Greatwater Lake A silent heart ticking under the ground

I got carried away! Also, I should be packing but ugh it's Friday.

Northstar Vale was no longer, and Fox realized that Swiftcurrent was now the only pack that wasn't butted right up next to somebody else. It was refreshing, and it calmed her nerves. The vale had been quiet over the past few weeks, but she'd been so caught up in everything else that Fox had hardly noticed. It was Bazi that brought back the news, and for that, the Alpha was thankful. Her newly-appointed "staff" was doing a great job, and it allowed Fox more time to herself. She was social, like any wolf, but she did value a good long walk now and again. Today was one of those days, and Fox had awoken early, leaving Cutthroat in their den and weaving her way to the west side of the mountains.

As she traveled, Fox thought of her accomplishments. She was still several months shy of two years old, and yet she had a bustling pack that she ruled with (relative) ease. There were several prospective mates at her disposal, and she was certain to produce strong, healthy children next year. She had just appointed two of her most trusted and loyal friends to help her out with her duties, and they were taking a lot of the weight off of her shoulders.

That wasn't to say that her life was perfect, of course. There was Ferdie, who remained unpredictable in her mind. He seemed a bit down in the dumps lately, too, although Fox could not really understand why. He was doing an excellent job, even if he had a slip-up now and again. The influx of new members would have to get settled, which would take time and effort, but Fox had faith that at least some of them would turn out to be like the old-timers.

Fox rounded a bend in the lake, and spotted a dark figure up ahead. She stood on stilted legs for a moment, but when she took a second to realize who it was, her posture softened. It was none other than Perry, her frenemy. She had almost completely forgotten about his... ah... affectionate lick on the cheek, but it came rushing back to her in a flash of white-hot heat that simply did not sit well with her. Determined not to let it get to her, the small red wolf trotted toward him with dignity. Perhaps if she pretended it never happened, it would just go away.

When she neared the plateau wolf, she noted his posture, and began to second-guess herself for approaching him at all. But it was too late now, for he had surely spotted her. “Who put a stick up your butt?” she said, punctuating the question with a short, nervous laugh.