The War on Wildlife is free for everyone, but donations are always welcome! The War on Wildlife is the third in the wildlife series with these characters. If you enjoy this novel, the prequels, Spirit of the Wolf and Thundering Hooves are available in paperback! Click here to see all the episodes plus background information and the introduction! If you’ve joined the novel late, please click here to start with Episode One!
Episode Twelve - Trouble At Elk Creek
Following a winter of exploration on Colorado’s western slopes, Shadow and Ember eventually discovered a bountiful valley on the banks of Elk Creek. It was there that they interrupted their travels to make a den where Ember could give birth to her first litter of pups. Before long the time was at hand, and Shadow stood outside the den excitedly awaiting the arrival of his offspring. His only job that day was to protect his mate from danger while she brought their new family into the world. Shadow scanned the woods for predators as he listened for the sound of his newborn cubs. By the time the birthing process was over, Ember had delivered five healthy young wolves into the world.
When all the pups were birthed and breathing she let out a woof to invite Shadow inside, and he carefully crawled through the rocky opening to meet his new family. Wolf pups are the source of great excitement to a pack, and Shadow was as excited as any patriarch could be. First he licked the face of his mate, and then turned to greet the pups. Ember was already cleaning them up, but Shadow was eager to help. Ember however, had other plans for Shadow. A low growl alerted him that he had other activities to attend to. A new wolf mom expends a lot of energy caring for her new ones and producing milk for them, and for that she was going to require a steady supply of food.
Ember’s growl reminded him that for the next few months, he was going to be counted on as the sole provider for his mate, and he immediately set about his task of finding game. An open meadow nearby was his first destination, and he quickly grabbed a rabbit from beneath the tangled mountain grass. Without taking a bite for himself, he returned to the den and laid the catch near Ember’s face and quickly departed to catch another one.
Before day’s end Shadow had delivered three rabbits and discovered a bison winter kill, still frozen in the creek. He would return for that carcass later in the spring, but for now, rabbits were plentiful and were no match for his speed and power. The new family was safe and well fed, and Ember would not experience danger for some time. She was fortunate to have a very capable mate to care for her, and their location was a secret closely guarded by state wildlife personnel.
Eventually with weeks of successful hunting behind him, Shadow left the den early on a beautiful Colorado western slope morning, to catch the day’s nourishment. The pups were getting bigger and their appetite was growing voracious. Long days of hunting were required to provide enough nourishment for the growing young ones, who were now eating pieces of meat that Ember shared with them. She instinctively knew that the pups needed to learn that they would be required look for their own food one day, and hid their food it so they could gain experience with the act of hunting and foraging.
Shadow was an excellent provider but game in close proximity to the den was becoming scarce, and his excursions took him further and further each day. On this day he ventured far from the den, crossing Elk Creek and wandering deep into Grand County. He knew a large kill this far away would require several dangerous treks back and forth to the den, but there was no choice. A pungent odor reached his sensitive scent receptors, coaxing him to change course and investigate. As he neared the source of the strong smell, he also spotted a strange herd of slow moving ungulates, apparently oblivious to his presence. He passed by the stench that had attracted him in the first place, a pit filled with rotting animal flesh of no interest to a capable hunter such as himself.
As he surveyed the situation, the blast of a rifle pierced the dry Colorado air. The deafening noise was accompanied by searing pain in his hindquarters, as he spun around and collapsed to the ground. As he tried to get back up, his shattered hip gave out and he fell once again to the ground. He could hear men yelling in the distance, an all too familiar sound he now associated with danger and captivity. He knew he had to escape, but it would have to be on three legs.
At first he crawled on his belly nearly incapacitated from the pain, but his will to live eventually overcame the need to stop and tend to his wound. On three legs he ran as fast as he could from the galloping horses, toward the familiar rugged terrain on the other side of the creek. The horsemen reached the creek just as he arrived at the dense pine forest on the other side. Safely in the rocky terrain and the cover of pine trees, he was able to slow his pace and limp back to the den.
Ember greeted him as he whimpered and crawled into the den. She searched for her expected meal, but discovered that the blood she smelled was oozing from Shadow’s wound. The once mighty hunter now crawled helplessly into the darkness to lay down beside his excited pups. Ember joined him and licked his wound, the only medicine she knew how to provide.
