Like everyone else my age, I'd heard about the party that was to take place in the lowlands of Spirane at the beginning of spring. A celebration for two year olds, a birthday party of some sort. From the confines of the den I'd heard Astraea and her friend excitedly discussing going together, and my ears fell back. Only when I knew that they'd gone did I creep out of the den, telling myself that Astraea must not have known I was here. She was always off having fun with her new friend these days, and I still hadn't built up the courage to introduce myself whenever they played close to our densite. How could I compete with the spritely girl who was always so ready to go out on an adventure with my sister? When I had only ever left Taviora once myself. Standing outside the den, unsure if I should follow my sister and her friend to the party in Spirane, I reflected back on my encounter with Morrigan in the valley. That hadn't been all bad. Morrigan had been nice to me, and showed me that I didn't have to be so afraid of the world around me. Maybe it was time that I stepped further out of my comfort zone and went to this party.

Cautiously, I started to follow the trail the two girls had taken to the borders of the mountain pack. Spirane's peaks had towered along the southern border all my life, and I'd often played in their shadow when exploring my home. But now, as I looked up at them from the foothills, they seemed so much more immense. Taking a deep breath to steady my racing heart, I crossed over into the neighboring pack's territory. Long legs that were gaining a more robust appearance than the gangly appearance they'd held as a yearling parted the tall spring grass, carrying me swiftly in the same direction that Astraea and her friend's scents seemed to trail. I could do this. I could go to a party. I could totally do this.

I could not do this. I stopped short as the gathering came into view from a distance. Black ears twitched atop my star speckled head, dark blue eyes flitting between each of the young wolves present. Sure that someone had already seen me, I felt that same overwhelming shyness creep up on me that had rooted me to the spot in the valley. Was it too late to turn around and go home? Swallowing hard, I took a tentative step forward, and then another, searching for Astraea. As I crept closer to the group I heard one boy say something about everyone being grumpy. Grumpy? I wasn't sure how to handle that. I came up behind Astraea, edging to the outside of where she stood with her friend so that I wouldn't interrupt them. I didn't want to be a bother to her, but I didn't know anyone else here and I had definitely over estimated my ability to cope with such a large social gathering that wasn't made up of strictly family members. My tail tucked between my legs, its white tip only just visible.

Tucking my head down I glanced up out of hooded eyes, trying not to make eye contact with anyone but still curious about those who had come. That was when I spotted the dark boy, almost an inverted version of myself, though his facial markings were far more intricate than mine. He stood further away from the group than even those who didn't really seem to want to be here, but had begrudgingly come. And he stared back at me with intense flame-licked eyes. Whether or not he had been looking at me or not, I was entranced by the intensity of his eyes, and then suddenly made bashful by staring at him. Quickly I averted my eyes, looking down at my paws and just hoping that this would be over soon and Astraea might take me home.