Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity, but finally, the pup wriggled free. It stumbled toward its mother, and the mother wolf, in a sudden motion, stepped between Noemi and the pup.
For a brief, heart-stopping moment, Noemi thought the wolf would charge her. But instead, without a sound, the mother wolf turned. She picked up her pup by the scruff of its neck and walked away, the pup limp in her mouth.
Just before they disappeared from view, the mother wolf stopped, setting the pup down gently. Both wolves turned to look at Noemi, their eyes locking with hers. Then, without a word, they vanished into the trees.