The moon hung low in the night sky over a lush forest. Twigs and branches snapped, leaves rustled, and the undergrowth shook as a pregnant she-wolf dashed through the foilage. Broken branches tore at her fur, but she didn't slow as she knew this was her one chance at escape for herself and her unborn pups. A false step sent her tumbling headfirst down a sharp, rocky incline. Disoriented, she tried to shake her head to clear it, and slowly the world came back into focus and a sharp pain ran up her front leg, it was broken, no doubt about it. She could smell her own blood as well as clean water. She could hear the rush of a river nearby and a glimmer of hope sparked in her soul. A wolf's howl split the air, no more than a mile off, smashing through hope and sending her mind into a frenzy. She got to her feet and limped toward the river, quick as she could. It was her only hope...
*****
The rogues pused at the edge of the sharp incline and sniffed around it. They spread out, searching for a way down. When one at the front gave a sharp growl, they began carefully stepping down, rocks skittering beneath their feet, but each one reaching the safety at the bottom. One sniffed at some disturbed undergrowth at the bottom.
"She was here, Clyde. Probably headed for the river."
Clyde, a dark gray wolf with a white pawand dark face markings, growled, "Find her, or there will be Hell to pay."
The wolves scattered, each wanting to be the one to find her and claim their prize.