In an endless thirst for knowledge, Baird listened attentively to Nymeria’s answer to their instructor’s question. It was logical that there were many different reasons to do border patrol and it astounded him how many different things he would need to focus on for the task. Always willing to learn and to grow, he wondered even now how his genetics would either help or hinder him in this role. Pan and Niviaq had both devoted their lives to what appeared to be a single specialty. Knowledge and focus had become their strong points. Even his siblings seemed to have followed much of the same trend. Holding his head a little higher, the tip of his nose twitching, the son was determined to break the mold. He would widen his mind and become what he had chosen to be.

He listened carefully to what Nymeria’s words. How the role of a Castellian and Queen overlapped and worked off one another. So many of the pack had their strengths and their weaknesses, their roles, and their ranks. They had to come together and play off those strengths and cover the gaps of the weaknesses to make a pack strong. It was one’s duty to report, and another’s to act. Everyone to be aware of what is happening to the world around them.

Which made Baird’s ears flatten, embarrassed, against his head when Sleekwing took them back to down the trail and seated himself next to the pile of feline dung. It was old and stale, having been there for who knew how long. The creature had either long since moved on, or made itself at home. He knew there were some predators whom shared the mountains with the pack. Most had come to an uneasy understanding that neither were there to trouble the others. It did not mean they could completely ignore the signs, though. As he had stated, weather could take a turn for the worse and an uneasy truce could easily be broken.

Is this from the cat who has been here for years? It usually stays out of our way. In fact, he liked to think it enjoyed their presence. Occasionally Baird would leave pieces of flesh he no longer needed to eat behind when he knew the cat was around. So long as it kept its distance when he was eating, they were understanding of each other.