Tranquil and at peace she sits at the edge of the river bank, the visions she sees swirling in her eyes mask the view of the dark blue waters that had yet to be frozen by Winter’s chill. That dark cavern like mind of hers holds the many skeletons that she had stored and tucked away. There were memories laced with important lessons; what plant food to eat and not eat, which kind of prey to take on alone or with others, how to defend against a charge attack, and other such similar things. The list can go on and on for a creature that was accustomed to living by her own. However, a few years ago that changed and she would have to learn and apply different techniques if she was going to run a pack. It was indeed a shame that the only memory of a pack she should have been able to heavily rely on was her birth pack that chased her out so long ago...only then to suffer their harsh consequence for doing such a thing.

The Monster remains still and at peace as her dark and twisted mind began to create some sort of idea as to how she would need to run this pack in the upcoming year. Some wolves that she had known since they were pups when she too the low-grassy fields as her own would become adults. They would be fully inducted into the pack, their responsibilities increased and they would be treated as adults by their successes and their failures. She is pleased with them all. Satisfied that this group had done so very well with the progress they had made. They would continue to help the pack in whatever obstacles came their way. Come Spring there would be a new litter of pups to look after along with the older pups attempting to learn what task or role they would be trained on to fit in with the pack. It was important to get them started at such a young age, to hone their skills and teach them responsibility. Weakness would not be tolerated. Being a freeloader would not ensure their membership remains.

As her mind began to weave about different ideas for each wolf her grey-trimmed ears twitched as she heard the sound of a paw print squishing into the softness of the riverbank’s soggy soil. Her form remained relaxed as her dial quickly snapped to the left to see the appearance of the other wolf making his approach his posture showing no threat. Azure eyes remained on him, focusing on each step he took, the thick fur along her hackles bristled. It was out of habit, out of necessity, it was a survival mechanism – make oneself bigger than they appear to an opponent. Not that Sherlock was making a show of wanting to attack, but her years of solitary and being Alpha, one couldn’t be too careful. It is his first question that causes a soft growl to rumble within her chest though it fades away when he changes his tone in the next inquiry. Her jaw parts and out slips her cold tone, melodic in its own eerie way.

“If I had lost even one then I would have died. My path in life wasn’t so smooth or easy and neither is anyone else’s. The difference between them and myself is that I can visibly show some of my struggles. What about your path...on the outside you look fine, but I wonder...what’s going on inside you?”

She was curious...