Blacktail Deer Plateau the holiest of altars

The youth declared her father was king of the woods, which explained the child's uncanny resemblance with the alpha male. "Oh, I'm speaking to the prince! How silly of me." Kas stood and made a big show of bowing, tucking her nose under her chest in the deepest sign of respect. It was all in fun, but the usually toughened woman liked to let her hair down, so to speak, around pups. They were one of her weaknesses. "Please forgive me for being so rude. I didn't know I was talking to the prince!"

Then the child asked her what her rank meant, and what her name was. Kas returned to her sphinx position, smiling at the girl. "Mu is my rank, much like your rank is puppy. I am the newest member, so I start at the bottom. If I am loyal and helpful to your father, I can get a better spot in the pack." Kas paused to let the girl digest that and then gave her name. "My name is Kaskara Gladius, but most wolves just call me Kaskara. What's your name, little prince?"