Here is my first story on FictionPress. Wow!

Prologue: The Lone Wolf

The sooty gray wolf slipped between the tall conifers. He coat like a shadow in the mid-morning sun. His paws crunched on icy snow, disturbing the soft white and leaving wide paw prints only smaller by a man's palm by less than an inch.

Moving in a jagged fashion, the young male trotted almost leisurely through the forest. However, his eyes were wide and alert. His ears pricked and listening carefully to a distant sound.

The she-wolf. Her howl ringing out through the frosty wood, calling to the sooty lone wolf. He answered back, both howls full of hope. Never had he heard another call full of loneliness and rejoice in his loving reply.

She was near! He broke into a flat-out gallop. His paws flew across the once peaceful blanket of restful snow, kicking it up into the air as he bounded toward the sound.

The she-wolf, her pelt gray with a light belly and muzzle, was no less exited by the arrival of her soon to-be mate.

For many days and nights she had searched for a lover, and now he was less than a mile from her line of vision.

How long she had traveled to find him! She could scarcely remember many of the miles she had trekked in search of an answering howl.

She began to lope in his direction as well, her golden eyes shining like a thousand stars.

Then something stopped her: another howl.

Another stranger crested a hill just as the dark gray wolf became distinguishable against the snowy white landscape.

The new wolf was a paler shade of gray, with a darker back than the first suitor. His throat also lifted in a loud bellow as he asked for her love as well.

The shadowy furred wolf padded forward, his eyes flashing with annoyance towards the new wolf. Her took another step forward, welcoming the female to stand alongside him.

The she-wolf hesitated, lifting a paw then setting it back down in the same place. She glanced from wolf to wolf. How desperate she was to placate the strong tug of her instinctual need to find a partner.

The lighter wolf trotted forward as well, his gaze fixed on the sooty gray wolf. The other wolf glared at him, fire burning in his stare.

Snapping at the air near the dark coated wolf's muzzle, the lighter wolf moved up to the she-wolf. The dark wolf's ears flicked back, stepping toward the lighter wolf instead of the she-wolf.

The pale wolf, older than his opponent by years, had a size to back up his years. His hackles bristled as he snapped at the younger wolf's face, his teeth clipping together only inches away.

The she-wolf watched this all, her ears flicking back and forth as she witnessed the two suitors. She made no attempts to interfere, letting the fate of the two wolves decide who would be her mate.

The first wolf let out a low growl, his hackles rising as well. The sound slowly shrank into a long whine, his tail swishing beneath his hind legs as he admitted defeat.

The pale wolf sidled up to the she-wolf, her pelt brushing his. She turned away from the dark wolf she had once felt affection for and laid her muzzle beside that of her new mate's.

The other wolf let out a small whimper and sauntered away from his old love. He slunk into the shadowy trees, his pelt flowing with the falling darkness.

The setting sun watched coldly, leaving the world with little warmth as it sank below the horizon.

The dark wolf walked into the night. The sky was still becoming dark, rays of the sun still peeking over distant mountains like memories of the once bright day.

The lone wolf raised his head to the first star to appear. A great howl that was both a deep gutteral cry and mournful song lifted into the night, serenading the moon and all who were willing to listen.

How do you like it so far? Does anyone like it? What will happen to the strange dark wolf? Will he meet this pale stranger and his mate again? Will they be enemies? Are you still reading these questions?

Please review and tell me what you think!