The warm spring days had begun to grow hotter, the green shoots of grass taking on a more dull sheen of green and the leaves settling in for a nice long summer. As my time in this life grows ever longer I begin to explore the world of Glorall. Mother and father are very protective over us but I had been out with brother a few times and we were okay. I felt like I was the reason he was okay and he was the reason I was okay - I toned down his brashness and he strengthened my courage. He always told me my courage would blossom as I grew and I believed him, though I wasn't sure when that would be. Seemed to me that courage was something you either had or you didn't but what did I know? I wasn't even one yet.

The whistle of a steep wind through the trees draws my fascination and I sit beneath one tree while staring up at another in deep concentration. The leaves brush against each other, singing a fascinating music, and I wonder at what they say. It is only natural that they speak - we could speak to each other so I bet the trees did too. They must be singing in happiness at such a pretty day. The sun was high in the sky and out from beneath the shade was a warmer atmosphere. I saw a few wolves meander by but most kept their distance. I knew mother was still unsure about them and as such I was unsure, always watching them with curious eyes but refraining from going closer. Caution was my courage.

It is the noise of paws romping across the grass that draws my attention from the singing trees, glancing out from beneath the woodland realm onto a small hillock that, once bridged, led to the ocean. I was terrified for water for some reason. Maybe it was that day with Thor and seeing in my minds eye being dragged beneath the waves, never to resurface. I don't know why that should terrify me or even how I knew that it was something to fear but I did. Still, I see a boy. He is larger than me already and he reminds me of brother. Black with gray but he has gold markings on his face and his paws are dipped in it. It fascinates me, this myriad of colors, and I find myself rising before I know what I am doing. Moving towards him slowly, like one might approach a feral animal.

"Hi," I say softly, timidly as I draw close, pausing a few feet away lest he decide I wasn't worthy of his attention. It is hard not to tuck my tail against my side because this is something new and NEW things scared me. Still, I brave it out and even try to smile at him like I saw mother doing to other wolves.