Something woke her.

The cream-coated wolf untucked a dark nose from the warmth of her tail. In the dark chill of night, her breath became a pale billow of air. It had grown much colder in the past weeks - a fact her joints seemed more aware of this year. Likely the ground would be frosted white by morning. The night seemed quiet and peaceful now, but something had awoken her. Iopah scanned the forest, peering out from the safety of her den. Her gold eyes picked out the slight movements of the cedars in the wind, and the sweet odor of decaying leaves was evident.

For a long moment she listened to nothing and then, just as she was about to go back to sleep, the sound came again. This time she rose to her feet, pressing a muzzle into @Koda's side to let him know she was leaving the den. She padded through the forest, ears perked and casting about for any unfamiliar scent. Anything that might let her know what had made that sound. But there was nothing and the search led her closer to the borders without any indication. It sounded more more solid than footsteps or voices in the distance, it almost sounded like flesh.

Iopah stepped into the unclaimed part of the forest and listened; she hoped it was innocent and not an indication of coming danger.