Quietly we slumbered, curled up in each other’s embrace within our den. Although I had thrown myself whole heartedly into my new role as Guardian Angel, this was still the favorite part of my day. Coming home to her, my heart and soul complete, was more than I could have ever asked for. Then she had given me Dessa, Berke, Ash, and Goliath. I thought there was no joy greater than fatherhood. My life was complete in the five wolves that comprised my family. Even so, I had still ached to complete my life’s goal, the one achievement that had eluded me for many years. So when Isola had deemed me fit to be labeled the Guardian Angel of Diveen, I had been quite possibly the happiest wolf in all of Moladion. I had a happy, healthy family, and a pack to protect. To say the least, I had finally achieved my one true goal in life – fill my father Acheron’s paw prints.

Her first stirrings woke me, though I remained relaxed with my eyes closed. It was only when her nose tickled into my ruff that my lips curled into a smile and the eye closest to her peeked open playfully. When her nose moved to my ear it sent a tingling down my spine and I was fully awake. Opening both eyes I turned my snout to her and promptly licked her cheek. An instant later, her beautiful form popped over me and disappeared out the entrance of our den. Within moments I was on my paws and following her. It took me only a few strides to catch her, and I fell into stride with her as we loped away from the heart of Diveen. Always I remained close to her, our footfalls synchronized every step of the way.

The tall grasses of the fields were crisp and dry, rustling as we rushed through them towards the lake. It was hard to believe it had been four years since first we had met upon these same plains. She had laid in the sand near the lake, face turned towards the heavens to soak up the sun. My heart had skipped a beat the first time she had looked at me, and I had become anchored to her in every way. In no way had that feeling wavered, instead growing and strengthening with every passing year. She was my everything, and no matter how busy my life got, none of it would matter without her.

We reached the banks of the lake together, and my movements shadowed hers. A fraction of a second after she braced herself to leap into the cool waters, I mimicked her and came splashing in only a moment later. This late in autumn the waters were cold, but in a refreshing way. I paddled through the waters, eyes electric with anticipation. I swam circles around her, the exhilaration of the chilly waters making me feel like not a day had passed since we had first me.