I do not walk alone this day. My Father, Sen, long standing Medicine Wolf of Taviora is at my side, for in these last few weeks I have grown worried for him. He had been the one to raise me, the only child to have stuck around for any relative time at all. All of my younger siblings are fleeting souls, for they have within them more of their Mother than their Father. Her wanderlust has penetrated deeply, and I do not hold such things against them- but my dark violet eyes never do miss the sadness I see in my Father. The way his eyes have dulled and the way his once marvelously pale coat has faded in a different way and grown taunt across his slender frame. I often bring small prey to his den, to leave them at the entrance for him if only to make sure he is eating well if at all. But I know that time will either take its toll or it will heal as it heals all wounds.

I still worry, though, and it is why I have asked him to accompany me to the call of our leader, my uncle, his most beloved friend and brother. We are not blood to Coza and his family, but bonded we all are as is the rest of the forest to one another. I make sure to brush my golden shoulder against his pale creme one every now and then, casting him side long glances that he does not return to me. I know the flame that once kept him vibrant and lively is going out, and though I fear the worst I have hope yet. He has returned, after all, even when he goes out to do whatever he does, he has always managed to return to the forest. This is where we belong, after all, this is our home as it always has been and as it always will be. Today, we answer the call of our family, and though we are late we arrive together all the same.

The scene is interesting to me, because, without having heard the words, I know already what has transpired. Taviora has come into a new era, one full of youth and vigor in the face of a wolf I have known all my life. Amoxtli and his siblings are cousins to me, though in truth, I consider them more like my own siblings. The fact that my blood siblings are mostly lost to me play a factor in that I am sure, but I had recently found Calyx and even the trace of my littlest sister Namira. I even seem to be rewarded with my train of thought, for it does not take long for dark violet eyes to notice a young girl dressed in lovely gold and red. I almost do a double take, for she is more like our Mother than any other, and almost nervously do I glance up to my Father beside me. I do not know what his reaction will be, or if he will react at all, but before he can I am moving from my place and coming up beside Namira.

A wonderfully kind and beautiful smile lights up my features as I look over her, just as soft words fall past my lips in a gentle murmur just for her. "Little sister, my how you have grown.." I wonder, if she will remember me, remember us- her family, and as I am ever the optimistic creature I think that she will indeed recall. While my attention is on the littlest daughter of us born of Hush and Sen, I still watch my Father out of the corner of my eye if only to make sure he is well. I know he has seen little Namira just as I have, only when his violet eyes had find her they had not registered so well as my own. His mind is a muddled place in these years I know, and he may well see more of Hush standing beside me than he does Namira. But instead of coming to us, I see him move instead to Coza's side, where he takes his seat if only to speak in soft tones to his long time friend and brother. "I have been meaning to find you and talk with you, perhaps after this meeting of our family, brother.." He says no more, falling into his usual silence that has accompanied him throughout these past long years.

I, however, have much more to stay for even when I remain beside my sister, my dark though bright intense eyes search for the regal fourm of Amoxtli. Each wolf has already said their piece, at least those that are present, and he has even responded to them but I will always have words for my family as well. "Amo, from newborns we have known one another, and though you are my cousin I know you more as my brother. Just as your Father before you, I would be honoured if you had me your War Shield for many more years to come." I dip my slender golden creme skull down gently in respect after my words, though truly my words are hardly finished as I continue. "Our forest has known no better blood to protect its family within, and I know we will all stand together as we always have since our beginning." I have always had a knack for rather philosophical phrasings, as my Father has called it, though it is hardly anything but myself speaking the truth. I love my family- each and every wolf of Taviora, with everything that I am, and I know that we will continue to be the family we are until the forest family is no more.