It had taken more time than she would have liked for her physical body to recuperate from the birth of her children, and perhaps even a bit longer for her soul and emotions to stabilize after the somewhat traumatic and decidedly surprising happening shortly thereafter. She loved her children, despite everything else and any misgivings she may have originally had at the idea there was no bounds to her love for them. They excited her daily as they grew, learning new things with curiosity that seemingly knew no bounds. Tzadkiel with his quitter, more serious attitude on most matters, Asariel although somewhat shy had the gentlest of temperaments, Astraea that girl had the wildest of imaginations, and her sweet, protective Vortigern all piled atop one another, herself, and Zaphkiel. The space was becoming somewhat cramped, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to move just yet and Zaph’s idea of them having their own separate den was just a touch extreme to her. She slept soundly to her family snoring gently.

Days like today as her children played in the shafts of light that sifted through the boughs above she took off to familiarize herself once more with the changing game trails. She was eager to get back to her work as the True Area of the forests and this was the first step back to that. She was following the trail of some of the tusked-pigs that frequented the southern borders when she heard the familiar call of Coszcotl ring out amongst the trees. She still, thick plush ears pricking forward to catch the entire message before her own thick head tipped back and her alto-tone rang out in response, if only to hear the voices of her packmates combining with her own and resonating about the forest.

She set off at a steady pace toward the meeting grounds, an open area that could fit most if not all of the Taviora pack. While she had never been there before she knew the forest like the back of her paw and in now time her large, white form was emerging from the tress, eyes of ice and gold flitting to the smattering of wolves who were also arriving. She gave a smile and a slight nod to Coszcotl but with the seriousness written across his scarred face she knew better than to approach him. She sat, lowering her thick haunches to the ground just as it seemed all who would arrive had and Coza began to speak. Her face was a mask as she listened, though her heart began to thunder in her chest.

Originally she had come to the forest because of Coszcotl, because of a chance meeting on the outskirts where Taviora met Spirane with her brother… It had not been the prestige of his position but rather the calm and quiet manner in which he handled himself that she had chosen to follow. Refocusing she worried at who he would choose to take his place, would it be someone she could follow and who would deserve the same devotion that the large wolf of cream and brown had? She hadn’t been able to overly familiarize herself with many of the pack, her attitude and personality a bit less sociable than it should have been perhaps but she still would have given her life for any of them, for her forest.

As he concludes her gaze turns to wolf who was similar in color and build to his father, sizing up his reaction. He seemed as surprised as any of them, not haughty as some given power are prone to be but rather humbly confident that he could continue the work his father had begun. Others voiced there opinions and when there was an opportunity she stepped forward as well to look into Amoxtli’s eyes of orange and green. “I am Astrid. I served as True Arrow beneath your father, and I would be honored to serve as such for you as well. Perhaps we shall have a pack hunt in honor of this change?” Her voice is gruff and deep but she offers him a slight smile in the only indication of her good nature. Only time would tell what this change would entail for the forest.