BLACK WOLF'S PACK -- PROTECTORS OF THE FOREST

Red Hawk became very cautious and suspicious of following Grey Wolf. Suddenly, a large solid black wolf came charging out of the cave. The grey wolf and the black wolf came nose to nose as if to say, "Black Wolf, I have brought a friend of Kicking Bird as you told me to do for help." All of Black Wolf's pack surrounded Red Hawk and led him inside the cave. Immediately, Red Hawk saw Kicking Bird lying on the floor of the cave badly hurt! He examined Kicking Bird and found him to have a bad cut on his head. Red Hawk immediately found some water to bath and clean the wound and bandage the cut on his head to stop the bleeding.

Kicking Bird in a very weakened condition described to Red Hawk what Black Wolf, Maia, and the other wolves had done to save his life. The wolves were his friends. Red Hawk skinned the antelope, cut it for food, and cooked the fresh meat for Kicking Bird and for his much-needed strength. It was mid afternoon that Red Hawk decided that he must leave the cave for his village to inform his people the news about Kicking Bird and get needed supplies to render aid while Kicking Bird ate his meal and to become strong to gain his strength. Grey Wolf followed Red Hawk to his village to protect him from any harm. He told his people the news what had happened to Kicking Bird and how Black Wolf's pack had saved him. He told his people not to follow him for the wolf pack would leave Kicking Bird alone in the cave unattended with nothing there to help him if they came along. He gathered the needed food and supplies and another horse to return alone to help his friend, Kicking Bird, to regain his strength and get well.

Early the next day, Red Hawk returned to the cave riding his horse and bringing with him another horse for Kicking Bird to ride on for his return to his village. He brought food and bandages with him to help Kicking Bird regain his strength rapidly. Kicking Bird had made a wonderful recovery. Black Wolf, Maia, Grey Wolf and the other wolves welcomed Red Hawk, for they knew he had brought food, water, and bandages to help their friend, Kicking Bird, recover from his injured head wound. Black Wolf and his wolf pack had surely befriended Kicking Bird in his dilemma of being hurt with a bad cut on his head and a hurt ankle.

Red Hawk quickly made a good fire to cook and feed his friend, Kicking Bird. It took Red Hawk several hours it seemed, to revive Kicking Bird. The cooked food, water, and bandages had strengthened Kicking Bird. He told Red Hawk all what the wolves had done for him. He further told Red Hawk how Black Wolf's pack had helped him from sure death by dragging him safely to their cave, and that Grey Wolf was sent to their village to get help from his people. Grey Wolf lured Red Hawk with his antics to follow him to the cave of Black Wolf to help save Kicking Bird further from death. Still, Kicking Bird was unable to stand up. He was very weak from loss of blood and his ankle was sore. Red Hawk placed a bandage around his hurt ankle for support. Red Hawk gave some cooked meat to each member of the pack, which they were glad to eat for they were hungry.

Several days later, Red Hawk and Kicking Bird left the cave of Black Wolf's pack to return to their village of their people. It was somewhat difficult for Kicking Bird to mount his horse for he was still weak. Red Hawk tied the antelope and deer on his horse. Kicking Bird's head wound was much improved now, and his ankle was no longer causing him any pain. Black Wolf, Maia, Grey Wolf and the other wolves stood by as if to say, "We were glad to help Kicking Bird with his wounded head." All the wolves in the pack went to their favorite ledge and started serenading that Kicking Bear and Red Hawk were on their way to their people's village.

Black Wolf and his pack were hungry. Black Wolf said to his pack, "We must find food for we are hungry and in need of food after being with Kicking Bird so long." They all began to serenade to see if other wolves could tell them where any source of any heavy hoofed animals might be in their vicinity. They started to trot in a single file in search of any animals near by. Soon, with their keen sense of smell, they found a small group of deer grazing. Black Wolf and Grey Wolf looked at all of them and found one deer lagging behind the other deer. They went to the sight of the deer unbeknown to the deer in the woods for an advantageous location to attack the lagging deer. The younger wolves remained in their secluded place to watch and to observe the attack by the older wolves.

Suddenly, Black Wolf and his pack made a dash for the lagging deer to circle it. They all participated in the charge and each knew what they were required to do. Grey Wolf made a charging leap at the deer's nose and clamped down hard with its mouth to help cause the deer to fall. Black Wolf leaped on the deer's back to clamp down with its mouth tightly on the back of its neck while the others made a charging grab on the legs of the deer. Maia grabbed the deer's throat with a very tight mouth grip of her fangs. The deer was down now for good. All nine members of the pack devoured the deer's meat for a well-deserved meal. They were now satisfied with their kill and their fresh food. They howled to see if any other wolves who might be nearby to protect and keep their prey from being stolen. They stayed there with their dead deer for the rest of the day and night. They laid there to rest a good length of time from the strenuous activity of capturing and killing their prey for much needed food for the wolf pack.

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