The small fox approached these unknown grasslands, for they were covered in the white abyss that winter has brought the earth. Making small tracks behind her as she traveled; she ignored the numbing cold as she stepped with the snow. Carefully scouting before her, she could hardly see any object beyond the snow.

The wolf was hunting for prey like any other day, hauling the meat it had obtained from its journey to feed the rest of the pack. He noticed that a snowstorm was brewing, so he had to move fast. Carefully treading the terrain and after about an hour, he sees another silhouette in the distance. Warily, he tried not to be noticed, but discovered that it was looking dead at him. The figure seemed to approach closer. So in order to protect his hunt, he was forced to drag it back near home, leaving a trail of blood and grass from where it lay. As he did this, he realized he made a wrong turn and found himself in the hunting grounds: the forest. He had to stay out of sight, he thought. He hid in an abandoned cave and waited...

Unable to see any farther than a few feet in front of her paws, she dipped her skull in order to let her snout smell her way around. She picked up the few scents of mud and dead grass that lived underneath the snow. Still breathing in every aroma she could find, she started to trot toward any signs of forest nearby. Once she picked up strong scents of wildlife nearby, she lifted her cranium to notice the large fixture of tree's before her. Delighted to see a forest, she trotted forward. Looking about in this seemed to be empty forest, she kept her radar on high, while perked on a pivot point. Her numbed paws were now melting as she dug her exposed talons into the wet soil; not as much snow had fallen here.

He wasn't picking up much of a scent. Had it disappeared? Before heading out, he searched the cave to see if there was anything useful before he made sure the coast was clear. So far, he only saw engravings. He pondered on what they really are, until it finally hit him. The engravings were from descendants of his pack... Amazed at how advanced these drawings were, the astonished wolf could not seem to be any more amazed. They were holographic markings of a wolf leading a pack, packs working together, and meals being issued to each family member. He decided it may be best to stay for a while until the storm has passed. He curled into a ball and waited to commence his slumber...

Trekking onward, the limber fox shook her physique to be rid of the melted flurries of snow that landed on her coat. Once settled with the idea that shelter could be found here, she trotted quickly. She could hear just about anything, along with her own paws slapping at the muddy surface beneath her. Her tail was waving to and fro as she was eager to find warmth nearby. Once more letting her snout guide her, she pointed out her muzzle so she could receive more advances aromas that would lead her to the best shelter. As she kept padding forward, she picked up a strong odor of wolf. Amazed and cautioned, she slowed her steps. Her senses were now on full alarm, as well as her optics, darting about in search for any danger.

........Scent? No....Wasn't it gone? The wolf awoke, surprised by the sudden smell. As he tried to decide what to do, he noticed that the scent was that of a fox. Was it the fox that he had seen before? Wondering about this new information, he quickly grabbed his hunt, and headed deeper into the cave. It grew darker with every step, until the entrance to the cave was nowhere to be seen.

Her nostrils were now reaped of the stench of blood. Curious and most likely hungry, she ventured further to the wolf's scent, not detecting more than one traveling these parts. Once her snout detected the strongest scent of both the wolf and the blood, she saw the cave that collected shadows and pure darkness. Knowing what lay beyond it, she barked, hoping a wolf would slowly appear from the darkness.


Suddenly, he heard the baying of the fox. It had found him. Not knowing if this was a cry for friendship or a challenge, he crept more slowly into darkness. Luckily he had nocturnal vision to guide him. After a couple of minutes, sound was void, and he eventually stepped into a wet puddle. He knew full well that he had reached the labyrinth of the cave.

Hearing the small step of a wet paw, she barked once more, eager to find this wolf a friendly soul. She daringly took a step forward, the cold cave surface chilling her nerves. She stepped once more, not hearing any approach on the wolf's part. Once hearing as though this cave was empty, she advanced further, trotting her way inside. As she was shrouded in the shadows of this very deep cape, her paw sunk into a puddle. Remembering her radar, she knew that the wolf had done the same. As the smell of killed game reaped her nostrils once more, she followed it intensively, knowing the wolf would not be too far away.

