If by life or death I can protect you,

Ever since the birth of her children Kirsikka and Cadwan, Ailith had begun to feel a sense of being whole once more. The constant ache of darkness and depression was numbed by the sheer amount of love that they had for her. She loved them with a love that was more than a love, she loved them with the entirety of her being; from a single fur to the smallest cell. The thought of being unloved no longer weighed on her mind, their mere existance exorcising the demon and unclouding her mind to the reality that she was loved by family and that was far more important than any male. While finding a mate to step up into the father role for her pups and loving her deeply still lingered in her mind, she knew that she could die content as long as her family was happy and healthy. They were her everything in life, they kept her heart beating and the once dull flame inside of her burning brightly. She would gladly die protecting them, the only importance in her life anymore, more important than herself.

After her disappearance, she had yet to complete her tasks to become Mercenary of the mountain. She had wanted, needed a purpose more than anything, and then she had become pregnant. The tasks had been put on hold as her mind was far more concerned about her precious children. Once Kadwan and Kirsikka had grown large enough for them to wander about on their own, begin to forge their own lives with friends and find their paths in life, she had returned to the notion of a higher rank. She had gone before Daenerys, just before the mountain queen was called off to fight, in order to gain specifics on the task. Two to be exact, two tasks in order to rightfully gain the rank of Mercenary. To discover if a wolf is worthy to stay in the pack, and if so, what rank they would be best suited for, and to spar. She already knew who her designated sparring partner would be, she would always go to her friend Sleekwing, because he would always be there to help her. The other half of the task was difficult, finding wolves who were ranked among the stewards was hard. There were plenty of wolves, but most had found their paths or were too young. Fortunately for her, there were some new arrivals, two females from Glorall. One had already set upon the rank of Spider, but the other had yet to choose, and so the white mother walked to the den they called home.

It was not hard to find, having lived on the mountain for so long she was well versed in he scents of everyone, even if she had not met nor seen everyone. Their scents were foreign, the scent of salt still clinging most gently to it, desperate to remain apart of them. Ailith moved quietly, hoping not to disturb them should they be sleeping, enjoying the last warm day of fall before winter. Malina and Rogue were their names, mates, though the concept was foreign in Ailith's mind of females becoming mates, she had no ill thought to the idea; as far as she was concerned, love was love and it was not her life nor her right to say otherwise. Daenerys had told her about them, told her that Malina was Sleekwing's imprint, and, in order to have children of their own, she bred with him. Another strange concept, but Ailith had been the one to breed with a stranger for puppies, so once more she could not judge. Snowy banner waved behind the older female as she sat her hind quarters down, ears flicking to hear nothing within. Such a shame she came all the way out to the den to find it empty, but she was not easily detoured, large white paws carried Ailith to a stone near by where she would seat herself, throwing her head back and calling out to Malina.

It was not a demand to come, the stranger could easily turn down the invitation to walk and talk without hurting Ailith's feelings in the slightest. She hoped she'd come though, despite telling herself it was for a rank, she really wanted to befriend the girl who was so close to her friend Sleekwing.

I will...