Forbidden

I

The coldest day of the year was coming to a close and all the wolves in the tribe, except the ones out hunting, were huddled together in a corner of the camp, trying to keep warm.  Coats that used to be shimmering in the sun were now clumped and wet from the snow. Hunting has not been successful due to the frigid conditions. Deprived of normal, every day activities, the members of the Rain clan retreated to the farthest, and warmest, side of camp. The only wolf not in the corner was a young she-wolf that was sitting, staring out at the world beyond.

She was a beautiful, blue-coated wolf who had the small, shining eyes of a wolf just under a year old. Her coat was sleek and shiny and her fangs were pearly white. Silentsparrow's appearance made most jealous, but she had hidden herself in the deep snow so that no one could see her. The only way she could be spotted was if she shook the snow from her coat. She thought she should be congratulated for her "hiding spot." Silentsparrow wasn't exactly comfortable under the heavy, wet snow, but no one was goggling at her or telling her to stay close. Almost as soon as these words shot into her brain, Sunstar, her father, suddenly yelled, "Where is Silentsparrow?"

"I don't know," a red she-wolf called back, "she's not in the huddle."

Sunstar grunted.

"Watching for squirrels.... I want to know what