Three New Members

Spark sat under the High Stone, talking with Ember. Most of the pack was out hunting or patrolling. It was the first nice day on ages. There was hardly a could in the sky, and a soft breeze wound its way through the clearing. The temperature, which had been hovering around the low forties for about a week, had finally risen to the mid-sixties. Spark was just about to suggest going hunting themselves, when a branch snapped loudly behind them. Spark looked around to see a big black wol step through. It was follwed by two more. The first two were male, but the third was female. The first male walked curiously into the clearing, glancing around casually as if this were his territory. The second looked around warily, as if he didn't trust the place. Finally the she-wolf padded in, gliding along smoothly. A cold air surrounded her, and Spark disliked her at once. She dind't trust her, either. Spark got up. "And who are you?" she demanded.

The first dog looked up. "That's none of your business, now is it-" he was cut off by the she-wolf.

"Now, that's no way to talk to your new leader, is it, Skeet?" she said coldly, in a slightly mocking tone. The male, Skeet, grumbled to himself, looking away. The other male didn't comment.

"Who are you?" Spark asked.

"Excuse us," the she-wolf said. "This is Skeet," she continued, indicating the wolf that had spoen first. "And that is Shiver," she added, nodding towards the smaller male. She introduced him with an air of contempt. "And they cll me Dima. We are here to join your pack." She looked around, as if wondering where the other dogs were.

Spark didn't like them. But she couldn't say no, could she? She had let in all the other dogs... "Why do you want to join?" she asked, stalling for time to think.

Dima answered, "Wolves need a pack to belong to, don't they, Spark? We are just some innocent rogues who need a pack. Won't you let us join?" Her voice was laced with coldness, as if she'd rather be anywhere else.

"How do you know my name?" Spark wondered.

This seemed to unnerve Dima for a second, But she was a quick-thinker. "I heard you and Ember talking," she replied smoothly.

Spark was not convinced, but didn't say more. She turned to Ember, who shrugged. "Excuse us," she said, and turned to confirm with him out of earshot. "Should we let them join?" she asked him.

"I don't think we can denie it to them..." he murmured. "Too bad Ice is out patrolling," he added.

"Yes, hmmm..." Spark thought for a moment, gazing out over Ember. Suddenly Echo appeared out of the forest, a rabbit clamped between his jaws. He was heading toward tehe freshkill pile when he noticed the three black wolves. He froze. The rabbit fwll to the ground from his slack jaw, and he started to tremble. Even from this distance Spark could tell he was suddenly terrified. He suddenly unfroze, grabbed the rabbit, and bolted towards the freshkill pile to drop the rabbit off, the swiftly reentered the woods. Spark cocked her head, confused. Ember hadn't seen it, and he glanced behind him when he noticed Spark staring, but Echo had already gone.

"What is it?" he asked. Spark didn't respond. She turned back to the newcomers.

"You may join," she announced stiffly. I will announce it to the pack later tonight.

"Thank you," Dima said, sneering. She lead Shiver and Skeet in towards the freshkill pile, where they helped themselves generously to the prey there.

"When Ice comes back, tell her to keep a keen eye on them," she told Ember quietly, then settled down to watch them for herself.

(The top picture is Dima, the she-wolf. The second down is Skeet, and then Shiver, the two males.)