The pack would have no nourishment that night, and by morning Shadow had not moved. Ember understood that she would now have to shoulder the responsibility of hunting for her pups, herself and Shadow too. She gave the command for the pups to stay in the den, and ventured out into the rugged wilderness in search of prey. She soon learned what Shadow already knew, small prey near the den had become scarce. She quickened her pace and expanded her search far beyond familiar territory.
A wolf can travel many miles in a day, and Ember journeyed to the limits of her ability. She knew her family was counting on her. Eventually she caught the scent of deer in the distance, and quietly made her way toward what she hoped would be a successful kill. The mother deer was feeding on mountain grass with her two fawns, born earlier in the spring. The fresh mountain breeze was blowing in Ember’s favor, whisking her scent away from the deer and providing slightly muffling the sound of her stealthy approach.
Soon she was upon the trio, and mounted her attack. The little group was caught completely unaware, and Ember quickly killed the smaller of the two fawns while the other two animals fled in terror. Fortunately the young fawn was small enough for Ember to carry by herself, and she began the difficult journey back to the den.
Sunlight was fading rapidly when Ember finally reached the safety of their rocky home. Her pups joyously emerged from the den and attacked the fresh kill with every ounce of strength their tiny bodies could muster. Ember paid them no attention as she began to tear her prey into pieces that her young ones could manage with their small teeth. She also ripped off a big piece of meat, and took it inside the den for her mate. Shadow whimpered his thanks and weakly nibbled his portion.
Weeks passed, and Shadow slowly healed and grew stronger. He eventually emerged from the den, finding his hind leg nearly useless. But he was a strong willed animal that was not going to let the injury incapacitate him forever. Finally came the day when he felt confident enough to leave Ember and the pups behind, and resume the responsibility of providing the food. Ember remained at the den and went about the task of teaching the pups to hunt for themselves.
Shadow made his way through the rugged mountain terrain in search of prey and eventually came across a small herd of elk, including several cows and their calves. He crept closer until he felt confident that he could safely snatch one of the smaller calves. He lunged with all the strength his three legs could generate, but the elk calf was faster. The cows instinctively charged toward the screaming calf, and Shadow was forced to retreat. Undaunted he continued his hunt, eventually coming across a big jack rabbit. He gave chase and nearly exhausted himself in an unsuccessful effort at an easy kill. A mule deer fawn escaped his efforts in the same manner, and he eventually found himself on the banks of Elk Creek.
He remembered well the danger he had encountered here before, and his instinct was to return to the den. However his need to find prey was stronger, and he remembered the slow moving creatures grazing on the other side. This time he would not approach in the light, hoping that he could kill one of the dull witted animals under the cover of darkness. The horsemen were nowhere to be seen, but Shadow was not going to take a chance. He hid in the tall grass and waited for the sun to go down. Eventually darkness cloaked his approach and he lunged at one of the calves, killing it almost instantly. He would be unable to drag the entire calf back to his den, so instead tore off a manageable piece and laid it aside.
He buried the remains of the animal as best as he could, using loose dirt and mountain grass to hide his kill for a return to it the next day. Soon he was on his way back to the den with the bounty. In the meantime, Ember had done the best she could to satisfy her young pack by catching small rodents, which she hid for her pups to practice their hunting skills.
Cowboys discovered the kill in the morning while riding the perimeter of the range and one of them yelled to the other, “Jacob, check this out. Looks like something got one of the calves.”
“Looks like the work of a wolf.”
“Probably one of those damn Elk Creek pack wolves that the liberals in Denver have saddled us with.”
“What should we do?”
“I don’t know, I guess we leave it here and bring in the state wildlife people to confirm it.”
“Supposedly we are going to get reimbursed if the wolves bother our herd.”
“All right then, give them a call and see if they can come out today.”
Eventually state wildlife people arrived and confirmed the wolf kill, blaming the Elk Creek Pack for their first livestock depredation. Although Shadow tried his best to catch prey close to the den, his wounds often limited his success. Several times over the next few weeks he was forced to return to the creek, and the easy prey in the meadow on the opposite bank.
Episode Eleven ««< »»> Episode Thirteen
