Each year all wolves counting seventeen winters are summoned to the Ranking. In the cold, harsh wild they will have to fight for their place in the world. There is no law in the arena, no help. To survive you will have to trust your instincts, choos...
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The picture above is of the beautiful Elissa Bibaud, photographed by Brian Ypperciel. She is my inspiration for Claudia.
You are completely free to imagine the characters however you like, but personally I love having a picture for reference.
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I rushed forward, painfully aware of the time ticking as I ran through the forest. The weak winter sun had barely started to rise over the mountains. My every strained breath visibly condensed in the freezing air, my paws digging up snow as I leapt over a fallen log. My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest, pulse thumping loudly in my head. The forest was silent, it seemed like the blanket of snow had blocked out every sound in the world. My heaving breath the only noise as my running steps were silenced by the layers of snow covering the path.
Crashing out of the trees my eyes locked onto my target. A grey wolf sitting alone in the snow, head in shadow as he looked towards the emerging lights of our village. I did not hesitate for a second, leaping onto him as his ear perked up and he turned to meet me. He growled as we tumbled around in the snow from the force, and lightly bit my ear.
"Sixteen minutes", he laughed proudly in my mind. "You have improved child!"
My ears perked up at the news, and I rolled away, shaking the snow out of my fur. "Improved you say?" I heaved, tongue out as I tried to catch my breath. " Hmm, What was your record again Uncle? Eighteen and a half.. "
Rising above me he growled playfully."Watch it Claudia, unless you want your head buried in the snow".
Ignoring his warning I celebrated, leaping around him and wagging my tail. Playfully licking his nose to cool his temper.
Together we started down the hillside towards the pack settlement, where the windows were starting to illuminate. Our home rested at the bottom of a valley split by a river. It lay in the leeside of the northern winds thanks to the proud mountains and dense forest. My family shared a home in the centre of the settlement, thanks to my uncle's status as Gamma. We benefited greatly from that position. After the Alpha and Beta we were able to pick out the best catches from the hunting parties, and get our share of luxury products traded from other packs. My father managed the economy of our pack, and people called him a wizard of trade. He always managed to strike amazing deals with others, and over the years he had strengthened our position to the point where no one wanted to be at conflict with us.
