By Nick, 2003

Snow was still fast asleep when he heard a loud crunching noise. Sitting bolt upright he rubbed his eyes and looked around for signs of danger. Cocking his head he grinned "If that is a whole nest of hoppers you have the least you coudl do is share" stated the albino as he looked at his wolf bond. Longshanks seemed to grin at her elfbond as she cracked some more of the bones and was lapping at the marrow of the hopper she was feeding on.  

         Raising her head up the shewolf used her nose to push another of the hoppers to the side. Snow leaned forward and grabbed it up, rubbing Longshanks neck in the process. Sitting there next to the shewolf he too began to devour his breakfast of fresh hopper meat. Tasting the salty tang of the kill on his tastebuds, seemed to bring his wolf senses to the surface of his psyche even more than a usual hunt would.  

         Before long the pair had finished eating and was quinching thier thirst once more at the brook. Snow carefully took up his water skin as well and refilled it, unsure just how long it would be until they came across water once more. Eventually the pair headed off, it didn't take the pair long to pick up the trail once more. Snow was thankful for thier good fortune as well. Now that the nohump wasn't at a run the ground wasn't tore from the hooves of the beast, as it was before when they started. 

         He listened clearly for sounds of a crying cub as well, in hopes they would find Strongsprout soon. Good fortune didn't shine on either of the pair this day though, as never did they hear a sound of a crying infant. Continuing on the pair crossed into a spance of closely grown trees, it made a perfect shelter. Upon arriving in the area Snow could detect the faint smell of burnt wood. Longshanks let out a low whine as they entered the area. As the pair crept in cautiously for fear of humans they discovered an abandoned campfire.  

         Snow peered out of the bushes to look around, happy there were no signs of danger. Creeping out he went up to the blackened wood, placing his hand atop it. The dark wood was faintly warm to the touch, *hours old* he thoguht to himself. Scouring the area he found some bones of the prey whomever it was that had eaten earlier. Snow was ready to move on in his search , when to his surprise he saw a pile of stones. The smooth round stones were piled up in an odd manner, defiantely someone had put them there but why. 

         As the crimson eyed elf pondered this dilema he was surprised even more when Longshanks began whining and waggign her tail. Heading over to see what his wolf friend had discovered he stood and looked. The shewolf was nosing at the ground, it appeared that someone had made a nest-like bed of leaves. Kneeling down to get a closer look, it was then Snow picked up the faint scent of his missing son.  

         Cluthing up a handful of the leaves, he continued to breath in the scent, though he was smiling a tear ran down his cheek as well. As he breathed in the scent once more , Snow looked up to the sky "Keera, please watch over him beloved" whispered the chief. Dropping the leaves back on the ground he stood back up looking around in hopes of finding which direction the dark skinned elf had taken upon leaving. 

         Time passed and the pair had picked up wha thtey thought was the trail, but to thier dismay they ended abck up at eh copse of trees.  Frustrated beyond belief, Snow tried once more but they still returned to the copse of trees. Upon there third return to the copse Snow wondered how this could be, rubbing his topknot as he thought. Eventaulyl he squatted closer to teh ground, picking up a few small pebbles in his hand he rolled them around and thoguht about thier newfound dilema. 

         Meanwhile Longshanks layed down and drifted off into a wolf nap. Snow continued to study the layout of the copse of trees and wondered what clue might be swown as to what way was the right way.  The hooves of the nohump they had follwed all came back to this copse of trees. Standing back up he moved around in a cricle looking at all the exits, then it hit him. Examining the pile of rocks once more he figured out what they were for.  

         It appeared the plainsrunner had made a round about trip back to the copse of trees to thwart any pursuers. Could it be possible hte pile of rocks was to signify what direction wasn't the false trail. Snow kneeled once more thinking if his suspicions might be correct. As he did so he opened his hand and let the pebbles fall to the ground. As they clanked on the ground he looked at a large hand sized rock they clinked off of. *His people would know if those rocks were a sign, they have to be* thoguht Snow. Reaching down he grabbed the rock between his feet. Standing up he threw the rock at the pile of stones, knocking them over in the process.  

         Calling for Longshanks, the shewolf rose and stretched. Looking around, they picked up a single faint trail leaving from the side of the corpse the pile of rocks were stacked near. Upon closer inspection, Longshanks sniffed around "wuff". Snow's eyes widened. "What is it?", inquired Snow, as he walked up to the shewolf and kneeled down. Upon closer inspection he found small traces of fur, "hopper fur" exclaimed the surprised elf. As he looked out it appeared the hopper fur was rubbed off at various points where a nohumps hoof prints seemed light.  

         Rolling the bit of fur in his fingers he smiled brighter, thoguh still upset with himself that it took so long to figure it out. Immediately the pair headed off at a fast paced run in hopes of finding thier quarry.