Chapter II: Strange Yellow Eyes

As I made my way through the trees I glanced around warily. The three pairs of eyes I had seen the other day hadn't showed themselves yet today. I knew someone was watching me, but I could never see who. So after I caught two hares, ignoring the feeling of eyes on my back, I headed back towards the den. As I was plowing through a snowy field, Ava's howl sounded in the distance. I dropped my catch at my paws and raised my muzzle to reply. I picked up the hares again and headed off. When I reached the den there was a large black wolf laying on top of the rock next to the entrance. When I blinked, he was gone.
Strange, I thought, letting the growl that had risen in my throat fade away.
As I trotted inside the pups came running up, pushing each other aside to be first to the kill.
"Aw, another hare," Tanisha whined.
"You liked hare yesterday," Kana said, ripping into the abdomen.
"She just wants Mira to catch more prey," Valor informed, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, well, it's winter. Good luck with that," Jay muttered, pulling a hind leg off.
I trotted back into the cave until I reached Ava's side.
"Have you seen anything strange lately?" I asked, settling down next to her.
"No, why?" She asked, frowning.
I shrugged, looking away. "Just wondering."
We sat and watched the pups in silence for a few moments before it was broken again by a distant howl.
Ava's ears twitched. "You think that's the black wolf?"
I whipped my head around. "You saw him too?"
"Yeah," she said slowly, frowning. "I hear him every day, why?"
"I always thought that was you."
She nodded. "You always replied."
"Not this time." I looked back to the cave entrance, standing quickly. "Where'd Tanisha go?"
Ava scrambled up too. "She was here just a moment ago."
"Valor, Kana! Jay!" I called, beckoning the other pups. "Did you see where Tanisha went?"
Kana shook her head, eyes shaky.
"I- I don't know where she went," Valor said. "She was here and then she was gone."
"Her scent went that way," Jay said, pointing with his nose.
I nodded. "Thanks, Jay. I'd better go look for her."
Ava watched hopefully as I trotted away, pulling Valor and Kana closer with a paw.
I found her scent where Jay had mentioned, following the large paw prints that were on the same trail. A strange, unfamiliar scent entwined with Tanisha's, and I'd smelled it before but couldn't quite place it. Suddenly I couldn't find Tanisha's scent anymore. I backed up a few steps, nose to the ground. I found her scent and another set of large paw prints with another strange scent. All three scents pooled, as if they had stood still for a few minutes before moving on. This new scent was even more familiar than the first, like the three pa-
No, it couldn't be! Stay focused Mira. I thought as I followed the prints. But what if it could-
No! Mira! On task, on task, I told myself.
I paused, raised my head.
So it could be, then...
And there laid the black wolf, Tanisha trembling between his front paws as he spoke softly to her, watching her movements with his piercing yellow eyes.