Ankyra Sound the long way round

Eljay wasn't too sure he'd ever meet Wildfire's pups at this rate. He wished he was just better; how could he expect to ever join this pack if he couldn't pull his weight back at the Caldera, surrounded by those who loved him? "Is... Are those your pups?" he asked, and he wondered if they were old enough to come to the borders already so he could meet them. But he didn't dare ask.

After receiving a confirmative answer Eljay nuzzled Wildfire's cheek briefly before watching her move off to her pack's territory — a far-away, unachievable place to him. He sat and calmed his breathing for a while, trying to get a grip on himself so he could try to think of some ideas to prove himself.