Porcupine Ridge Seasong saints

The black wolf loped slowly through his territory, his thoughts once again turbulent, and the weight of a perceived failure once again on his shoulders. He was tired, and it showed in the sluggishness of his gait, as he had yet to truly rest after his stint at guarding. For all his natural leadership, his first go at alphaship had not been going smoothly, but he reasoned that such growing pains could not be avoided, for both him and the pack. So it was with more resolve and confidence that he would move forward, and not with the great amount of uncertainty that had arrived in the wake of the last trouble.

Downwind, he did not know that the next trial for him and the pack was ahead, as he trailed a stream and spotted Diane coming toward it. He waved his tail as he woofed to her, happy and relieved to see a familiar face, and a wolf he considered a companion. He wrongly thought she would be a welcome distraction from the problems he was chewing over in his mind.