The mountain was quiet. Oh, sure, the birds still sang from their perches up in the trees, and the chipmunks still chattered in the underbrush, but stillness gripped the mountain air that I did not like. And the thing that I detested about it the most was that I didn’t know how to fix it! Since the avalanche this past winter, it seemed like everyone had disappeared. I spent a lot of time with Dad, but Mom was MIA. Ceal and I often spent afternoons together, but Sleekwing always seemed to be busy with something, and forget about Swallowbane. I was still perplexed by my brother’s behavior. Surely if I had done something to so greatly offend my elder brother that he would not even look at me, I would remember it. I saw Calista every once in a while, but even the year’s new pups seemed to evade me. Maybe everyone – but Leonidas – was just avoiding me. No, no, that couldn’t be it. I was fun to be around. I must have just been looking in the wrong places.

I jogged down the mountainside, away from the den that I shared with my father and sister. My legs seemed to never cease in their growth, irregularly long in comparison to other wolves my age. Already I stood a full 22 inches tall, easily reaching my father’s shoulder. Someday I would stand as tall as him, I just knew it. Memories floated through my mind of my mother telling me that I would be regal and graceful, that I was destined for greatness. Oh how I missed her. It took a lot of concentration to master the poised gait I now encompassed. As I constantly went through growth spurts I had to make up for the extra length in my stride. But I had grown used to it and now moved with the refined ease that a princess should.

In time I reach the foothills of the mountain and lower my nose to the tall grasses, breathing in the fresh scent that I so love. I close my eyes for a moment as I continue forward, just enjoying the scents that surround me. Suddenly my eyes flash open and my nose twitches. My left audit flicks to the side as I catch the sound of another being in the field of tall grass and wildflowers. Lowering my body so that I crouch on my long legs, hiding my silvery form in the brush, I creep forward until I spot the source of the sound. A pup rolls in the grass, playfully enjoying the midafternoon sun on his belly. Almost immediately I recognize him as Ramiel, my nephew. What a strange thought, to have a nephew that was only a year younger than me. All the more fun, really! Stalking forward as father had taught me, avoiding crushing brambles beneath my paws that would signal my approach, I get as close as I can hopefully without being seen.

Launching from the tall grass I leap over Ramiel as he rolls in the shorter grass that is littered with wildflowers. I land on the far side from him, my long legs lending me the ability to jump so far. I slide in the grass and throw out my paws to steady myself, then pitch my anterior towards the ground and send my hindquarters towards the sky in a play bow. I bark once, “Ramiel!” obviously inviting him to come and play. This was exactly what I needed! A break from my training in posture and manners.