Autumn was drawing to a close. I could feel it in the air, how a slight chill crept into the den each night. Not to mention how the brilliant orange and yellow leaves in the trees had turned brown and fallen to the ground. Soon enough snow would blanket the ground. But before then, I wanted to do some exploring of greater Moladion. Spirane was my home, and I loved the mountain range dearly. I had an adventuresome soul, and I had ventured so far as the western reaches of the crater and as far south as Susil Crags. Although father was never too please to smell the southern region of Moladion, for fear I would cross into the moorlands of Iromar. I suppose our long standing alliance with Diveen would not put me at the greatest of advantages if that were to happen. But it wouldn’t. And that was beside the point.

Today I had gone north, and east! I had skimmed the edge of the valley until I came in contact with a forest where some of the leaves still clung to their trees’ branches, and the pine needles were still green. I hedged around the swamp like quality of the western most part of the woods and made my way into the pine rich northwest. Long legs swiftly carried me over the lush landscape, weaving between the trunks of trees in near silence. Rays of light that streamed through the treetops caused my silvery grey fur to glisten, and as a zephyr caught the fur of my side the stunning ebony roots of my coat were revealed. Turning my eyes towards the sky I watched as a hawk circled overhead, undoubtedly seeking out its next prey.

Gracefully I moved through the forest, though not for long. As I watched the hawk above me a most ill placed fallen branch managed to entangle itself in my paws. I stumbled and immediately my mahogany orbs flashed back to the path before me. Every time I thought I had adjusted to these gangly legs of mine, Mother Nature just had to prove me wrong. Twice I over corrected my balance and thought I would be able to move on without more embarrassment, but no. On my third attempt to correct my balance I slipped on a pile of fallen leaves and finally just gave up and let gravity do its job.

When I landed on my side my breath left my lungs in a whoosh, and I raised my head up over my side and just laid there for a moment to catch my breath. I snorted, looking down at my legs and wishing I would just grow into them already. Approaching two years of age I was getting tired of my ever changing bodice and was just ready to be my full fledged, proportionate self. Huffing, I rolled onto my belly and then rose to my paws before glancing around me to make sure I was the only lupine spectator privileged to the lovely little comedy show I had put on for the birds. I then shook out my fur and continued on my way, paying a little more attention to the path ahead of me this time.