i am the blood of the mountain

A yawn pulled my jaws wide; not one born of tiredness or exhaustion, rather a motion made to give myself a mental break. It cleared my mind in much the same way as sometimes giving a good shake could. Overnight there had been a small rock slide; nothing major, but I had spent the morning ensuring that it was now stable and would be no further danger to the pack. After all, I couldn't have an adventurous pup climbing up and having the rocks shift beneath them and trap a leg - or worse. All seemed well now as I stepped back and away from the rubble, with the thought of pups lingering in my thoughts. Pups seemed to be on my mind quite frequently of late; four healthy litters had been born to the mountain this spring, and I had added to those numbers when I'd rescued young Freyja. I had a soft spot for the girl, her complaisant nature making her so easy to dote upon. I visited her often, for even though she had become a part of Anemone's family, I felt a responsibility for her. Perhaps I looked in on her so often because my young dragons no longer required such attentions. Though all four of my children still denned with me, they were now gangly adolescents more prone to go off on their own adventures without informing their mother. Not for the first time I felt myself longing for them to be the tiny bundles nestled at my abdomen once more. I was as proud of them as any mother could be, but it did not mean that I was not subject to longing for them to still be dependent on me.

Moving through the mid reaches of the pack land, another yawn parts my maw, trying to divert my mind to other thoughts. Mahogany eyes turn towards the skies as I jog down familiar paths, the blue summer skies filled with billowing clouds that drift across the midmorning position of the sun. As I move through a gathering of trees the light becomes spotted, the leaves full and robust and blocking out much of the sunshine. It was then that my gaze fell back to the trails I followed, though I knew my home well enough that my paws moved over the ground with an expertise that did not require my eyes. At eight years of age, it was strange now to think back upon the times when I had once been an ill balanced teenager much the same as what my children now were themselves. I smiled at the memory of when Dimas and I had met in the woodlands, when I had stumbled over an unforeseen branch in the trial because I had been too focused on looking up to pay attention to looking forward. Now, though I moved with effortless grace and regality, I had a mind enough to pay attention to the path in front of me for that which would attempt to trip me up.

Twin ashen peaks atop my crown prick forward as a howl perforated the morning air. Never missing a beat in my stride I diverted my intended destination, cutting down through an overgrown path through the copse of trees to break free of them and to descend the mountain rather than remain at the altitude which I had been. As I moved I listened to the summons, that which had called not only for me but for Jericho as well. I am given to wonder who among the population might have reason to call upon both my Bloodrider as well as myself - for the last time such had occurred it had been his sister Everlyse that stood waiting upon the borders for us. Jericho had told me much about his past, and I could not fathom that this would be a similar situation to that of Everlyse and Reich's arrival. Still, I was curious and so I picked up a lope, my strides lengthening to carry my toned bodice every down the mountain paths. I was unsure where Jericho had gotten to this morning and whether he would join me in greeting this stranger upon the borders, but as always his presence would be most welcome if he did.

When the trail I followed tapered out into the lowlands that created the boundary of my realm, my pace quickened slightly. Long legs effortlessly put on a touch of speed, the wind created by my movement parting the silver exterior of my fur to reveal the stark black beneath. I did not rush, I merely sprinted because it felt good to do so and it was done with such ease here in the foothills. Eventually thought my sprint ended and I receded my pace to a long, flowing jog as I grew ever closer to the shewolf who had called for me this morning. Keen eyes caught sight of her form as she paced back and forth along the borders, her long legs making such a thing seem far more elegant than usual. As I approached I let out a bark, my tail already posturing to show that I was the wolf she was looking for. My regal form glided across the grassy lowlands until I reached the trees that stood as sentinels along the boundary. I came to a halt before her, nostrils flaring to take in what I could of her scent while still giving her enough space to remain comfortable. "Good morning; I am Daenerys Mountainborn, of the blood of old Solevion, Queen of Spirane and Protector of the Realm." There were those who thought my introduction long winded and unnecessary, but I cared not for their opinions. When I dealt with wolves whom I did not know it was a way to open the channels of conversation, for sometimes it would earn an interesting response that allowed me to learn a bit more about the stranger who stood opposite to me. It was a greeting that I did not always adopt, but it felt right this morning. "How can I help you?"

daenerys