Krish ambled along in the rain confident her scent was being washed away and grateful for a reprieve from the driving pace. Hunger nagged at her, odds were favorable the wolf had lost her, it shouldn't hurt to stop and catch a snack. Stalking along the craggy rock face she listened closely for the scuffle of small creatures. She pawed at a rock and was rewarded as something furry darted out. She pounced on the creature breaking its neck then returned to where it fled from. Inside an alcove was a nest of rabbit kits. Setting their dead mother aside she dispatched the kits, quickly gobbling them up. Their soft bones barely crunching in her powerful jaws.

She could feel the wolf closing in again. Tenacious creature must have picked up her scent. "He never rests that one." her chest swelled a bit with pride for her potential mate. How unlikely for the universe to throw two opposed creatures together. Two entities that knew nothing about each other and possibly had little in common. It was truly a recipe for disaster in Krish's opinion. Though the nature of her blood was by definition more than slightly chaotic, part of her always hoped to bond before being driven by hormones to claim a mate. Thinking back on the things she saw at Thompson's ranch Krish realized there was a lot she did already know about her mate. His men respected him. His silence during the discussion taking place before she broke up the party indicated he listened to and valued them as well. Physically he was a fine male specimen, though that was not the only component of what she desired in a match, it was important to be attracted to your partner. Oh, she was very clearly attracted. He was intelligent, one did not retain the seat of Arch Alpha by being a simple-minded brute. That might work with small local packs, but a King needed cunning and diplomacy to rule. Arch Alphas were indeed Kings though they eschewed the title. His stubborn nature was proven by the fact he had not yet given up. Then again mayhaps he was a bit on the dull side to keep after a female over such terrain. No that wasn't fair, the mating drive of a dominate wolf was stronger than any other of the fey blood. Being an Arch Alpha she'd bet he'd hazard death rather than lose her.

"Perhaps I should give him a bit of encouragement." She guts the adult rabbit then drapes the body over a low tree branch. Stretching up she cuts deep deliberate grooves through the bark and into the wood of the tree depositing strong scent markers through her pads. Half giddy, Krish bounds up the rock face towards home.

Krish continued her leisurely climb up the mountainside. Why had he not caught her? Her heart fell as she contemplated that perhaps he was not as strong as she thought. She is oddly amused by her disappointment, where was that coming from? When arriving at the creek she was surprised the runoff managed to swell the stream so far over its banks. Eating at the earth it writhed angrily like a serpent before her. Backing up enough to get a decent start she leapt into the air sailing over the creek just barely finding purchase on the opposing bank. She scrambled up the rock face breaking loose pebbles that showered down and made little smacking noises on the larger rocks. At that moment something made her turn and look over her shoulder. The large wolf emerged from the tree line on the opposing bank. She crouched behind some low scrub watching him through the scraggly branches. Would her try that leap to come to her?

Into the darkness, hunger clawing at him, Cungr drives on in pursuit. She was so close he would be upon her at any moment. Her scent became so strong that he was positive she was over the next ridge. He leapt over a boulder next to a copse of spindly trees her smell increasing and mixing with the scent of fresh blood. Then he saw it, a freshly dressed rabbit hanging from a low branch, deep claw marks scaring the tree. She left him a gift, provided a small meal, she was not rejecting him. Still, he could feel she was moving, putting distance between them again. He considered for a moment then scarfed the rabbit down before bounding up the mountainside hot on her trail. His left hip gave way and he slid down a rock face landing on his left side. Releasing a sharp yelp at the pain, he fights the desire to whine like an injured pup. With a low groan he forces himself back up, he is so close, now was not the time to become reckless. Slowing his pace he gingerly picks his way back up the rock face keeping as much weight off the injured limb as possible. A sliver of moon rose, giving scant light to the path ahead.

A rushing echo is audible just over the crest, coming to the edge of a row of stunted trees a swollen creek rolls dangerously before him. Pebbles come raining down from the opposite hillside. He is certain it is her, but how had she gotten there? The jump seemed longer than any he could make on his best day. Somehow she managed it, her scent and presence were so strong. Cungr is positive she is less than 100 yards away.

As male cautiously moves towards the raging creek Krish notices he is strongly favoring his left hind. "He can't make that jump injured." A sensation of worry engulfs her, "Surely he has more sense." The wolf drops his head down studying the stream gazing up the opposing bank towards her hiding spot. His shoulders sag, she imagines from the realization of defeat.

"Can I make that leap? I know she's testing me." he thinks. Releasing a deep breath he turns and limps back to where he entered the narrow clearing. He shifts his weight testing the soundness of his limbs, considering his options.

Just as Krish prepares to release a sigh of relief, thinking he had given up. The red wolf throws his massive head back in a powerful howl, a call to his mate he knows she cannot ignore and he prays conveys his passionate determination. He charges forward towards the creek and for a moment she believes he has the momentum to make the spread. Whether it was the soft footing or his injured hip, maybe both, something gave way and his jump fell horribly short causing him to plummet into the raging water.

The moment Krish saw his hind limb slip she rocketed down the mountainside landing next to the creek almost at the instant he hit the water. His eyes flash wide with shock when he sees the giant orange blur descending the rock face towards him. Then he slips under the water's surface 

She races down the bank searching frantically. He resurfaces gasping for air and fighting the current. She urges him on with her thoughts willing him to fight. He is muscling towards the bank when a tree sweeps by knocking him sideways dashing his head on a jutting rock. Krish leaps to the rock grasping him by the scruff before the current pulls him under. She manages to haul him the few remaining feet to the bank dragging him up and away from the water.

Suddenly a creature from childhood nightmares emerges from the dark. "So this is what the angel of death looks like." Cungr thinks. The fangs of that horrid maw grip round his neck as darkness overtakes him.

Krish holds her breath listening for his heartbeat. There it is, faint but thrumming steadily. "You really are a courageous creature, aren't you? Don't die just yet pup." She is thankful the cabin is at the top of this rise, the creek was the last major obstacle. Even with her strength, this great wolf was too heavy to drag much farther.