A Wolfquest Story - Lost River

Chapter 1: The Hunger

As the sun rises over the remnants of an abandoned small town, Mal awakens from yet another peaceful slumber. She huffs, stands, then stretches her spine and legs - feeling out the tension in her muscles. The warm mustiness of her neglected home fills her senses as a grumble from her belly reminds her of her current predicament. The food in the house - both of the human and dog variety - has finally been depleted. She has known hunger for the past 3 days, and today is the day that she is going to try and change that.

Her body's desire for food carries her thoughts back to just a few months prior. Back to when people still occupied the now silent streets... back to when her human family still tended to her...

A longing for their companionship pangs in her chest. It has been many months since she's heard, seen or smelled any of them; and with the relentless hunger she now feels to drive that point home, she can accept once and for all that they are gone, and never going to come back.

She shakes off her thoughts and follows a worn out path to the outside. The steady tapping of her paws echo across the pavement as she enters the ghost town of Lost River. Even the few stray dogs that usually occupy these streets have finally vanished off into the wilderness. And now, out of options, she plans to do the same.

She stops at the edge of a parking lot to look into the tree line ahead. Unlike the town, the forest that surrounds it is teaming with life. Birds sing, insects buzz and off into the distance large beasts lament their frustrations. She has known only the predictable trivialities of domestic life her entire existence - from puppyhood to her current 17 months of age. In front of her now stands the unknown... and it beckons.

Her stomach rumbles again and she resumes her journey with renewed vigor. She sets her sights beyond the streets she's familiar with and towards the unexplored wilderness that holds the promise of change.

...

Not having any prior experience to guide her, Mal allows her instincts to direct her actions. With her nose, she finds a few white bones of little to no nutritional value. While in the midsts of chewing one of these she spots some movement out of the corner of her eye. She stops her breathing and perks up her ears, listening with intent.

A small, scrawny rabbit slyly enters her view. It doesn't bother to look around as it nibbles at the nearby grass - sifting through the blades to find those that are the most delectable. At the sight, Mal's entire body quivers.

The rabbit takes a hop closer and in the same instant, Mal bolts for it.

Quick on its feet, the rabbit effortlessly springs out of reach from the inexperienced wolf-dog. They run through a field and the rabbit tries to make a getaway in a nearby bush. Mal pursues, diving in head first. The branches poke and scrape the skin on her face, but she pays it no mind.

While she is wrestling with the vegetation, the rabbit makes a break for it and dashes out of the bush. Noticing this, Mal desperately tries to free herself as quickly as she is able; twisting and pushing her body until she is finally free. She hits the soil and breaks into a sprint in the direction she thinks it went. Trees whistle pass as she enters the neighboring woodlands.

Mal builds speed as she runs through mother nature's shrubbery. Her paws pounding against the dirt and leaves while she carves out a path. Her lunges heave as she forgets the hunt and embraces the momentum she's carrying - enjoying the full expression of the vitality in her slender legs and of the air licking the fur on her face. She had done little sprints to evade dogs in the streets before, but it was always cramped and winding. Here, the way ahead seems to have no end, and that thrills a part of herself she has yet to explore.

A strong odor suddenly fills her nose as her path is obstructed by a large, shadowy figure. Standing tall and proud in the midst of the wilderness before her, is a mature elk cow.