Wip had met the morning with an alertness of a new pack member. She insisted on sleeping next to the Ocean, feeling eclipsed by its vastness, thus being forced to awake early less the cold it gave off killed her. It had become a bit of a routine, to rise before the sun so as to work her muscles and generate some heat. She had enjoyed this new blue bedmate, but was beginning to reconcile with the fact that the coldness of winter would make it hard for her to sustain this for too long. Either way, she was happy that it forced her to be productive in the mornings, and so she spent them inspecting the pack borders, trying to get to know them better.

She smelled Thistle in the boundaries, and another wolf, which Wip could only assume was the as of yet unamed Ragnar. Her nose quivered at the traces of his masculine musk, and again she felt that flop of anxiety within her stomach. She had yet to meet the male, and she could only hope he was as agreeable as his feminine counterpart. It was then that she noticed the presence of said female, and Wip’s tail twitched with excitement. Their last encounter had not been too long ago, and Wip hoped her presence would not become a nuisance. Thistle had evidently been at work with the borders before she, and Wip noticed the dew that clung to her coat. She approached her slowly, and greeted her with familiarity, nudging the other’s chin with a lick of respect and then retreating to give her space.

Mornin’ Thistle Cloud.

Wip was encouraged by the fact that Thistle had always been so agreeable with her. It was more than she could have hoped for during her travels, to find a new pack, and to be lead by a female who seemed to exude only kindness thus far. Wip hoped that it would remain this way, and she made a silent pledge to herself that she would do everything in her power to make it so.

I was trying to get to know the pack, with my nose. She wiggled her wet, black nose as if to emphasize this and then decided that the morning seemed apt for pumping Thistle for information. How many wolves call his pack home? And what is your husband’s name? What are they like? She didn’t dare ask what she really had been wondering, What is he like. In Wip’s experience leading males had the tendency to be…abrasive and she wondered if this would be the same sort of situation. She did not want to assume anything however, and risk offending Thistle.

Wip’s hopes for a peace-loving hippy alpha male were dashed with Thistle’s description, and she hoped the disappointment did not show on her face. Although, she had lived long enough in the world to know that to protect a pack a lot of ferocity was needed. If Thistle was vouching for him, then Wip was determined to give the male a fair chance. She was happy she asked because had she seen Ragnar as described she might have been frightened out of her wits.

Wip nodded thoughtfully and then added. I’ve met a few wolves, but none from our pack yet. I’m eager to get to know the rest of the family, especially the pups. She emphasized the last statement with a beat of her tail. I’m happy to hear that you love him, sometimes marriage can become…boring. How long have you and Ragnar been mated? The day was still early, and Wip was always up for a little chatter with a trusted participant. She hoped Thistle was willing to oblige her, the more Wip knew about the wolves around her, the more comfortable she would feel prowling these lands.

Wip was not sure what polygamy was, but seeing as it was juxtaposed with savagery and sparkiness, she did not dare ask. Wip had spent so much time traveling alone that she could not imagine what it was like to be mated to another. To walk through life knowing that the other was your soul mate. Her own parents had a relationship of efficiency and duty, yet the female knew that there were all manner of relationships. She would look forward to meeting Ragnar, and seeing how he treated her Queen. Yet the male had been absent until now. Wip was sure he would show up in the most unexpected way possible though.

I look forward to meeting your pups. And the future ones too. She added with the grin, and sighed a little wistfully, she loved puppies so much, and she had begun to wonder when her own time would come. She could not imagine being in charge of keeping others alive though.

Thistle’s words were encouraging to Wip. She had begun to feel like coming to the Bay had been such a happy coincidence, she knew what a blessing it was to share a pack with wolves that cared and respected each other. Even though she did not know the majority of her pack mates, she was beginning to feel an overwhelming urge to help them, and to care for them. It was strange how biology could force a being into wanting to help others like herself. I’m happy to be here too. I want you to know how much it means to me that you took a chance on me, and I will do my best not to let you down.

Wip considered the things Thistle had shared with her, and then thought it best to add, Our family may have had its losses, but we’ll build Savanger Bay up to be the family it is destined to be. I can feel it. She nodded with all the assurance of a young wolf that knew next to nothing of the world. But in this moment she was hopeful, and at times that was all it took. I’ve been working hard to catalogue the resources around here, to make sure that in times of need, we have options. This winter has been cold, but this land has a lot to offer. Mostly, she wanted Thistle to forget whatever troubling thoughts had entered her mind, and she hoped that her conversation would help.

Wip was happy to hear about the medical cache, not because she thought she had had need of it just yet, but because it meant that Thistle was a like-minded gal, and it made her feel secure to know Thistle was the type to be prepared. She considered her question carefully and then answered, I come from a very small pack very far from here. We didn’t have much, but in a way it was good, because we all learned from very young how to make the most of what we did have. Thinking back Wip knew that the Kailen’s weren’t the most loving of families, and maybe that was why she craved that touchy feely stuff so much now. But she thought this would be too much to share at this moment, and only said, My parents were good parents, but I knew that I wanted something more, and decided to leave them. I miss them sometimes, but I know they are all right. Wip nodded, as if to affirm this for herself, and then asked, How about you Thistle, where do you come from?