She rose with the dawn, having spent her evening resting in preparation for her second (or was it third?) diplomatic venture with Isola. Only this time, she wouldn’t be a mere speck in Diveen’s hierarchy – she had gradually worked her way up the totem pole, and fought tooth and nail, to earn her place as a member of the Queen’s Guard. She never took anything lightly, least of all this honor. It meant a lot to be so trusted, and so highly rewarded for her efforts. In her typical, close-mouthed fashion, she had no words to express how important it was. So she accepted quietly, and humbly, her new position in the world.

It was time to go, and Isola, ever thoughtful, took the time to greet her before they embarked. During this moment, she got her first good look at the wolf with whom she shared her rank: Maddox. She knew his name, and his face was familiar, but this morning was the first time they’d ever made eye contact. She mirrored his respectful nod, resisting the urge to offer a submissive wave of her tail, and made a mental note to keep an eye on him. Maybe he could teach her something. There was always something new to learn.

The river wasn’t anything new. She’d traveled it when they went to Iromar, before the war. Before Covet. Before everything that shaped her life now. As they moved along it, she shifted her eyes from place to place, taking in new details and reaffirming old ones. Things were better now, even though much of the scenery remained the same. Even being alone wasn’t so hard anymore. She had new responsibilities, a well-earned rank, and a growing sense of self-worth; she allowed herself to think that maybe things would continue to improve. The spring grass bounced around her passing paws, and she couldn’t fight the little smile that crept warmly over her face.

As they closed in on Glorall, Isola made it a point to pause and fill them in on the details of their visit, and she listened intently. She hadn’t ever met (or heard of) Tesseract, but she knew that Glorall had recently experienced a string of new leaders, one after the next. The constant shift in leadership couldn’t be good for unifying a pack, she thought. Hopefully this one would stick. She smiled at Isola’s gratitude for their companionship, and having nothing to contribute to the conversation remained quiet. Isola called into Glorall, seeking the face of its newest alpha, and she took her seat next to Maddox, behind their queen.