The leaves above them rustled, Ujare pouncing into the air, landing on all four paws.
"I am the mighty Ujare!" Ujare howled.
"So arrogant," Veram mocked.
"Silence, fool!" Ujare shouted back. "I am the mighty Ujare! Dare insult me and you will perish!
"Ujare!" Zamara cried out. "Get down!" A second BANG bounced off the walls of the trees, disorienting the wolves. Salela focused on the sound, drowning it out with her powers.
"Good job, Salela," Zamara praised. She stuck her paws in the dirt, tracing in the mud a large map. "We're about point-seven-five miles from our den!" Zamara said to the others gathered around her. "We can sprint through the trees and make it there in a couple minutes!" She turned to Salela. "Salela," she barked. "Use your powers of sound manipulation to overwhelm the enemies! Rena!"
"Yes Zamara," replied Rena.
"You need to use your wind powers to hold the hunters back!" Zamara commanded. "And Ujare and Zeram!"
"Yes Zamara," Zeram and Ujare replied.
"Brute force." Zamara said with confidence. "Alright team- let's go!" Five sets of ten wolf ears peeked out. Ramnez eyed the wolf ears, then his hunting mates. The light of the Sun blinded them, giving way for the wolves to strike. Rena howled a powerful tune into the wind, sending some flying, others being knocked to the ground. Salela barked as loudly as she could, the sound of the bark vibrating and replaying in the hunters' ears. Ujare, closely followed by Veram, charged into the battle.
"Woof woof!" Ramnez barked, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Oh look at little fluffers, all big and strong-"
"Let's get moving!" Zamara called out. The pack followed her every move, ducking when she ducked, leaping when she leaped, rolling when she rolled. Thick, heavy storm clouds formed, drifting in the direction they were headed. "Weather's getting intense! Everyone, grab leaves when we make it home!" Zamara pounced over a rock, springing into a bush, and diving out of a pond. The clouds gave no way for the shining Sun, instead covering its gaze. As the light of the Sun gave a final wink, the wolves barely made it into safety, away from the prying eyes of the hunters.
"What were those weapons they had?" Zeram cried. "Even my bravery couldn't hold them off!"
"It appears to be a metallic springshot apparatus," Rena noted. "Seems like it fires a spherical ammunition whenever they use it."
"Our powers never prepared us for this," Ujare said, afraid.
"Who the heralded-wolf-leader cares?" Veram cried. "It's just a metallic ball! We can handle this! We are wolves!"
"He's right," Zamara said. "We are wolves… so let's fight like 'em."