As I glanced over my shoulder I smirked at Ramiel after I had called out to him. Just as I brought my eyes forward once more, he called out, warning me that I was about to trip. Even though I could plainly see that there was nothing anywhere near my paws to cause me to stumble, my stride faltered. A half pause mid stride slowed me down just a bit more and then Ramiel was upon me. Despite his only being half my size, he bowls into me and throws those big paws of his against me. I was content enough to let gravity do the rest of the work instead of flailing to try to keep my footing, which I was certain to lose in the end anyways. Down, down, down we rolled into the grass and tumbled against one another until we both came to a stop, our bodies stretched out beside one another. I, too, panted, winded from the sprint. Ramiel batted out at me and I answered his playful antics by stretching my neck forward and playfully tugging on one of his ears before releasing him and rolling up on my chest.

My charcoal limbs stretched out in front of me, looking like they went on for miles. Eventually the rest of my body would catch up with these gangly stilts I walked upon. Someday I would be a force to be reckoned with, long and lean and beautiful and powerful. But for now I was content to play with my nephew and enjoy the freedom that youth offered, even if my youth was destined to be a strange one. No mother to guide me in the ways of being a Queen; an elder brother who steered clear of me at all costs. Of course I had father to lean on in times of trouble, and Ceal was there for me too. But nothing could replace the guidance a growing young woman needed from her mother. There was no part of me that resented MoonGlow, but someday I would realize the affects her absence through my childhood had had on me. But not today! Today I would simply enjoy the company of my dear Ramiel.

With a bright pink tongue lolling from the side of my mouth, I panted softly as I worked on catching my breath. My ashen fringed ears were pricked forward as I watched Ramiel. “Of course!” I answered happily. “After all, you’ll be part of my small council, won’t you, Ramiel? I will need agile young men like you to lead the hunts and be stealthy informants too.” I smiled at him, hoping that these events I predicted would someday come to pass. Hopefully Ramiel would not grow up and decide he did not want to remain within Spirane. Hopefully some shewolf would not come along and steal him away from me. It was in that moment that I had decided Ramiel was mine, my friend and family, and he would remain a part of my life for as long as we both walked the side of the mountain.