Murmuring waters

chapter 1- Cristal pools

I paced around the crystal pool for what seemed like hours in the snow after the moon rose before the males began to show up. The other thirty females, including me, gathered in a group near the boulders at the edge of the clearing. The thirty plus males began to strut in a circle around us. Most of the males had single color coats, a sign that they were from this mountain range. Some had spots, some were incredibly shaggy, and some had pandicoon stripes.
But there was one wolf who stayed in the forest. His bright red eyes shone like gems. Romantic curiosity got the better of me, and once there was an open spot in the the line of strutting males, I burst through and cantered to the forest edge. I stayed a distance from the male, but it was obvious that I caught his attention.
From behind me I heard a snarl, and upon turning, I saw a male black and dark brown charcoal pandicoon wolf canter up to me. His thin fur rippled across his strong chest muscles as he
strode slowly In a circle around me.
He cocked his head in a dominating gesture.

"Well... an Aether wolf. I haven't seen one of your kind in a long time. How would you like to become my mate?" He stated right off the bar.

"Sorry," I replied, "I don't like to be rushed. I like giving all males a fair chance."

"Now, listen sweet fur, some males over there are willing to challenge me, the strongest wolf in the mountain and jungle region. I'm sorry, but I can't let a prize like you get away."

"Sorry, but I'm no prize!" I snarled, turning my back on him as a sign of rejection.

"NOW LOOK HERE!" he barked, rushing to face me. "I AM THE KING OF THE FOREST! AND I WILL NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!"

I stared him down. "I said no." I replied slowly and sternly.

He snarled and lunged at me, twisting midair and locking on to my ruff.

Before I could even yelp, a massive black wolf side blinded the pandicoon wolf. He yelped and was thrown a good distance. The remaining males that were circling the last few females stopped and turned to look at the fallen king wolf. They lowered their heads and began to stalk toward me, baring their fangs in a snarl.

"Are you alright?" A voice asked me. I turned to see the glowing ruby eyes, who belonged to a black and red wolf with patterns similar to mine.

"Yeah, I'm fine. But I doubt we will be for much longer." I Replied to the wolf. This wolf was bigger than the "king" pandicoon, and almost twice my size. He was probably the biggest wolf I had ever seen.

"Get behind me." He said.

I followed suit and backed behind him.

"When I say, turn right around and run into the forest. You'll reach a path. Follow that path and run as fast as you can, don't look back." He said. "You'll eventually reach a cave. Hide in there and wait for me." he whispered.

Just then a wolf tried to swiftly slip past the large wolf to me. The large wolf swiftly sidestepped and blocked the other wolfs path. Everything was going slow now, but I knew any moment a brutal brawl could break out.
Suddenly a wolf lunged.

"Now!" The big wolf barked.

I whipped around on my paws and took off into the forest. From behind me I could hear snarling, the crunching of bones, screeches of pain, and hard thumps of wolves landing on the snow covered ground.

I ran and ran, for what seemed like forever, until I reached a large rock formation jutting out of the ground. I ran around it until I found the entrance to a cave. I wandered In, and collapsed in a nest at the back.