lowered their heads down and lapped thirstily at the water. Ajax looked up and glanced around. There was nobody else to be seen. The day was rather calm and peaceful. Once everyone was done getting a drink, they headed back to the den for the night.

They all headed for their usual spots. This place was feeling more like home every day. Ajax lay down and rest his head upon his paws. His thoughts drifted back to the cougar they had seen earlier, then he remembered the strange acting Coyotes from the day before. He wondered what could make animals act in those ways. They were almost... Crazy in the head. Ajax sighed. He hoped it would never effect him and his pack.

Ajax drifted off to sleep.

Wind howled through the valley and through Ajax's coat. The snow pelting him as it came down. Ajax opened his eyes and lifted his head. There was a blizzard. Ajax stood up and shook his coat. It didn't do much good, the snow was falling so fast it was back on him in seconds.

He looked to find Red & Riot snuggled together trying to keep warm. Ajax decided they wouldn't be venturing far today and hung around the den.

Red was thirsty so she trotted off down the hill towards the river. It was a bad idea. She could barely see where she was going and soon found herself with a stranger wolf. Thankfully he was no threat. She could see getting to the river was not going to work in the blizzard and started back towards what she hoped was the den. The stranger wolf following behind her.

"Ajax?.." Riot called out. Ajax lifted his head. "Yes?" He replied as he trotted up the hill to Riot. "Where's Red?" he asked. "She went that way" Riot pointed his years and nose in the direction of the river. "Can I go find her?" he asked. "We'll both go. Come on pup." Ajax responded. He didn't want the pup to be out in the blizzard at all, let alone.... alone. He couldn't leave him alone at the den though. He didn't trust those two wolves not to return and try to take the pup again.

They made their way down the hill, squinting to try an see through all of the snow falling. Soon two figures emerged and Ajax recognized the first to be Red. He breathed a sigh of relief, but then tensed when he didn't recognize the other wolf that was with her. A low growl escaped him. "It's okay, he's with me." Said Red. "We need to get out of this storm!" She hollered over the wind. Ajax agreed.

The all turned to head back up the hill to the den. It wasn't much calmer at the den, but the wind was a little better blocked at least. Ajax waited for the stranger to arrive so they could get acquainted. Only the three of them arrived though. "Where's the stranger?" Ajax asked confused.

"No idea" Red replied.

There was no way they were going back out there. Ajax lay down by the Den entrance, the only place that seemed to be blocking the wind. Riot come lay right beside him. Ajax lay his head over the pup and tucked his tail around him to try an keep him warm. He then felt Red lay on the other side of him. He looked at her and smiled. He leaned his body into hers to try an keep her warm too then returned his head onto the pup.

The snow kept falling and falling, building walls around the three wolves as they drifted off to sleep. Feeling warmer the more snow that fell.