Chapter 16: Murder in the Woods, Part 2

"Bull moose, really cute rack, bit dense but very good at what needs to be done at mating time."

"What would we have to do with a bull moose? Our pack isn't that foolish."

"He's missing."

"What's that got to do with me?" Nick pulled forward a little; he might slip his tail out from under her hoof.

"You've got a nose and an attitude. Find him or find out what happened to him."

"Why would I do that?"

She leaned a bit on his tail and a whine leaked out between his teeth.

"Cause if you don't, I and all my lady friends will stomp you into the mud."

"You bitch," Nick tried to twist around far enough to get his teeth into the her. He wondered if his tail was going to come right off.

"I'm a moose," She leaned a little more, "The bitches are your kind. You find out what happened to Bob, or you're a mud puddle."

"How do I find you if I learn what's happened?"

"Like I said, you're the one with the nose." The cow lifted her hoof from Nick's tail. "You want me, ask for Irma." She walked off through the woods leaving Nick's tail aching. An experimental wag sent pain shooting up his back.

"Stupid cow," Nick held his tail carefully as he went back to the den to talk to the pack. He smelled several small animals and even saw a squirrel run in front of him; but he was afraid to hunt and bump his tail.

The sun was at its height. The Alpha would be lying by the den soaking up the heat, planning a hunt for the night, maybe even moose. Nick occupied himself with fantasies of dragging Irma to the ground and tasting her hot, rich blood flowing between his teeth.

The only wolf lying in the sun was Jen, a young bitch who flipped an ear at him when he came out of the bracken.

"Where's the Alpha?"

"Sleeping," she said, "like any sensible wolf."

"Hmmph," Nick said and tried to find a way to lie down that didn't send spikes of agony through his tail.

"What are you doing?" Jen asked.

"My tail hurts," Nick said, then yelped when he bumped against a tree.

"What happened?"

"Some cow moose named Irma stepped on it."

"A moose stepped on your tail?" Jen snorted and covered her muzzle with her paws trying to keep her laughter quiet, but her shaking body gave her away. She lost the battle and howled while rolling helplessly down the sandy bank. Nick tried to pounce on her, but his tail kept bumping into trees or the bank and he'd yelp. Every time he yelped she'd howl louder.

"What's all this ruckus?" The Alpha crawled out of the den.

Jen and Nick immediately crouched respectfully. Nick couldn't help a small whimper as his tail twinged.

"Nick's tail's hurt," Jen almost howled again.

"A moose stepped on it." He resented the need to explain something so humiliating to the Alpha.

"A moose stepped on your tail?" the Alpha said, "Were you sleeping with your tail on the path?" Something strange was happening to the lead wolf--suddenly howls of laughter erupted from him. Jen joined in, then the other wolves as they crawled out of the den and heard the story.

Nick buried his nose under his paws and tried not to whine like a puppy. Then he felt a cold nose nuzzling at him.

"Get up, Nick," the Alpha said. "You'd better tell us the whole story."

Nick looked up at him. The Alpha's jaw still dropped in amusement, but there was understanding in the old wolf's eyes which helped Nick stand. Just as he did sharp teeth latched onto his tail. They gave a hard pull and something snapped. He let out a long howl of agony and the rest of the pack joined him. Nick connected as he always did with the pack. His howl went from agony to laughter as he realized the pain was all but gone.

The pack stopped howling and looked at him expectantly.

"I went to get a drink at the creek where the sundown trail crosses it. I scented a cow moose, but I wasn't hungry so I didn't pay it much mind. Next thing the crazy cow had her big hoof planted on my tail and wouldn't let up. She figured I should know what killed her friend, a bull named Bob. I told her even we didn't mess with bulls around this time. She just crushed my tail harder and told me I'd better find out what happened to him or she'd find me and stomp me into mud."

The other wolves growled.

"Prey animals don't tell us what to do."

"We should go hunt her down."

"We're a pack, no grass eater can challenge us."

The Alpha stood up. Instantly the pack went silent.

"How many of you have hunted moose in the fall? Adult moose, not barely grown calves." The wolves put their noses down. "Yes, we would probably take her down but not easily. She'd kill at least one of us, perhaps more. What if she has friends who help her? Are you willing to attack a herd of moose?" They crouched to the ground and whined.

"So, what do we do?" Nick asked.

"I'm thinking you'd better go look for Bob," the Alpha said. Nick opened his mouth to argue, but the Alpha looked him in the eye. "For the good of the pack, Nick."

"For the good of the pack," Nick echoed.

"In the winter, Nick, the snow is deep and everything changes. For now, we keep the cows happy..." the Alpha's jaw dropped in humour again. "...and off our tails."

Nick ducked his head at the Alpha then headed toward the swamp.

"Where you going?" Jen asked as she fell into step with him.

"The swamp."