I wait because it is polite and because there is very little else to do. At least she seems to appreciate my humour where others have not in the past, Father forever telling me that sarcasm was the lowest form of wit. Maybe I’m just not very witty I don’t really know. I think I am, or I could be. If only I could find the land that was flat. This looks right, it is flat, or mostly and yet why didn’t I feel anything for it? What was wrong? I shook the thought away, at least for now, attention returned to the white one, this New Queen under the Sky. Well that was silly. What else would she be under? A bush? I let a small smile linger on my gold touched lips, not to big mind, I didn’t want to laugh at her, I like her, she’s kinda funny even if she isn’t trying to be. I suppose I didn’t expect her question although really I think I should have, it was actually fairly logical, my head tilting a bit all the same the way it often does when I think about something, her eyes resting on me all the same as she waited- head nodding a moment later.

“I left the mountain because it was the place I was born, I will always love it but I do not want to live beside my parents forever, I don’t want to be remembered as the son of Pan and Niviaq, I want to be remembered for me- and because I have to find the flat land. I have too.”

It was true, every word. I loved the mountain and I loved my parents, I may never please my Father but at the same time I don’t mind, I’m alright with that, he has Pandora to please him and I know he loves me in his own way. I don’t need more than that, I’m not one of those children that needs approval all the time. I’m fine. I have other plans and maybe the Queen Under The Sky can help- maybe I’ll help her in turn. I let my golden touches ears prick forward once more as she spoke, golden eyes resting against her own as she mentioned the fight she must have won to take this land for herself. I never knew the queen before her but the information is taken all the same, tucked within my mind for later as she said it should stay between us, scruffy earthen head nodding.

“The bigger wolf never wins, at least, that is what my Father told me. He studies history, he knows the stories of this land and the bigger wolf almost never wins, the odds were always in your favour.”

Whether she wanted to hear that information or not I really don’t know, but it seemed like it should be shared, if only to further sooth whatever fear she might have had about her own confidence. She turned then, white frame sweeping across the ground as I lifted to my own feet to follow, long, long limbs trailing after her to lope politely at her hip, ears folded back respectfully all the same. We travelled further into the land, my eyes searching the land as we did. It wasn’t all flat like she said, there were hills and some trees and the scent of ocean in the air. This was closest I had come to finding the flat land in my dreams and yet it still seemed just as far as it had always been. I was still willing to stay though, after all, I need somewhere to live and maybe I can find out more about the place I am looking for from others here. I continued to lope after her, making an effort to shorten my stride, the curse of the long limbs, not wanting to glide ahead of her. I was still growing after all, little more then long limbs and gangly muscle. I would never be heavy though, forever tall and rangy and light, enough muscle to take care of myself- but strength would never be my talent- I already knew where my skills lay. Maybe I wasn’t much to look at right now, all shaggy and rangy but I would be one day….one day I would be…well….more than they ever knew. Jaidah’s voice rang out again as I followed, asking after these other talents I had as I paced behind, gaze still wandering over the land, hoping to see something…familiar. Ridiculous I know, to want to see something familiar in a place you’ve never been and yet….I almost felt like I had.

“I’m fast.”

I paused, allowing her to take in the words, short and to the point as they were before choosing to expand on them.

“Not fast like other wolves. Faster. There is no wolf in your pack I will not outrun and I’m only getting faster as I grow- I’m nearly three now and I think I would outrun even you. I’m beyond good at it, bold, I know, but you asked and that is what I am good at. I’m quiet too, because I don’t weigh that much, I don’t land hard when I run and I can run forever, miles and miles. Wolves trust me because of the way I look, they don’t see me as a threat, they tell me things- you already told me a secret and I didn’t even ask. I think I should be a spy. Do you need one of those? Do you have any?”

I wasn’t being impolite, I was telling her exactly what she wanted to hear. What was wrong with just getting straight to the point and telling her exactly what I was good at? She asked so I told. I paused, waiting for a reply before letting my golden gaze drift once more to the land around. I always have liked open spaces, room to move, room to run. If she wants me to stay, I think I’d like it here.