Oh, how grown the she-wolf was who sat before me. And yet she would always be my little girl, my first daughter, a carbon copy made a shade darker and sculpted in a more refined pattern. Ears perked towards her, giving her my full attention as mahogany eyes rested upon her features. I listened to all she had to say, never moving to interrupt or respond. I nodded solemnly as she spoke of the immense paw prints left by our forebears to fill, for I understood such a sentiment more than most would ever understand. It is one thing to take up the mantle of a parent who lives on to guide you, but another thing entirely to live up to the standards set by your slain mother, and avenge her life, while still maintaining some semblance of poise and diplomacy.

The edges of my eyes creased slightly as she spoke of the losses we had suffered, and our time spent in Diveen. As a leader, knowing such defeat had been one of the hardest things to overcome in my life. But there had never been any question of whether I would return to reclaim what was rightfully mine - and my pack's. It was good to know how such a thing had affected Kalseru, how it had changed her perspective and how she had used such trials to build upon herself. Although she cast her gaze out across the surrounding foliage, my eyes never left her, seeing the gentle rise and fall of her emotions etched faintly across her features. My head lowered slightly as she spoke of her own potential to have once been my heir. As my firstborn daughter, it had been her right to claim - though there was no law set in stone that the mountain throne needed to pass from mother to daughter, it was as it had been for three generations. Boneclaw had reigned over Solevion until those mountains had been transformed into these, and in her death MoonGlow had risen to take up the mantle. My elder sister Orca had never sought the crown, her own feet more inclined to wander abroad. Power had shifted back and forth between MoonGlow and Alcide, until they had passed and when I came of age I had returned to take back our home. Our families' legacy was not without interruption, but it was one of the oldest and strongest lineages in these lands. We might not outnumber the Angels, but our family had been in power years before Heyel had ever set foot in Moladion. In any case, it was my hope that I would be able to relinquish my title when the time was right and pass it to Nymeria while I still lived, breaking the cycle of a mother's death leading to her daughter's rise to power.

Kalseru's posture lifted slightly, and I could not help the way my muzzle crinkled into a grin. Her poise had stood out from her youngest days, managing to carry herself with the elegance of a princess even when she had been a long-legged puffball of a pup. Now she was a sleek, beautiful woman with a sharp edge. I knew she was up to the task that she sought to take on, that she would step up to serve this pack for the greater good, and not for her own benefit as once might have in her youth.

"The blood of the mountain runs strongly through you, Kalseru. I am proud of the woman you have grown to become, and know that the pack can look to you in time of need. You are worthy of this pack, and this pack is worthy of you." Alpha though I may be, I am her mother and I cannot help the way my chest swells, my reserved and serious expression finally giving way to the pride and admiration I felt for my daughter's accomplishments. I leaned forward, touching my cheek to hers in a quick embrace, blowing softly through my nostrils into her fur before withdrawing once more. I smiled openly now, her words only serving to confirm what I had known all along - she was destined for great purpose.

An ear twitched, flicking back idly to listen to the sounds of the moutain. "You have always had an ear for diplomacy. I am curious what your thoughts are on the state of the packs in Moladion, and our relation to them. A few months ago Nymeria extended an invitation to Taviora's young leader, Zelda, to entreat with me here, and yet we have not heard from her since. Iromar seems to be settling nicely with their new Queen, and Asteraia as well now returned to the blood of Rhae and Iblis. Yet neither of these new young leaders have approached us - despite both of their forebears having been allies to the mountain in years past. Eden remains something of an enigma in Glorall, though I believe it would do us well to extend some form of communication as Samus brought a member of his pack - Abel - here without consent. Yet he chooses to remain of his own free will. Diveen remains our pack's oldest and truest friend, but a neglected friendship can wane into inexistence if not given proper attention." This topic, I thought, would be something of a breeze for Kalseru, further setting her up for success in the position she sought.