3/8/2026, 10:07 PM
The irritating prickle of heat had passed and Mintaka felt so much better. There was a skip to her step and a wag set in her tail - a good mood that refused to be dampened, in spite of the strangeness she was beginning to feel. It was probably all in her head, but something felt different now - she just couldn't quite put her paw on it.
Penny was probably nearby - he had been since they spent the night together, and Mintaka was delighted to have a companion. It felt like she'd gone so long on her own that the addition of a friend alleviated this strange knot in her chest, likely also contributing to the lighter feeling throughout her body.
But she was hungry.
Not much for hunting, but knowing that food was essential - especially for two wolves, now - Mintaka had found the trail of a hare. It was tough to track through the snow and trees, but she managed well enough, nose twitching and eyes keen on any hint that the lagomorph had been through the area.
She was pretty proud of herself, actually. The scent was getting stronger, and she'd found a pile of droppings that seemed fresh, and then a little tuft of white fur on a low brush. And then, she caught sight of the little thing - barely enough to feed one wolf, let alone two, - but it would have to do.
Crouching down, Mintaka readied herself, tensed her muscles, and leaped.
The hare didn't have time to react, and she was more than pleased with herself as the poor rabbit dangled from her jaws. This would make a decent meal, she figured, stomach growling, annoyed that it had yet to be fed.
Soon she thought to herself, a bounce in her step as she turned to head back the way she'd come. She'd made it only a few feet before a sound stopped her in her tracks.
A howl, unfamiliar, and not far away. Curiosity dictated her, and Mintaka turned on her heel, heading instead toward the voice.
It didn't take long to come across him, white and brown and black that blended pretty well with the snowy area. Mintaka huffed around the hare, letting her tail wag in a way that hopefully suggested she was friendly as she traipsed into the clearing.
Penny was probably nearby - he had been since they spent the night together, and Mintaka was delighted to have a companion. It felt like she'd gone so long on her own that the addition of a friend alleviated this strange knot in her chest, likely also contributing to the lighter feeling throughout her body.
But she was hungry.
Not much for hunting, but knowing that food was essential - especially for two wolves, now - Mintaka had found the trail of a hare. It was tough to track through the snow and trees, but she managed well enough, nose twitching and eyes keen on any hint that the lagomorph had been through the area.
She was pretty proud of herself, actually. The scent was getting stronger, and she'd found a pile of droppings that seemed fresh, and then a little tuft of white fur on a low brush. And then, she caught sight of the little thing - barely enough to feed one wolf, let alone two, - but it would have to do.
Crouching down, Mintaka readied herself, tensed her muscles, and leaped.
The hare didn't have time to react, and she was more than pleased with herself as the poor rabbit dangled from her jaws. This would make a decent meal, she figured, stomach growling, annoyed that it had yet to be fed.
Soon she thought to herself, a bounce in her step as she turned to head back the way she'd come. She'd made it only a few feet before a sound stopped her in her tracks.
A howl, unfamiliar, and not far away. Curiosity dictated her, and Mintaka turned on her heel, heading instead toward the voice.
It didn't take long to come across him, white and brown and black that blended pretty well with the snowy area. Mintaka huffed around the hare, letting her tail wag in a way that hopefully suggested she was friendly as she traipsed into the clearing.