Rain fell in a freezing, icy drizzle. There was a thick fog that her eyes could barely penetrate, but the woman was used to limited visibility. Her other senses were stronger. A creature of the wild could not be hindered by darkness or heavy vapor. Where pack wolves could resort to food stores if hunting was especially difficult, lone canines like her must simply adjust.
A sickly young elk bull was wandering alone and delirious through the tall forest. She sensed it before she even saw it, located it with her nose, and felled it easily. The flesh was tender. She spent several hours eating and resting until her stomach was satisfied, then slept deeply for no more than an hour. When she awoke, the female left the carcass for the birds and coons and moved on to her next interest, a nearby pack.
The scent of wolves and coyotes was pungent. There was something else, darkness, and maybe danger, but she continued anyway. The other packs she had visited had been hospitable, and she wondered if this group would be the first exception she encountered. She was too interested to turn the other way and leave it to the unknown.
The cola-toned hybrid was very close to the borders. With heightened caution, she slowed to a halt and peered into the trees. There was something strange about them now. Mingled among the trunks were wooden stakes, and as her bright eyes trailed upward, her lips parted in wonder. Fastened to the tops of the stakes were the fleshless skulls of canines, too many to count. Dusk felt a rush of exhilaration, understanding why she had sensed danger. Filled with the need to know more, she tilted her dark muzzle toward the angry sky and sang, instinctively taking a few steps away from the border.
<style type="text/css">
.razedusktree b {font-weight:bold; color:#cbd0d2; letter-spacing:1px; text-shadow:#000000 1px 1px 1px;}
.razedusktree .ooc {padding:0px; font-family:verdana, sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:center;}
.razedusktree p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 15px; margin:0px;}
.razedusktree {margin:0px auto; width:480px; background-color:#132f55; background-image:url(http://i42.tinypic.com/v74ayw.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #000000; border-radius:15px; padding: 400px 0px 0px 0px; font-family: georgia, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#000000; line-height:16px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify; text-shadow:#132f55 0px 0px 2px;}
</style>[/html]