I had forgotten the reason that I'd come to Enocra today, for it no longer mattered. There was a sound, something that drew me to the darkest, deepest parts of the forest that were not often frequented by the wolves of Moladion. It was a muffled noise, but my ears pricked forward and my nose twitched in worry. Mahogany eyes searched the forest as I made my way through the denser trees, the sound stopping from time to time, but whenever it started up again it was slightly louder. As a mother, the sound of a distraught puppy's cries was like poison in my ears. That I could not find her made my heart race. I moved quickly through the woods, hoping that I would be the first to make it to her - for there were many beasts that walked the lands of Moladion, and not all were lupine. Urgently searched, eyes wide with worry and heart pounding in my chest.

But I was not the only one searching for the source, the pup that squalled for help but called to her only danger. Two eyes of gleaming gold glared up at me when I came upon the thicket of bushes. She stood hungrily over the dead and bloated form of a female wolf, and her eyes flashed down at the weak pup that continued to cry out in dismay. Immediately the fur over my back bristled, making me appear even larger than I was. My lips peeled back to reveal predatory fangs that snapped forward in warning, saliva bubbling between my teeth. Ears laced to my skull, but the bobcat did not back down. Instead, her maw parted in a hiss, sharp teeth exposed and ears folding to the side. She refused to be deprived of this meal. Only the body of her deceased mother separated the pup from the doom of the cat's fangs. Nothing but ground and grass separated me from the child. Despite the ample meat available to her on the mother's body, she wanted the fresh blood of the pup. I would not allow it.

We lunged almost simultaneously, but my longer legs and proximity to the pup saw me reach her first. I crouched over the pup to brace myself as the cat's claws swiped at me, catching my right shoulder and grazing the surface. My jaws snapped out at her, grabbing the other foreleg just above the paw and grinding my teeth into the flesh. A yowling hiss exploded from the bobcat's maw, and as soon as she hit the ground she dashed away from me, circling around to put the mother's corpse between us once more. Mahogany eyes were fixated upon her, my breathing coming in heavy pants as I backed up a single step so that the pup lay at my forepaw before I swiftly leaned down and scooped her up in my jaws. Though the bobcat held her injured paw aloft, she still bared her teeth and panted at me in challenge. My hold on the frail body of the pup was gentle, but my lips arched upwards to expose my fangs. My message was clear: this pup was mine, and she could not have it. Finally the bobcat gave way, lowering her head towards the dead mother to feast on it instead. It was then that I took my opportunity, backing away slowly and keeping my eyes on the bobcat for as long as possible before I turned and disappeared into the woods, making my way north towards the open fields beyond.

When I reached the very edge of the forest, I stopped, lowering my head and putting the tiny girl down. Gently I rolled her over with my nose so I could get a better look at her. Warm breaths lapsed over her, hoping to warm the cold child. From the look of her mother, she'd been alone out here for at least a day or so, and no milk was left in the teats. Malnourishment would threaten the girl's life if I could not get her to a nursing mother quickly. It had been weeks since Ailith and Everlyse had given birth, the milk that they had would not offer the nutrients that a newborn required. I was unsure about Spirit, for even her birthing had taken place more than a week prior. But Anemone, she was due soon, and with hope she had begun to let milk down that could sustain this girl. I nuzzled my nose into the lopsided marking on her chest, hoping that I could save her. "Come little one, I shall find a way," I whispered softly to her before gently picking her tiny body up in my jaws once more and setting off at a fluid lope across the expanse of land that led to Spirane, doing my best not to jar her during the ride.