Not hearing a sound, he daringly made his way through the tough mazes of the labyrinth, careful not to fall into any traps. Suddenly without paying attention, he skidded near an abyss. He made a quick stop, but the hunt fell into it, never to become seen again. Cursing at himself, he tried to find a way out of the cave. Somewhere there was another entrance. He just had to look good enough. Suddenly, he heard the step of a puddle. The fox was nearby. Was she hunting prey as well? He quietly made his way through more mazes and tunnels until he stumbled upon an odd looking drawing. Another holograph. It seemed as though it depicted two wolves....mating. A little confused, he continued his way in search of an escape tunnel.

She was careful not to step too easily in the depths of this cave. Her optics had widened for her sight to guide her. Relying on the scent of the blood, she continued to walk. Seeing that this cave was inhabited with traps and various mazes, she could only smell her way toward the wolf. Hearing her steps echoed, she heard the depth of an abyss. Seeing that the blood tracks had stopped here, she used her nostrils to find the wolf. This cave very new to her was growing darker; she thought. Will it ever end?

As he trotted to find an escape, he started to wonder if there was a meaning behind this encounter....and he started to wonder about his pack back home. Would he ever see them again if all this searching is in vain? And what if the fox had caught up to him? Would he have to fight back? As he kept creeping through the dark, he became more and more anxious. "This place has no ending.....just complete darkness," he thought. Suddenly, he started to hear howls. It wasn't that of neither another wolf nor the fox. It was the sound of wind! He was close to the outside! Excited, he hurriedly ran followed the noise of the battling wind and snow.

The fox continued to walk through the dark filled cave, careful of its depth. Not before long did her radar pick up the pounding of running, the wolf. She heard loud hackles and new he was close to finding a way out. Running forward, keeping his scent close to her nostrils, she didn't seize to run once she saw the shadows slowly fade away.

Ah! He heard footsteps chasing him. Looks like the fox had found him out. He quickened his pace, careful as to not to fall into any abyss. At the same time, he had to make a plan as to how to deal with the fox. Not sure if she was friendly, he had to camouflage within the environment once he made his way outside.

Puffing her breath, she quickened her pace; leaping toward the light that she knew was mostly snow. Her tongue had flopped out of her maw, panting heavily as her excitement showed in all features. Her talons were now exposed at the strong sting of cold weather.

He made it! The familiar environment of the snow was now in his grasp. Now it was easy to hide his scent from all the blood he had taken from his game. He rolled in the snow, now covered in stains of blood, and ran for a bit before coming to a secluded area. This is a good spot to hide, he thought. He carefully dug into the snow, not making any obvious marks. He then buried himself inside, with only his head to show. And patiently waited for the fox's presence...

Leaping from the shadows of the uninhabited cavern, she landed firmly into snow covered earth. Welcoming its cold, she looked about, still huffing from the running. As she peered around the area, it seemed that she had lost the wolf. Frowning, she let her snout guide her to his scent. But wait, it seems as if it was gone. Frustrated, she ran from the cavern to find the wolf. Before trotting far, she saw blood smeared about snow, she seemed to be headed in the right direction.

Quietly waiting for the fox, the wolf was now determined he had all odds for him. He started to wonder if the fox had moved away. But before long, fate had denied this and he picked up the fox's scent. It's nearby, he thought. "Be ready to stay still....."

Trotting past the blood stained snow, she was still panting as she advanced forward. Still searching for his hidden scent, she sniffed about in the atmosphere, hoping to catch something. Picking up something, she remembered a familiar scent from the bloody snow. He must have left some scent of sweat or fur. Even if the scent was small, she was determined to find its source.

The fox was moving steadily now. Had she found him out? Then he realized he made a mistake. When he had started running in order to find a hiding place, he had left a trail sweat from the running he did. He slowly dug himself deeper within the snow with his back paws, careful as to not make any sudden movement, until only his eyes were shown. The fox didn’t he seem to notice, so he was still clear.

Searching onward, she couldn’t find any stronger scent of this wolf's sweaty fixture. Frustrated that she couldn't do a better job in her search, she howled and stomped in the snow covered earth, making crows and critters escape her distracting physique. Collapsing to the ground, she huffed at her failure her own game of hide and seek. Resting her chin on the icy surface, she let her optics dart about the white abyss.

