Red Wolf

     Cold; miserably cold. The ground was white and thick with snow, the chilled air had formed a fine layer of ice over the mounds. In the morning rays the ground glowed dimly pink as the shadows danced away from the reaching sun light.
      The she-wolf trotted over the crunchy earth, her coat matching the frozen expanse. Her body was thin, but not so much lean as it had been that summer and fall. Pups could do that to a wolf. She had given birth to a late litter. Born at the beginning of autumn, her two pups were smaller than the other litters. And now that winter had come to stake its icy claim on the land, the she-wolf was hard pressed to feed her and her pups, adding to the strain on her body. If it wasn't for her winter coat, one could easily see her bony frame.
      The scent of hare wafted into her nostrils. Hare would be tiresome to catch in her current condition, but anything larger could become dangerous. Making her mind quickly, she turned slightly and started after the fading scent.