As of late I had started to feel the stirrings of a new ambition within my heart. My lifelong aspiration was to someday be able to move as noiselessly as my mother, or rather to mute my movements entirely. And then of course more recently I had found a passion for learning – about everything – and passing that knowledge onto others. When I’d met Neirin during the massacre of the prairie dogs, I’d learned about his hunting style, and found that I wanted to know more. Knowledge was a never-ending wealth, something that was perhaps intangible and ethereal, but something I craved without bounds. But lately, lately I had begun to feel the desire to serve my father’s pack, to become a wolf he could be proud of. I had expressed such desires to him, and he had set forth a task to me. Travel to the plains and meet their leaders. It was not a diplomatic endeavor in the traditional sense, more a testing of the waters. My task was to learn about them and their pack’s lifestyle and I couldn’t imagine a more fitting mission.

The first light of day was just beginning to illuminate the eastern horizon over the island when I woke. A yawn split my maw as I stretched and rose, looking out over the sandy dunes where I had slept. I had a den further inland, where the soil was less sand and more dirt, but I often nestled into a divot sheltered with tall grasses out closer to the water. The sound of the water lapping against the shores was so peaceful. For a moment I simply stood, looking out at the island and the sea beyond as the sun began to peek over the horizon. Shaking the granulations of sand from my fur, I turned north and took up an easy jog. I was in no real rush, and knew the journey was lengthy, so there was no reason to tire myself out at the break of day.

I swam across the river that parted Glorall from Diveen, and gave the other pack a generous berth as I made my way north. The sun was well clear of the horizon when I rounded the eastern corner of the woodland that lay to the north of Diveen, and then I was in the homestretch. It was just before midday when I arrived at the plains pack’s border, though I’d strayed from a direct route to deliver me to their periphery as close to the shore as I possible within reason. I looked out towards the sea, an endless expanse that I never tired of gazing upon. But I was not here to admire the lovely sea views. I was here to meet with the leaders of this pack and get to know them.

Lifting my eyes from the sea to the heavens, I let my lids slide closed as my lips formed a perfect circle as I released a howl. My soprano voice rang out, a friendly song inviting the leaders to come meet with me if it was convenient. I would not be objected to being joined by other wolves of the pack as well; after all, there was no better way to get to know an alpha than to see them in interaction with their pack.