The liveliness of Spirane invigorated me, and I felt young despite the twelve years I could count. My bodice bore the scars of the years and trials I had endured, but my spirit showed no signs of aging. Though I had grown accustomed to the quietness of an empty den, I yearned to bring pups into it once more. But with Jericho so long absent from my side, I was beginning to accept that another litter was not in the cards for me. Though there were no pups on the mountainside - handn't been since the last usurper had disrupted the lives of the mountain wolves - there were still youth to advise and help grow to their full potential. One of those wolves was my niece, Samus. She had told me that she wished to become a Vassal of the pack, a multi talented wolf who could perform multiple functions. The role seemed suitable for her, and I had kept a quiet eye on her as she completed the tasks I set forth to her.

From a ledge that gave me a decent vantage point overlooking the foothills of Spirane, I spotted the slow approach of two wolves. The lopsided mask of Samus was easily recognized, and I could only assume that the second wolf had been the one she had chosen to bring back to the mountains. From afar I could tell there was something that hampered this wolf, that slowed their approach. And as they grew steadily closer, it quickly became apparent - he was missing a hind limb. Curious.

Turning away from the overhang of rock, I picked my way down familiar trails until I reached the slowly rolling foothills. I suspected that Samus would call on me in due course to come meet the wolf she had chosen, but the liveliness in my limbs bade me go to her prematurely. Loping in the general direction where I had last spotted them, I angled my trail with intent to intercept their arrival. As I came up over a hillock, I spotted them just ahead of me, standing at the edge of the territory. Pausing, I stood downwind of them; whether they would spot me remained to be seen. Darkened ears pricked forward as I paused, listening to Samus' words. I couldn't help but grin - my niece's spirit was something I greatly admired about her.

I jogged forward as she spoke of how I had sent her out to find someone worthy of the pack, my tail lifting above the line of my back so there would be no question as to who I was. I let out a bark to announce my arrival, slowing to a walk as I closed in on them, then rubbed my shoulder against Samus' in greeting, resting my chin momentarily on her withers. She was getting tall - nearly as tall as me now. Pivoting away from her, I turned to face them both. Once more I was intrigued - Samus was not the first wolf to bring in an injured or handicapped wolf as one who they thought would make a promising addition to the pack in due time. Arthfael had brought Tychon, and the winter he had spent with us had strengthened him; despite his surly attitude about having been brought here, he'd since chosen to stay and make Spirane his home. As my mahogany gaze rested upon the clearly unhappy facade of Samus' guest, I wondered if this would go similarly, or far differently.

"Greetings, I am Daenerys Mountainborn; what shall I call the guest whom Samus has brought into the safety of Spirane?" I spoke to him directly, giving him a chance to say his piece. Nostrils flared, catching a stronger waft of his scent and noticing the strength of the salty seawater odor upon him. There was more about his scent than just that to indicate his ties to Eden, and for a moment my mind flickered - Samus had taken a pack wolf. With this realization there was no shift in my gaze, no faltering of my pride in her accomplishment, but at the back of my mind I wondered - would Eden come for this child? Or had he let Samus take him?