Moonfeather’s orders to rest, take it easy, and allow my wounds time to properly heal hadn’t exactly been met with the most compliant of reactions. There had been multiple occasions when I had left the meadow surrounding my den at a limping jog, intent on patrolling my territory or joining in on a hunt, when my cousin had barred my path. How does she always know? Well, the duo-colored raven perched in the branches above the healer’s head might have been a pretty good indication of how she constantly kept tabs on me. Truly, I should have been thankful - she was doing her job as my Clayr, ensuring that my wounds healed in such a way that I would not be handicapped in potential future fights. A queen could quickly be dethroned if she had an obvious handicap. And yet, rather than be thankful for her diligent care, I could admit that I played the part of the dejected princess rather well. My usual response was a roll of the eyes, a dramatic huff, and a sulking walk back to my den.

At long last, however, Moonfeather had given me the clear to slowly return to normal activity. It had been weeks since the lacerations over my scruff and shoulders had healed, and even longer since the wounds on my muzzle had scarred over. They weren’t ugly scars, in fact they were quite subtle and only noticeable if you looked closely - they gave me a more seasoned warrior look as well, which I didn’t mind. But the wound to my right shoulder had taken the longest to heal, and Moonfeather had been concerned about the possibility of infection that could quickly spread to the joint and cause me to become septic. I didn’t know a lot about the art of healing, but Moonfeather had done well to keep the wound clean and healing properly. The limp that had plagued me for over a month had finally completely disappeared. Moonfeather’s advice had been to gradually ramp back up to full levels of exertion.

And as I loped through the trees, I realized she had - once again - probably been right. My muscles ached from the effort of the long distance run I had taken up. Apparently, resting for over a month meant you weren’t going to be quite as fit as you were beforehand. I slowed to a jog, huffing to myself. Well, that just meant I needed to train, and quickly return to my former level of fitness. Who knew if Hietala or another would-be usurper would come calling the moment they were able. I couldn’t afford to be out of commission any longer.

So, I moved across the territory at a sustainable jog, angling uphill until I reached an open stretch of the mountainside. It was littered with boulders from a landslide that had happened many years ago. The area was stable now, and had been for quite some time. It provided the perfect training grounds for me to begin rebuilding the muscle mass I had lost while resting. I looked upon the challenging terrain with a glint of determination in my eyes. It was time to get back to work.

Moving among the rocky terrain on deft paws, I began to climb up and over different levels of rock, challenging myself and finding my body in want of such a thing. A smile crept over my features, and I pushed myself further, ears tilting back and forth, staying focused on what was ahead of me, but also aware of my surroundings.