easy to find what's wrong

It was five days now since the rock-slide and Akhlut had still not been found. Pump had harbored a little hope at first that once he was found, he would take the reins of leadership and she would be able to return to her comfortable, simple and desolate life as before. She had not desired to become a leader of people, because it meant taking responsibility and caring for them. Two things she had tried to avoid all her life. She had done it out of neccessity - to fill the empty spot, to manage things, to make sure that they were fine again, once Akhlut returned. But as the days passed it became more and more apparent that her temporary leadership was becoming a permanent one.

It wasn't that hard as she had once thought - surprisingly, people listened to her, they respected her, they were friendly to her, even if they didn't know her that well. And she felt different too - no longer not needed and barely tolerated. There was a new purpose in her life and that did change her a bit. She had begun to enjoy being in company with the rest of them, just because she knew that she could be useful, that she was important, that there was something she could do for them. So the only thing there left to do was to get over the occasional bursts of doubt and lack of self-confidence and claim the leadership for real.

After Thistle cloud had tended her wound Pump had remained in the vicinity of the place, where the rest of the pack was located. It felt right that way, rather than finding a den in a desolate place. She was resting by the roots of a large sequoia tree, however not asleep completely, keeping one ear and half-eye open to be aware of what was going around her.