Saying goodbye to mama had been the hardest thing she had ever resolved to do in her short life. She had seen mama get hurt before at the hands of others — Yakone's own father, namely — but she had never been the one to cause her mama grief. The farewell was tearful and had the Apaata's mother not encouraged Yakone's departure she likely would have felt bad enough to stay.

Survival was not a concern. Mama and Komodo had both taught her how to hunt. Traveling together for so long led to its necessity. At nearly five months old she had filled out, and although she did not know it she was destined to grow larger than both of her siblings. At adulthood, she might even rival her father's impressive size. So long as she made it to the pack that Aunt Nanook had told her about, Yakone would be just fine.

It was easier to travel at dawn and dusk when the prey was the most active with many supplemental naps through the day and nighttime, but in this forest she could not sleep. The raucous banter of the foxes that made the glade their home kept her awake, and although she did not want to she saw no other option than to move on. Moonlight filtered in overhead as she slipped inbetween the trees, hoping to make it to the Stone Circle by daybreak.

Valette seemed to perk up when Yakone said she'd seen Nanook. Her tail began to wave gently between her hocks. She's doing good.. she was with someone, big and white like me. But she couldn't remember much else if she'd been told; there was no name or pack that came to mind. Thank you, she says, eager to see the territory. Really, all she'd wanted was to meet her biological family and get to know them, but the offer to stay was something she couldn't pass up. Let's go!