Work Text:
Charlie sniffed the air. He felt the sharp tightening of his nostrils. The big cold would be here soon. His dual coat had already grown in, preparing for the long nights and snow drifts. But still, he worried. This year he was packless, driven out by a jealous pack mate, and he had never faced the winter alone before.
Despite the anxious worry that clawed at his stomach (or was that hunger?), he appreciated the fresh clean snow that gathered in clumps between his paw pads. The cold and wet rolled off his outer layer of fur, the inner layer insulating him.
His ears perked and tilted almost on their own as he heard a small yip. It was the wrong time of year for a pup that young, but the sound was unmistakable. Cautiously, he investigated; his instincts at war with each other. A pup so young would surely mean a nearby pack, but the urge to protect the young overroad his caution.
As he cleared the ridge he saw the pup - older than Charlie had guessed by the sound, but still small, trapped under a fallen tree branch. The state of the snow showed a frantic struggle, but the pup’s head was caught in a Y-shaped branch and the instinct to pull back was wedging their neck in further. Danger or no, Charlie couldn't leave this pup.
He sprung into action, roughly grabbing the loose skin neck of the pup between his jaws, and pulled to free him. Just as the branch gave way, and the pup was free, he felt the heavy weight of another on his back. Hackles raised, he turned to meet the snarl of a large auburn-coloured wolf, teeth bared.
Before he could fully react, the pup sprang between them.
pack
saved me
pack
The thoughts urgently carried through the wind, desperate, and Charlie and the second wolf stepped back, eying each other suspiciously.
all alone, no pack, Charlie sent out as he dipped his head. This wolf was large and strong and he knew his chances in a fight were slim. The larger wolf tilted his head, looking curiously at Charlie.
also alone. no pack. only me. only pup.
That's when Charlie saw the limp. The exhaustion on the wolf's face. The injured leg. Tentatively he crossed the distance, sniffing, head bowed. It was a risk to expose himself like this, to put any part of his body within snapping distance of those sharp teeth, but something drew him closer.
His tongue darted out, and he licked along the matted fur of the larger wolf’s injured leg, exploring. The skin was torn in places, and the wolf would need time to rest if he was to make it through the coming cold. And to have the little one depending on just him, just an injured pack mate.
He walked over and nuzzled his face along the other wolf, making his intentions clear.
new pack?
A wave of relief shuddered through the larger wolf and he crossed to the hollow and small shelter created by the dropped branch, curling to the snow covered forest ground.
new pack, the wolf repeated, as the pup curled in next to him.
new pack, the pup thought, looking at Charlie expectedly.
Charlie crossed over and curled beside the two wolves, allowing their shared warmth to build, amused at the squirm of the young one between them. Perhaps this upcoming winter wouldn’t be so bad after all.
