The first day of spring. He can feel it, the slightest of changes in the crisp morning air as he wakes in the light of morning. There was still a breathy chill to the air, but the touch of warmth that mingles with the slight breeze that drifted into his den told him all he needed to know. After so many years spent on the mountain, his instincts for these things were fine tuned. For quite some time now the snowline had receded further and further up into the mountains, giving way to brown grasses and dull terrain. But as he rose and peeked his head out the entrance of his den he was greeted with the faintest shade of green coloring the grasses. Sleekwing's maw parted slightly in a smile, his tongue slipping forward to taste the air of this new day. Emerging fully from his den he stretched, toes splaying to grasp the ground as his head and hindquarters pulled in opposite directions. Even his tail extended out away from his body, until he relaxed and shook out his entire form, dark grey fur actually flying from his pelt as if he had instructed the yearly shedding to commence in full force.

Yawning, Sleekwing glanced around, thinking perhaps he would recover breakfast from a nearby cache of his. He jogged off, locating the spot with ease as he had placed it between two distinct trees. Immediately he set to digging, casting the dirt away between his hind legs. Before long he reached the morsels he had left behind - a bone from young sheep that still had some meat clinging to it, and a piece of elk meat. He sniffed at the two bits, and found that perhaps he had left the bone for a bit too long, for it smelled rather unsavory. Grasping the elk meat in his jaws he lifted it and began to carry it back towards his den. He'd taken but a few strides in that direction when a nearby howl lifted, and Sleekwing stopped in his tracks. Ailith. Immediately he set off at a gallop, the meat clasped firmly in his jaws. Her den was not so far away from his, and he made it there quickly enough.

Sleekwing laid down on his stomach and crept forward towards the den. His ears pitched forward, catching the muffled sounds of Ailith's strains within the den. He stopped just beyond the lip of the den so that he could not see within, not wanting to intrude. He set the meat down beside himself and leaned forward. "I'm here, Ailith," he said, just loud enough that she could hear him. Lowering his head to his paws he waited, wishing there was something he could do to help his friend in this tremendous moment in her life. The softest of squalls from within had his head shooting up from his paws, his tail thrumming excitedly against the ground. A pup! Before long though the sounds of maternal struggle resumed and Sleekwing's tail stilled, his head lowering to his paws once more. When he once more heard the sound of a newborn pup his tail swished back and forth over the budding grass, his head half lifting as he waited to see if the labor would continue. Ears pressed forward, he caught a soft sigh from within, and he leaned over to grab the parcel of meat once more before inching forward once more.

Sleekwing heard Ailith's soft, tender words spoken to her children. Shifting his body slightly as he came closer, he peered down within the den, pupils dilating so that he could clearly see Ailith's white form wrapped around two wriggling newborns. Around the meat that he held in his jaws a smile spread across Sleekwing's face. He lowered his head slightly into the den so that he could gently drop the meat and nudge it towards her. As he withdrew once more he said, ever so softly, "They are beautiful, Ailith."