Winter was coming close to its end. It was apparent everywhere you looked. The slowly melting snow was feeding the rivers and lakes, and they were nearly bursting from their banks. When spring came and the snow had all vanished, I had my suspicions that there might be some flooding throughout Moladion. Hopefully it would be nothing detrimental, just the usual soggy ground. Come spring I would be five years of age. And come spring it would be nearly a year since Purge had first come knocking at Spirane’s borders, calling my mother down from our happy home to rip everything from us. Come spring I needed to be prepared. For this would be my year of reckoning. I knew that some might think me young to sit upon a throne, to rule a kingdom and to be the weighing paw in so many important decisions. But these last few seasons had not been ones of idle mourning. Of course I had taken time to reflect upon the loss of my parents. The loss of my home and everything I had known and held dear to me. Even so, I had spent the months training, strengthening myself in every aspect that would be required of me to take back what was mine.

I moved along the banks of the tributary of Ruize Lake that lead to Glorall’s northernmost border. Observing the rising waters, I felt determined. Once, my father had faced a worthy challenger. A wolf who had fought with honor and when he was defeated he had moved on. He had learned from the fight with Alcide, strengthened himself, and managed to find himself a more proper place to rule. Glorall. Then he had returned to the pack which he had tried for, and that was the first time I had met Tesseract. He and Alcide had formed an alliance, born of the respect they had garnered from one another in their battle for Spirane. That respect had been instilled in me. And it was this knowledge that brang me to Glorall now. Someday I would take back Spirane. Someday soon, if I had any say in it. I was growing restless in the valley, malcontent with the idea of being a loner for much longer.

When I reached Glorall’s boundary, I sniffed at Tesseract’s strong markings. He had built himself a stronghold here, gained the respect of other packs and had stood unchallenged for quite some time. I did not linger long before I lifted my head and released a howl to the skies. I called for him, requested his presence. Perhaps he would recognize my voice, a song that was gaining a strength all its own, but that held notes of my father’s own sonata. Lowering my head, I paced a few steps before allowing my body to come to a standstill. Although I remained standing, I held my tail dormant and respective. I was a queen of nowhere by Moladion’s standards. But perhaps I could walk away from the meeting knowing that when I conquered what was rightfully mine I would have an ally to back up my future endeavors. And perhaps Tesseract would even be willing to impart some words of advice for the day that I chose to step upon the borders of Spirane and fight for my throne.