Our tones mingled in a most beautiful song, the harmonious way her voice complemented mine and vice versa. For a moment we simply revel in this notion that we are now more than friends, we are pack. To me, pack was family – blood or not. To have another smiling face upon the mountain made me joyous, and for it to be the face of she who made me feel so lighthearted was an absolute bonus. With our song fading on the summer breeze, we set off further into the pack land. I lead her towards the pivotal clearing, one that is central and easy to find, and quite important. As we began to circle my throne, I glanced over at Attila, and I could easily read the confusion on her face. With a smile I explained to her that this was my throne, and recognition dawns on my friend’s face. She seems in awe of this thing, this natural wonder that has come to serve as the center point of Spirane. Not so many years ago it was simply a rock where my father and I would sunbathe together. It seemed fitting to memorialize his memory in such a way.

Once we made a full lap around the rock, I stopped as Attila began to make inquiries about the pack, about those who called the mountain home. I let my hindquarters fall to the earth once more, this time my tail coming to wrap around my paws rather than swing wildly about to express my happiness. “My pack is my family, in more ways than one. My elder brother Sleekwing is our master warrior, and my brother Taliesin is master of law. My sister Ceal is a healer, and my younger sister Haven is simply enjoying her youth. There is Pan, my Hand and advisor in all things. He is a quirky fellow, I think you would enjoy him. Natu is our master sleuth, and there are many others as well.” The end of my tail began to twitch, unable to contain the pride and happiness I felt at speaking of those that surrounded me. “There is no individual here I favor more than another – every wolf of Spirane serves a different purpose – where it is to hunt or to simply keep such wonderful company.” I smiled knowingly at her, hoping she knew I meant her. There was no pressure for any wolf to feel that they had to have a specific role or that they had to be a master of anything whatsoever. Of course if there was some goal Attila had, I would do everything in my power to help her reach it. I sat quietly then, listening to whatever reply or reaction she might give.

After she had reacted to what I had told her, I rose to my feet once more and gestured to her to walk with me once more. We set off towards the east, leaving the clearing via the opposite edge from which we’d arrived. The direction in which we moved carried us higher into the mountains, though I was sure to take a more leisurely route than the direct route I would normally take. This was my friend’s first day at such an altitude, after all, and I did not wish to make her overexert herself. The path wound back and forth, slowly climbing up and taking us ever easterly. Climbing one last slight ridge we came within sight of my den, and I jogged forward. The opening of my cave-like dwelling in the side of the mountain had a wide ledge at its front, though it was deceptive in that the drop was only slight. After all, this was the den in which I had been raised since puphood, and my parents never would have raised me in a place that was unsafe for youthful, wandering paws. Sometimes I would sit and watch the sunrise just outside of my den. I settled there now, glancing to Attila and saying, “And if you cannot find me at the site of my throne, this is your next best bet – my den.” I then turned my gaze out over the expanse of Moladion, soaking up its beauty.