Coyotl had left behind the dusty east, the misted forests, and the treacherous mountains to find herself within a grove of trees somewhere on the other side. To her dismay, nothing in this land was being handed out on a silver platter. Even the ravens didn't want to share with her, though she supposed trying to eat one of the black birds as they picked at a carcass hadn't helped. The thought of having to actually work for something filled her with dread and dismay, how boring. And a waste of her time, really.

She sniffed around the trees, cursing their lack of fruit this time of year and hoping at least a mouse might be found between the snowed in roots. But as soon as she caught the scent of another wolf on the wind it was as if a switch had flipped.

"Ohhh... Help... Please... somebody... Anybody.... Heeeeellllp....." Coyotl moaned and groaned, occasionally punctuated by a pitiful whine. Her steps were aimless, perhaps a bit over the top as she staggered and swayed, wracked by some invisible ailment as her head bobbled side to side. There was nothing wrong with her, of course. Unless one counted the empty belly and scabby, patchy coat as anything particularly wrong. Just as she rounded a small hill she saw her target, a black brute who looked like he knew how to feed himself. Coyotl unleashed another pained groan turned sob.

As soon as she noticed he was paying attention, she stumbled and fell to the ground, cushioned by the snow. She lay there, trying not to watch as the male cautiously came closer, closer, like a fish towards bait. She couldn't be too hasty, she couldn't pull up the line too fast. With a deep voice he acknowledged her.

"Ohhh..." She groaned, rolling from her side onto her belly, her chin settled onto the ground between her outstretched forelimbs. Her sharp yellow eyes, large in her gaunt face, slid up towards him, taking in the thick, dark winter pelt. He was keeping his distance, but she could smell him and the mix of others in his fur. He was not alone. He would work.

"Please sir, you must help me... I've got nobody, nobody out there. Toss out their old gramma, why don't they. Said if I couldn't hunt anymore, why keep me?!" Her big ears folded down alongside her head, a pained sob leaving her bony muzzle.

"Sir, I'm beggin' you... You gotta put me outta my misery, I got nothin' left to live for. You can't leave me like this... I haven't eaten in weeks." Her body shook, emphasizing how very cold her little frame was.  "If you don't finish me off, the winter will!" She cried, dramatically throwing her paws over the bridge of her muzzle and squeezing her eyes shut.