The wolf noticed the fox's fall. Had it collapsed from the cold? He stayed in his hiding place, weary of his next move... What trick had it up its sleeve now?

Whimpering at the growing cold of the snow, she sprung up into stance. Refusing to let herself give up on this fun chase, she deeply inhaled every aroma her petite nose could detect. Following the strongest scent she could find, she aimlessly wandered toward it. Seeing that there was even more snow to await her, she was interrupted by another strong scent of the wolf, these being his own distinctive scent and not his sweat.

Well, there was one thing for sure: the fox hadn't died. But now it was only a few feet from where he lay. And she was scrutinizing every detail of the snow. At this rate, his scent could be found in a matter of minutes. He had to be ready.

Dipping her snout in all sorts of snow, she felt the scent getting stronger and stronger. Finding a heap of snow before her, she inched her snout into the heap. Her nose had touched something, something warm. Taking a few paces back, she looked at the figure, noticing a pair of eyes peering at her. Knowing that the eyes belonged to the wolf, she yelped with glee, happy to find the wolf.

"Looks like she found me," he realized. But she hadn't attacked. Was this a friendly gesture? Not sure if it was a bluff, he lay still, remaining where he was. He still didn’t know whether she was dangerous or not….

"Why were you hiding from me?" Still full of excitement, she sniffled at the wolf still covered in snow. Purposely knocking down the snow that covered him, she felt as though she won this small game. Leaving him stand there, she stepped back to sit on the frosty earth. The fox's tail was swaying to and fro as she awaited him to speak again.

"So you're not here for game?" The wolf was confused. This whole time he had been running from this harmless fox because he thought a battle would ensue if he stayed.

"Not hunting game, not at all. More like playful game, a chase." She let her smile spread across her maw, watching the confused wolf question her.

A harmless creature....surely she wasn't tricking him. "A chase? I was hunting game and I thought you appeared to take it. Running after me made it even worse. And you thought it was a playful chase?"

"Well neither of us had growled so I figured you were just trying to steer clear of me pest wise." She cocked her head, feeling as though she had bothered this tired wolf. "Have I upset you?"

The wolf chose his words carefully, careful to not intimidate the fox. "Well...let's just say you did worry me for a bit. And it cost me my game." The wolf sighed at his loss, a great gain for the pack if he still had it.


Remembering the end of the blood tracks near the abyss she felt her fault. Flattening her paws close to her skull, she motioned for an apology, sad to hear that she had been such a trouble to the wolf. "I'm sorry. I hadn't know I was worrying you."



A little relieved that this was a sign of friendship, he quickly responded, "Bah, don't worry. There was plenty more in the forest. But it was a fast runner, so it took me a while. Well, it doesn't hurt to get these bones fit. Might as well head back to the pack before nightfall. They might be worried about their leader."

"Oh my, a pack?" The little fox hadn’t realized that these lands was a home to not just one but multiple wolves. She thought of herself as a trespasser and looked up to the wolf. "Should I not be here?" She was being swarmed with thoughts of the other wolves, not sure what she was thinking that chasing a wolf was for fun.

The wolf noticed her concerned look. "Well, have you had stumbled upon me if I had not had my game, I probably would've growled at you, saying 'This is my territory!'" The wolf noticed this made matters worse. "But don't worry! Because of this 'encounter', you seem friendly enough. Hopefully that's not a hobby of yours, chasing around wolves and what not."

She laughed at her foolish game. "I don't normally chase larger beasts than I, but because you hadn't warded me off, I felt like you wouldn’t be of harm to me if I decided to follow you." Remembering the numbing cold that was the snow, she shivered a few times, looking down at her snow covered paws.

The wolf noticed her shivering and motioned for her to follow him. "Our pack resides near the summit of the mountain. And since it seems like this snow storm is not letting off, we might need to stay under shelter. Care to go back to the cave?"

Happy to see that this wolf cared for her comfort, she agreed to his request. “That would be greatly appreciated.” Shaking off the excess snow form her physique, she motioned to follow him.