As I had wandered away from my mother and son, my ears flitted backwards, listening as they began their discussions about healing. A smile pulled across my maw, glad to know that Berke had found his calling and that my mother could help foster the growth of his natural talent. My paws pushed into the plush softness of the green grass, carrying me across the small sunlit clearing to a long flat rock.

I easily leapt up onto its surface, circling once and then laying down, stretching my forelegs out before me and laying my head down upon them. The sun soaked into my pelt and I yawned, eyelids slowly sliding closed. I napped lightly, always aware of my surroundings. My ears twitched back and forth, and the time flitted past in bits and blurbs.

My ears perked forward at the sound of two approaching wolves, and my eyes opened to look upon the forms of my mother and son returning. I lifted my head, glancing towards the sky to see that the sun had shifted quite significantly in the sky. I hadn’t realized how quickly the time had passed. I rose, stretching my body and then jumping down from the rock.

I embraced my mother, hugging her to me before backing off a step and looking to Berke. He carried some plant between his teeth, holding them as delicately as he could. I grinned at him as Moth spoke of his promise. “It is no surprise, it’s in his blood after all.” I pressed my shoulder against Berke’s and gave him a smile. The sun was quickly descending from its afternoon position in the sky, and I hoped to get home before dark. I leaned forward and licked Moth’s cheek in farewell. “Let’s head home, Berke. Perhaps next time the whole family will come.” I smiled knowingly at Moth, wanting her to get the opportunity to meet the rest of the family I had made with Elowen. And then I turned, leading my son south, back to Diveen.