chapter 9: What happened to Smoke?

Wolfrock gasped.
"What- how did they do this?" she whispered. "Those trees are nearly a foxlength wide!"
"I don't know," said GreatShot grimly. "It would take a normal wolf a moon to knock down even one tree, but it looks like they plowed through them like grass!"
And it did. Tangled branches and twigs, leaves scattered everywhere, and tree trunks snapped in half, still oozing syrupy sap.
"Oh, no. Oh, this is bad. GreatShot! Come over here!" called Wolfrock, who had wandered away a bit. "There's something I think you'd want to see!"
"What? What is it?" said GreatShot as he ran over. "Did you hurt yourself? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, GreatShot. Seriously," answered Wolfrock. "But look at that!"
There, on the ground beneath their feet. A depression. At first no one said anything, but then Fire retorted, "What are we supposed to be looking at? Another sign from Dawn? A bunch of dirt?"
"No, it's a-" Wolfrock tried to explain.
"I'm here too! My mother died because of you, and you're the one who got a message from her! Now, on the basis that that message was true and not just a silly old dream, we're here, looking at dirt! And now-"
"ENOUGH!!!" bellowed GreatShot. "Wolfrock, what is this?"
"Stand back. We're in the middle of it." mumbled Wolfrock. "Then you'll see."
All three wolves took a step back.
A paw print.
Longer than a full-grown coyote, and just as wide, it was now obvious what destroyed the trees. It looked like a wolf's, although it was missing a toe.
"Smoke!" yelped GreatShot suddenly. "He lost a toe in a fight with a fox, many moons ago. I'd know that paw print anywhere."
"Let's see what else we can find," suggested Fire, who seemed to have calmed down.
"Good idea! Let's go!" said Wolfrock, and they started to run.
"Hey- what's that, in the distance?" said GreatShot.
Wolfrock noticed two dots of- was it red? Trees weren't red. The thought spurred her on, until it felt like her feet were barely touching the ground. As the dots became smudges, then distinct shapes, she felt her stomach churn. Two wolves' bodies, drenched in blood. She saw one try to heave itself to their feet, and flop back to the ground. The other had many, shallow wounds on its body. It was passed out from lack of blood.
"GreatShot! Wolves! They're wolves!"
Silence. Then, "Wolfrock. Hide. Now." whispered Fire. "GreatShot's a bit behind us. But look."
In the distance, a huge wolf loped easily towards them, covering ground fast.