Wolf and a Group of Youngsters

Wolf and a Group of Youngsters is the twelfth episode of the first season of the Spice and Wolf anime.

Official Synopsis
Just as it looks like the smuggling plot will succeed, Lawrence learns a hard truth about wolves in sheep's clothing.

Plot
To smuggle gold, Lawrence leaves Ruvinheigen for Lamtra with Holo, Nora, Enek, a small flock of sheep, and Liebert, a Lemerio Company businessman. To save time, they use a dangerous, rarely traveled route between steep, craggy hills and a thick, mysterious forest. Halfway through the forest, they make camp for the night and are approached by a wolf pack, but Nora keeps them at bay. Holo notes the wolves' odd behavior.

The next day, the group arrives at Lamtra. Liebert goes alone into town to buy gold with company funds and Lawrence's contribution. As they wait in the fields, Nora shyly asks Holo about her background. Holo skillfully takes the conversational initiative, both to tease her companions and to have Nora reveal her rational understanding of their situation to Lawrence, assuring him of her readiness to do her part in the smuggling.

Liebert rejoins the group with a bag of gold, and they begin the return trip. This time in the forest, they face cold rain and are chased by wolves. One jumps at Lawrence and Holo on top of their horse but fearfully aborts when Holo warns it off. A tremendous howl emanates from the forest in response. Holo advises Lawrence that a younger wolf deity is leading the forest wolves and is challenging her presence in its territory.

Lawrence tells Nora and Liebert to go ahead. After they leave, Lawrence reluctantly departs as well to let Holo deal with the pack. He builds a fire near the edge of the forest and waits for her but is attacked, tied up, and left for the wolves by three men sent from the Lemerio Company, which has betrayed the rest of the group to keep all of the smuggling profits for itself.