Closing my eyes, I stood upon the rock where I had called my first pack meeting and lifted my head slightly. My ears tipped slowly in each direction, listening. Quieting my mind and body, I stretched my essence out into the pack lands, feeling each reverberation of life against rock and stone. There was the usual sound of birds and squirrels quarreling among the trees, but beyond that, there was life. The life of my pack. Somewhere nearby young Pandora and Galileo played. And further up the mountain I could sense Sleekwing’s furtive movements, always casting a watchful eye over the domain that was our home, keen to protect those who might require it. Though it had not been a necessity as of late, for the mountain lived in peace. Spirane had come alive again, and it warmed my heart to know that my claim to the throne had set such events in motion.
After a time – how long I was unsure – I lowered my head and opened my eyes. Leaping from the rock, I set off at a gentle lope through the realm. A rident feeling washed over me, and my maw parted slightly in a smile as I moved across the terrain. My tongue lolled from my mouth, and I relished in the burn that rose in my muscles as I pushed myself into a faster gate. Galloping through the trees, I placed each paw with confidence, as I knew every inch of these lands better than any other living wolf in the whole of Moladion. Thoughts of politics and hierarchy were all but banished from my mind as I gave in to the sheer pleasure of the run.
My sides quietly heaved, my lungs and legs burning as I came to the creek that cut through Spirane. Quickly, I downgraded my speed once and again, so that just as I reached the edge of the brook I was at a stop. Glancing around, I let my breathing slow slightly before lowering my head to the cool waters and lapping up the deliciousness that quenched my parched throat. Though I felt as though I could very well have drained the creek bed, I stopped myself so that I would not cause myself to feel ill with over consumption. As I began to lift my crown, my ears flicked backwards at the sound of rustling foliage. A wolf approached, and wished their presence to be known.
Turning to greet my guest, I smiled as I recognized the female. Natu, her name was. She had impressed me thus far in my time as Queen, though I had never spoken to her one on one. Clearly today would render that fact untrue. The femme had been given a task to rise to the rank she desired, and she had been the quickest of the pack to complete it. My brother’s fondness of her also lent to my predisposition to approve of her, but that was a notion I kept to myself. Her words caused a soft chuckle to rise in my throat. “Aye, the pack keeps me busy. But I thrive upon it.” I paused, considering her mention of the former silence of the mountain. “In truth, it was that silence that drew me back as quickly as I came.” Of course my bloodline and birthright had been largely motivating factors, but my original intentions had been to wait another year, train further and become stronger. But the silence of the mountain had been unbearable, and I could hardly have left the pack to suffer another year. I was glad my boldness had paid off. “How are you this day, Natu?” I shifted my bodice, cocking a hind leg so as to rest my weight upon the other. My posture was relaxed, and my façade friendly. Inwardly I wondered if she had business to bring before me, or if she just wished to get to know her alpha better. Either way, I was pleased for her company.