DRAGON TEARS (PACK HOWL)

A short time had passed since their acceptance into this pack, and Verrine was settling in as well as he could under the circumstances. Dragonwatchers was somewhat unorthodox in the way they did things, from their equally-ranked-but-not-mated Alpha pair, to the co-rank system that Koontz described to them all through the echoing music of her howl. Verrine listened, and as she finished, other howls began to rise into the air. He heard a voice belonging to one whom he had not yet met, followed shortly by a few voices he did recognize, chief among them that of Barristan. Verrine smiled as he heard Yildun's melodic voice rise into the air; he was glad the boy had joined in, despite the sadness that still lingered in his heart and his voice. Verrine had grown especially fond of Yildun during their travels -- having known him since he was just a cute, inquisitive puppy -- and considered him, along with Julooke and Arrakis, the closest of family.

Though the names of their co-ranks were peculiar, he accepted them without complaint. He recalled when he had first joined Sterrenvuur, how he had thought their rank and co-rank names so bizarre and unpronounceable. Soon, they had begun to feel natural and right to him, and he knew in his heart that the same would hold true here. "Leviathorgan," he said softly to himself. No other name could be so appropriate for him. It fit him perfectly, guardian and protector that he was, and reminded him of his father, Leviathan. Confident in his choice, he accepted that title as his own and turned his cream- and cinnamon-kissed muzzle to the sky, sending forth his own rich, deep basso voice to join the others. In his howl were woven notes of sadness for all that he and his family had lost, amidst brighter tones of hope and joy for what they had gained. He also sang of his newly-assumed role as Leviathorgan, promising to guard his packmates and their lands with his life. And, above all, he howled to his Alphas an acknowledgement of Koontz's new place in the hierarchy and a heartfelt thanks for their generosity in accepting him and his family into their ranks.