Mudslide

Not much is known about Mudslide. She arrived in Shenandoah territory in midwinter, stalking after hunting patrols and stealing scraps. She was quite elusive, and it took Vern's guard patrol some time to finally corner her. Vern was especially surprised that Mudslide managed to give them the slip for so long, considering that she was heavily pregnant at the time. Mere hours after Vern and the guards tracked Mudslide down and brought her to Pineshade Hollow, the rogue wolf went into labor. Her attempts to sneak out and take refuge in the forest were thwarted easily by Vern and the new herbalist, Albatross. The Shenandoah Pack is all too familiar with the dangers that a vulnerable wolf might face in the snow-capped mountains. It was for Mudslide's own good that she was forced to stay.

Despite plenty of reassurance that no harm would come to her or her pups, Mudslide was in a state of silent, wide-eyed panic as she was ushered into the herbalist's burrow. The situation was hardly helped by Albatross' own nerves. This would be the first known birth in the territory since the passing of Falcon, the former herbalist. But after a long and stressful night, four healthy pups wriggled beside their mother. Some of the other females came to congratulate the rogue and, after some introductions and conversation, huddled with her to keep the new family warm in the spacious den.

It took Mudslide a few days to say more than a few words at a time to anyone. Slowly, she began to warm up to some of the other females, especially those with litters of their own. One such wolf was Tanana herself, who had recently given birth to a healthy litter of five. She was happy to offer Mudslide a place in the pack, whether it be on a permanent basis, or for just as long as she needed to stay.  

Mudslide thanked Tanana, agreeing to stay at least until her pups were old enough to travel. When she finally did tell her pups that it was time to move on, all four of them whined and cried. A female pup named Dust was the hardest-hit by her mother's decision, as she had made several close friends in the pack. Mudslide's word was final, however, and so she and the litter set out one morning when the pups were nearly three months old. 

For weeks, no one heard from Mudslide. The Shenandoah Pack suspected that the female had taken her pups and gone far from the mountains, as she'd claimed that was her goal. However, Vern picked up a familiar scent at the edge of the territory some time later. After following the trail, he found Mudslide hiding in a briar patch in the Big Meadow. She was barely strong enough to stand, and only had one scrawny pup with her -- little Dust. When she saw Vern, Mudslide was initially terrified. But this time, her eyes softened after a moment, and she relaxed. Fearing that her mother was dying, Dust yelped and ran up to lick her snout. Vern lay down next to the two and comforted them, calling to the pack with frequent howls.

The pack eventually arrived, and the situation was assessed by Albatross. It was decided that Mudslide would need to stay in the briar patch to regain her strength, but that food and medicine would be brought to her. Seeing how afraid Dust was, Mudslide gulped and quietly asked if someone would stay with them to guard them from opportunistic predators. She could feel Vern's eyes lingering on the deep round wounds that littered her hindquarters and side, but her eyes were still on Dust when he said that he would stay with the two of them. The pup was relieved, and snuggled between Vern and Mudslide that night.

As she recovered, it was clear that Mudslide did not wish to discuss what had injured her and caused her to return to Shenandoah. Neither she nor little Dust would talk about the whereabouts of the other pups... At least, until Vern asked Mudslide directly while she tagged along on one of his patrols. He was shocked to learn that they'd all been killed by something that hunted her in the western hills, and that this was the same thing that had injured her and kept her from hunting for herself and Dust.