Bramblepoint hollywood forever cemetery sings

When Cypress emerged from the undergrowth, it became clear that the shadow had been lurking there the entire time. His arrival was too timely to be mere coincidence, and the simple fact of it shamed Rian. He should not have lost his temper, he knew, but he felt guilt at egging on one of the most important wolves in his life. If he kept it up, he wouldn't have anyone left. Even when Rannoch backed away and relieved him of his submission, Rian merely rolled to his stomach and shot a torn look to Cypress.

He wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn't come. Instead he picked himself up and, with his head carried lower than Rannoch's, moved to bump his muddy nose against the underside of Cypress' chin. He exhaled, and whined softly only to turn his affections towards the largest brother. He flattened his ears and pressed a submissive kiss to the reigning king's cheek. There was clearly no one better suited for the task, not even Rian himself who was laid low by the larger wolf. 

Unlike his brothers, he had not been groomed for leadership. With his father absent, and his mother distancing herself after his disappearance, Rian was left to figure it out on his own. And it proved to be ineffective against Rannoch and likely, if Cypress ever made a bid for it, the shadow himself.