the cries of the wolf cut through the night

[alpacinoutd]

Is this good?

John could hear an animal deep in the forest. The anguished cries of a wolf cut through the cold night over the faint murmur of wind. He assumed the wolf must be wounded or lamenting her slain cub.

[tedmc]

Is this good?

John could hear the howls of a wounded animal from deep in the forest. The anguished cries of a wolf cut pierced through the cold night over amidst the faint murmur of wind. He assumed the wolf must be have been wounded or lamenting her slain cub.

.

My shot.

[emsr2d2]

I'd remove "through" after "pierced" in tedmc's suggestion. It's redundant.

[alpacinoutd]

I'd remove "through" after "pierced" in tedmc's suggestion. It's redundant.

What about my version?

[Tdol]

Must have been wounded or was lamenting.

[alpacinoutd]

Must have been wounded or was lamenting.

So is this okay?

John could hear an animal deep in the forest. The anguished cries of a wolf cut through the cold night over the faint murmur of wind. He assumed the wolf must have been wounded or lamenting her slain cub.

[Tdol]

I prefer was lamenting, or some other form, because must have + past participle then a present participle is a bit of a jump, and it is making two assumptions for the price of one. The rest is fine.

[Tarheel]

I don't hear wolves often enough to know if the sound its making indicates it's been wounded. Apparently, John can tell that. He must be very familiar with the sounds wolves make. Otherwise, how can he possibly guess what condition the animal is in?