The Wild Wolf Within

Ruins

Warrior and I took off toward the gate that lead out to the ruins. Chief keeping step along side. Getting through the gate, we crested the top of the hill. "Chief go on ahead and see what your nose says."

Chief nodded "I will strike if I smell something."

I nodded. Chief took off down the trail. Warrior and I headed down the trail a bit slower. That way we could listen and look. Warrior was listening with his ears while I was looking for any color out of place.

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Chief POV

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I had just stopped and winded, nothing but Jack rabbit and juniper is what I met. I ran more. There was a hill coming up. I figured that would be another good spot to check. Half way up I caught the smell of the female wolf. I came to a stop and sat down. "Lada?" I looked around.

"You must have wolf blood too." Lada spoke walking out of the shadow of the junipers. The sand made no sound.

"I do." I had a very doggy smile in my eyes. "I am a Plott hound. It has been passed down the line that we have wolf blood along with ancient Black Forest hound."

"Black Forest hound. I remember them. It makes much sense now. Why are you and the cub out?" Lada sat down.

"A friend called her, his wife went missing on her morning ride to the ruins. He asked if we could help." I stood up winded and looked back at Lada. "She comes, I need to keep looking." I nodded to her almost a doggy bow and took off the rest of the way up the hill. There I checked the scents on the breeze. I smelled horse. Not very strong but enough to know it was a possible trail. I let out my strike, a howl and woof mix. I knew she would know what I meant. Started running into the smell, letting out the song of my tribe. This is what I was meant for the hunt and the chase.

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Lia's POV

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I heard Chief's strike. I glanced toward the hill in the distance to make out his brindle form racing the top of the hill. "Let's go!" I leaned forwarded and legged Warrior into a gallop. Keeping my eyes on Chief, I directed Warrior to catch up. We dodged the trees and jumped fallen logs like we were one spirit. I trusted Warrior to know where his feet went. Getting along side Chief, I asked while we ran. "What do you got?"

"Wounded horse, by the smell." Chief panted.

"Shit..." I muttered. Looking around I seen we were coming up on the backside of the Ruins. I slowed Warrior. "Chief, lets go into this slow and steady." Chief slowed with us down to a trot. "Warrior?" I asked. I knew he could hear better then I.

"I don't hear much, though I am picking up a wounded mare." His head high he looked around too.

We stopped at the top of the trail to the entrance of the Ruins. I glanced around, looking for the brown and white paint mare. I slowly scanned the area below. Something in the back of my head said trap. But I couldn't put a finger on it.

I swung down off Warrior. If it was a trap I was not going to risk my friends. "Chief stay with Warrior." I pulled the Golden boy rifle from the case, clambering a round I added "I don't want either of you hurt. Stay here."

There was a ledge and a small staircase that went into a narrow entrance. This back way was a little tricky. Which left you open to something ambushing. I had a chill in my spine, if there was a horse around here, it was likely not in a good situation.

Standing at the entrance to the Ruins, I glanced behind me to see Warrior and Chief watching me.

Turning back to the way I was going, looking on the ledge I seen nothing. Looking back to Chief and Warrior I said "Go around and meet me at the front."

Turning my attention back to the walkway that lead into the ruins I was met with a violet gaze inches from my nose to the female wolf's. "Sweet baby Jesus.." I squealed, stepping back out of reaction.

"My apologies, but I get the feeling you may need a bit more help then your two friends can provide." The brown wolf sat, her head c****d to the side looking at me.

"Pretty sure I will have to check for a brown stain later. But, thank you." I nodded to her and walked passed into the entrance of the Ruins. I could hear the click of her nails behind me. That tingle in my spine growing to goose bumps. The alleyway from the area we came in let out in the courtyard of the plaza. Living quarters were to be on the left in the cliff face and the other areas to the right. Turning the corner I seen the middle of the plaza. Stopping just before entering that plaza, I found the paint mare. She was down, but alive. "I am here to help," I started in my head "what wounded you?"

"Evil, pure evil." The brown and white horse whispered.

"Its the Skinwalker," I heard the wolf behind me growl.

"They exist?" I turned around to look at the dire wolf behind me. Realizing how stupid it was. I was looking at a dire wolf. So in actuality, yes Skinwalkers would exist in the same world including other things. Things... That sent another shiver down my spine.

"Step to the side" The female wolf brushed past me. Her fur tickling my nose. She poked her head out of our doorway to look around. Inhaling, you could almost hear her mind analyze the scents. I could hear a low and steady growl emanating from her.

"I am guessing, you found something not too good." I mentioned off handily.

"Loyalty, so hard to come by. Your missing human alive but just past the horse." The wolf looked past the injured horse.

"Gonna go out on a limb and say your red bud is hanging out with the Skinwalker?" I asked.

"Not my bud, but yes. They seem to be working together." The female looked at me. She did not tell me nor did I pick up. She had said she was gonna hunt today so the Red wolf was supposed to be keeping an eye. "I have a feeling we need to come up with a plan. The Skinwalker is strong, was part of these Ruins when it was young and human." Turning to look at me she asked "may I touch your forehead?"

That was curious I thought to myself. "Sure."