“Well, my parents are imprints but for a long time Father just thought he was sick, like he had an illness and he liked Mother because she was a healer and attracted to her because of need. At least, that’s what he says. I think sometimes my Father thinks too much, he says I don’t think enough.”

I rolled my shoulders lightly, Pan often did think of a lot of things, sometimes to many things. Honestly I think his head must be so full of things he can hardly get a thought out but that’s alright, its just the way he is and I can deal with that. He never did understand me or who I am or what I want but I suppose I stopped caring about that- or at least pretended to. His approval, well, it meant something but it wasn’t everything. I would just have to make him proud other ways. I liked my job, I liked being a spy and honestly, well, I was good at it. No one ever suspected me, no one ever saw past my kinda skinny body and scruffy frame and they never thought I might be listening and it worked. I’d even originally tricked Mistress Impa into giving me information once and I took some pride in that. I suppose I was just lucky she let me stay when she became Alpha and Mistress Jaidah was driven out over and over again. I liked Jaidah, I did but things were going well beneath Impa, our pack was growing and I liked that. The larger the pack grew the stronger it would be and that was important. I’ve been studying the other packs, learning how they work and there is strength in numbers. Our pack was growing, but we needed more. Maybe Embla could help with recruiting, or maybe I could just….borrow some other wolves from the free lands.

“I’ve never seen my Father come running but he doesn’t run all that much he kinda, tumbles- he’s got really short legs. If you ever get into trouble at least I’ll get there fast enough.”

Well, maybe I wasn’t all that tall but I did have long legs and that was something right? She spoke about Jaidah then, as we walked further into Asteraia, my mind still distracted, wondering if I would actually know if Embla was in trouble or not. Would I feel it? Would I hear a voice? My head tilted slightly at my own thoughts before her words managed to draw my attention again. She was young, younger then me but she was smart and I liked that- she talked like she knew and she understood and that was, well, impressive. She even seemed to understand my promotion and what I was working towards. I liked that.

“I don’t think anyone asks if the wolves there are happy, if they did no one would challenge, I don’t think many pack members are ever unhappy, if they were they would leave but I see what you mean. If Jaidah cared for her old pack she would have left them alone to be happy- because we are. She will find somewhere though I am sure, there are still those who dislike Mistress Impa and Tobias. They are good protectors though and to me that is all that matters.”

I hear what they say, other wolves, you’d have to be deaf not too and I know my Alphas have done things others disagree with, maybe I should disagree too but maybe I am selfish…..maybe I care more for my own safety then those long gone- I don’t know. I was glad, perhaps, to turn my thoughts towards speak of the Angel family, a family my own had seemed to hold a grudge against for reasons I am not sure anyone remembers- maybe it doesn’t matter anymore. I knew nothing but kindness from them and leadership unmatched. Even I will admit to the greatness of Heyel even though I never did get to meet him. Her question was surprising though, my head titled once more in a moment of confusion as I considered the words.

“Well- I like my own family a lot. It’s small but I’m proud of it. I would like to be part of something bigger like that though, who wouldn’t? I think it would be a grand thing to say you had Angel blood. Maybe I don’t ever want to lead but it would be nice to have leader blood all the same. I suppose I do a bit, my grandmother and grandfather were both Alphas. I don’t want that though, it’s not for me.”

Why shouldn’t I be honest about it? Not everyone had to grow up to be a king. What was wrong with a nice and honest working life? Honestly I was glad I think Embla understood- that maybe she too was happy to just, well…be. What fun would there be if you have reached the highest rank and had nothing more to reach for? Maybe I just don’t understand the Alpha thing at all. I waited for her to climb up beside me, tail waving as she did, offering her a moment to look out across the pack land and see it, all of it, for what it was, miles and miles of grasslands spreading out all around us. I thought it lovely, nicer then the mountains ever were. I felt a grin tug at my lips at her approval, for some reason it was important that she liked it, white teeth flashing in delight as I held myself a little bit higher- as if Asteraia’s beauty was somehow my doing.

“I like that it’s flat and open, you can always see whose coming.”

From a strategic point of view, well, it was useful and it- oh. My gaze moved to follow her own as she spoke, golden eyes resting upon a large bison as it moved across the plains, several others in its wake as it paused to graze.

“They call it Bison, I’ve never hunted one though, it takes many wolves- you cannot do it alone, they are not like deer- if you anger them they will charge you and crush you, if you ignore them they will ignore you- mostly. We hunt them together as pack, it is the only way and they live only here. One feeds our pack for many nights though. Do you want to run at it and see it close?”

Well, I was mostly sure it would simply bellow at us and stamp and snort, maybe chase for a bit but we were faster….I think.