Garks have a preferred diet of mountain sheep, deer, moose, elk, buffalo, bears, and various creatures I have not made yet. However, practically, their diets consist of largely hares, beavers, and other small animals. They can obtain the mountain sheep more commonly when it is time for the sheep to give birth. The sheep in the area are exceptionally large and possess a threat to the gark with the males' large horn and even the females' smaller, pointed horns. When they hunt sheep it usually is for a female or an immature juvenile. If not, their prey is either old or sick.
The larger hoofed animals of the area are also difficult to obtain, requiring a decent-sized pack of garks to kill them. Likewise, these animals are quite a bit larger, and for their mountainous environment, very strong and hardy. If the gark is not fast enough in its attack or defense, it possesses the risk of getting its ribcage crushed by a single hoof.
The hares, beavers, and other small animals also bring a small risk to garks. While it is not a risk big enough to endanger their lives, it is enough to temporarily hurt them and allow the animal to escape. Even the smaller animals possess sharp fangs, which can inflict a painful, albeit not terribly dangerous wound to gark extremities. Seasoned garks are not as surprised by these wounds as young garks. Older garks typically do not lose prey because of these small injuries, however it is common for surprised youths to be temporary shocked and allow for the prey to escape in their shock.
Garks have a unique addition to their diet, which is bears. This prey is more typically of extremely nomadic garks. In the upper regions of the mountains, the bears there are incapable of being hunted by the garsk. However, in the southern region, where conditions are much less extreme, there are slightly smaller bears who do not possess the qualities of protection that the bears up north do. Essentially, they are slightly smaller than the northern moose. These are easily obtained by a pack of garks.
Garks are threatened by several northern predators. Territories occupied by garks and taliloes (large mountain cats with horns, spikes along their backs, and a mace-like tail) present much fighting between the two. They are formidable predators and enemies. Garks have a slight advantage, as they are normally in packs while the taliloes are typically solitary beings. However, were the taliloes to form a pride, they would be a match to the garks.
Northern bears are dangerous for garks as well. These bears are known as the wampus and are massive. They have spiked shoulders and there is a smaller shell going along their backs, but a larger one that protects their vulnerable stomachs. The garks do not even attempt to hunt or confront these creatures. Luckily, it is rare that garks come in contact with the bears and that the wampus are of a more docile nature. However, if the garks came in too close a proximity of a mother wampu and her baby, an entire pack could easily be killed in the mother's raging defense.
Also, garks can run quite fast. To compensate for the shell, they are typically more lean in other areas and their stomachs make a hollow inward to allow for more mobility. In nature, they run more akin to a rabbit or cheetah than a wolf.
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What is its prey? And what predators are a threat to it?
Is it as fast as a normal wolf? Or does the armor slow it down somewhat?