Ragnarok shook the snow from his coat and shuddered. He attempted a few licks of his matted coat and gave up. The air rose in vapourous swirls from his wide mouth, twisted in either grin or grimace. It was hard to tell.
He looked about him in the blue dawn glow, at what remained of his pack and let out a low growl. Slowly they also rose. He nodded a cursory acknowledgement of the alpha female whom he merely tolerated.
Ragnarok cared for himself above all other Wargs but needed his pack. His pack were no more. He fed on the power he had over them as much as he did on the creatures he killed. Only the she-wolf stood up to him. If she had not been female she would have challenged him for leadership. In these unnatural times, she might yet.
The bones of the pups were raised through their pelts. They squeeled to be fed as the snow began to fall again and catch in their fur.
He had tried to howl last night when the snow had eased and the dark world was illuminated for a while by his beloved moon. No cry had come in answer. He gave himself a disconsolate shake.
Another wolf had died in the night. It's body lay frozen on the ground. There were only three adult wargs left. Himself, the she-wolf and one other. He drew in a bad-tempered breath, as if the demise of his pack was an inconvenience.
Ragnarok padded across to the body. It was an old female. Starved and exhausted her frail body had finally given up on their search for food. The others waited on his order. At least they would have breakfast.
[ December 04, 2002: Message edited by: Auriel Haevasawen ]
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Auriel
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