01-14-2008, 12:00 AM
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Winter was a harsh mistress, one you could not supplicate for mercy. Phoenix was one a hardy stock built to survive the winter; and as such he had always preferred it to the summers that were cruel on wolves with dark, thick coats. But never before had he known just how dangerous winter and snow could be. He certainly hadn’t expected an entire wall of snow to engulf part of his home and almost take his daughter’s life. It served as a reminder that nobody was ever safe from anything, not even something as seemingly harmless as flakes of frozen water. Nothing had changed, really, expected Phoenix’s perception of the world around him. But once the shock had abated, everything seemed to settle down into a sense of normalcy, at least in his mind. It was just one more danger in a life full of hardships, and now he was aware of it—even better. So, the massive male did what he normally did when the odds stacked against him: he grew more determined, more resolute, more stubborn in his fight for survival. He had a family to support and protect now; the stakes were higher. But Phoenix remained optimistic as usual. Besides, it was an interesting experience, sharing one cave with the rest of the pack. It would either bring them all closer together or drive them further apart in the end, but seeing as how they had come through during the tragedy and worked together to save one of their number, Phoenix expected the former to happen, not the latter. He and his children claimed a spot near the exit of the cave, where he could remain vigilant should any other members of the pack require him. For now, though, he had a rare moment all to himself. And as he usually used his free time, he was hunting, searching for food to nourish his four children and nay other pack member who needed it. Yes, despite the tragedy, Phoenix remained optimistic for the future. The avalanche, rather than destroying Storm, seemed to have galvanized his pack to come closer together. For perhaps the first time since become alpha, Phoenix was proud to lead such a fine group of wolves. |