pack was worried, especially his mother and siblings. He didn't want to keep them waiting any longer.

          Kiona looked at Achak, sighing from having a comfortably full stomach. She licked her lips, revealing the creamy-white fur around her muzzle from under a coat of fresh blood. She then picked up a piece of the rabbit she had not eaten and carried it over to him. She was going to offer it to him, because she knew he must've been famished, but as if he knew what she was thinking, he shook his head and insisted she eat it. Kiona reluctantly finished her kill, wanting to share with Achak still. It was very rare that she wanted to share her food, so she pouted as she lapped up the last bits of meat. The hybrid was full of energy now, trotting every which-way, smelling her way back to the pack (she was also careful not to wear herself out because she and the others would have to hunt soon). Achak stayed close to her, but wasn't nearly as brisk as Kiona. He smiled to himself anyway. He was glad that she was in good health again.

            Indeed, Achak would not take the female's food. It was her kill for one; he didn't want to deprive her of her prize that she deserved. And for another, the hybrid needed all the strength she could get for the coming winter months. Kiona couldn't risk sharing her meals no matter how well intentioned. The alpha could go for longer without food as well. Though for a brief moment, he felt bad for rejecting her kindness. She meant well, but Achak needed to do what was best for his pack members. When Kiona finished, she came and joined him, still looking a bit put down, but ready to follow him. With a nod, the large alpha started off. While the hybrid was eating, he had looked around, and found that he recognized the area. That information was good. Now they would be able to find their way back to the pack at the caves.

By the time Kiona and Achak returned, the storm had lightened up a bit more. As soon as Achak passed through the mouth of the cave, he was bombarded with cries of joy and relief. His mother and siblings were nuzzling him, and the others were thanking heaven for his safe return. Kiona just stared in awe, and possibly longing, but shrugged it off. After a minute of Achak being smothered with attention, they mentioned being glad that Kiona returned safely as well.

            Achak let them surround him, assuring them all he and Kiona were just fine, if not just a bit cold from being in the storm. That seemed to help him escape lectures from his family, mainly Kanook and Olathe, his mother. Ayashi, coming from the group surrounding her brother and alpha, ran over to Kiona, tail wagging in happiness and excitement. Being one that was friendly to everyone in the pack, she didn't really think much that the other female wasn't quite used to affections of a close-knit wolf pack. Upon reaching her fellow pack mate, she nudged the hybrid under the muzzle once, and then stepped back. "We're all glad to see you're both back, we were worried! What happened out there?" The silver wolf's blue eyes swirled with curiosity.

            Kiona smiled at Aya for the nuzzle, but when Aya asked what happened, immediately, Kiona's mind flashed back to how she and Achak slept. "Nothing much." she spoke; obviously hinting she was a tad embarrassed. "Just got a little lost is all." She cleared her throat and brushed past her. Aya smirked at the departed Kiona and then smirked at her brother, as if she expected him to say they did something the previous night.

            After a bit, the pack settled down again, glad their alpha and pack mate were safely back with them. Achak took this time to go and find the red hybrid again, it not taking long. She had a distinct scent, he had noticed, and followed it to the female. Sitting down near her, the alpha gazed out into the storm.

"You look better now that you've eaten something. Who knows when our next good meal will be, with winter coming?" Too bad Kiona hadn't joined the pack earlier, and then maybe the large wolf could have taught her how to build up her endurance for the cold months coming. She would have to learn quicker now, and it wouldn't be easy. But she wouldn't be alone either. The whole pack would help their pack mate.

            Kiona nodded, and then comprehending what Achak actually said about her looking better, she asked.

"Do I?" She wasn't one to complain, but she hated being cooped up like this, it only made her feel worse. She wanted to get her blood pumping in order to stay warm like how she used to. She knew, however, that she needed to stay until it was safe. There was no way she was going to make the same mistake twice; no matter how much she loved being active.  

She decided to shift her brain gears into something more positive. It hasn't even been half a year yet, since she joined the pack. As much as she enjoyed (overall) being with the pack in the seasons of fall and winter (which were the hard times for all animals everywhere) she wondered what it'd be like spending the spring and summer with them. They wouldn't have to worry about food as much, nor worry about keeping warm. Although, every female knew there was a more irritable side to spring. She was just glad that she wouldn't have to deal with such hassles this time. She already endured almost three springs with five male dogs.

But the better part of that season was she had more excuses to bite them. She also liked spring because it had some of the best weather. She'd run for hours in the slush until it was time to go back home. Reminiscing made her crack a smile. "I just wish spring would get here." she sighed, kind of disappointed that it wasn't reaching them fast enough.

            Achak nodded, agreeing with her statement. "Spring does not return fast enough. It gets worse before it gets better. Much worse at times." It was too bad this was Kiona's first winter in the wild; it would be the hardest on her. During these first few weeks of winter, before the real bad weather came in, the pack would try to hunt and kill as much as they could to get ready for the upcoming months.

Glancing outside, the alpha noted with relief that the storm seemed to be dying down even more. Perhaps soon they would be able to leave the caves and give another attempt at a hunt. At least before the storm got worse again, if it would at all.

Kiona decided to break the silence again. "So when are we all going to hunt? It looks like this is as calm as the storm is gonna get." she stated. She was anxious to get out, mostly, knowing deep down she and the others were probably going to be snowbound for a while. Her stomach was full and she was feeling well, other than a tad chilled, but she still wanted to help.

The silver streaked wolf glanced back at the rest of the pack a moment. "Perhaps. This may be our only chance today for another chance at a hunt." Standing, Achak made his way back to where his pack was, most of them noticing his approach and turning to face him. "If you all are ready we're about to move out. This may be our only other chance today to get a kill and eat. Lets form our groups and move out..."

            A little later, Achak and most of the pack stalked the area for food. Some of the others had to stay behind because they weren't fit enough to hunt without injuring themselves in this weather. With luck, they managed to find a young buck, stranded by himself in the trees. It looked like it was barely old enough to be on its own away from its mother, but Achak could tell it had no spots, so to him it was perfectly fine to kill. What a bad time to leave mother.

The pack split into two groups and ran on either side of the fleeing buck. Kiona, being a faster one ran ahead, as ordered, but still close to the pack, her eyes on the prey. Once she and Ayashi, who was on the opposite side of the deer, were ahead of it, they ambushed it, making it turn around to realize the rest of the pack had surrounded it. The pack then took turns in pairs attacking, until it was easy enough to take down by the neck. It was a very fun tactic, once they realized they could outrun their kill. Kanook was the one who killed it this time. He, Dartanion and Zephyr carried the kill back to the cave where they all could eat together. Achak congratulated everyone who took part in the hunt, and everyone who didn't he let know that it was time to eat and to eat as much as they could (without hogging it all). Unfortunately, the young buck wasn't the greatest meal they ever had, but it would have to do for a few more days at least.

Kiona didn't eat much because she wasn't that hungry. Achak insisted she still eat just in case, so she forced some meat down. Then she and a few of the others were tired, so they snoozed in the back of the cave. Kiona snuggled in close to Ayashi and Takoda for warmth, for she didn't want Zephyr touching her. Achak joined the group for warmth soon after he had his fill of the deer and made sure everyone else got their fair share until the entire thing was gone.

            They had been lucky. Even with the storm, the pack had managed to kill and eat very well. It would not always be like this, they all knew. Thankfully the