A sound caused Pine to whip wildly around. Instantly her multi-colored fur bristled, making her look like a puffed up grey fox. Even for being a year old she was small, she would always be small but her fangs still glinted in the light from her lips. Forest green eyes blazed with a challenge at the wolf who had spoken to her. It would not stop her from defending herself against anyone who approached her. What would Big Wolf think of her if she backed down from anything that scared her? He would be very disappointed.

Her determination to stand up for herself did not keep her from feeling a spark of fear though. After all, she did not know how to fight anything but water rats and frogs. She had chased Big Wolf’s tail, but he would never have hurt her. This was a stranger. A quick scrutiny of the woman’s body language, Pine relaxed and tilted her head. Her eyes still narrowed she sat but held her head stubbornly high.

Who are are you calling a punk? She growled in her still childlike voice. Curious, her tail started to wag behind her while her eyes continued to glare. Throwing caution to the wind she padded up to the dark woman.There had been no snarls, no warning growled so she figured it would be okay. Even if it wasn’t…. Her ears twitched in the direction of home… It wouldn’t have been too hard to find Big Wolf, or any of the others of Iromar who would be able to help her. As she padded she looked Grimoire up and down. What ‘technique’ are you talking about? I think I have some…

Truth be told, it was obvious that if the puppy had been on her own for too long she very possibly would have been eating frogs for the rest of her life. Still trying to navigate how to use her too big of paws and ears she had no idea how to handle her coordination. If she had tried to watch how Maverick, Aithne, or any of the other wolves of Iromar fight or hunt she would have found herself at a severe disadvantage. Their bodies were far bigger than her’s. It was clear from her body structure, even at a year, that Pine was going to be built more for movement and agility. Minute movements to use her small frame, whereas her idols were comparatively huge and could use sheer force.Attention span shorter than a pine needle, the pup jumped up and darted back into the tall grass at a sound. Once again it was the wind and the young girl padded back, trying not to let the crestfallen look linger on her face for too long.