Blacktail Deer Plateau iii. time flies

Grayday gave his daughter a stern look, but the affect as surely lost in his affection. He knew he could've done a better job raising her - but her pride was something he admired, and he was glad she'd turned out the way she had, even if it made for some tough lessons in the future.

"We're no better than the rest of them, you and I," he said softly. "I know you don't think of it that way - " he hoped not - "but this drive to do more that you're feeling... I've felt it before. Before you were born, I was always afraid that I wasn't doing enough for the pack. I was afraid that I wasn't important enough for them to care for, if I needed it. I was afraid that they'd reject you and your brother, and my mate. And those are valid fears, Dawn. We do have a duty to serve and protect each other, and the wolf that doesn't might soon find himself on a very bad place," he explained, warning her with a look to be patient - that this wasn't the end of the story.

"But the fact of the matter is, a wolf will always fall short on its own. A wolf on its own can never deserve the care of a pack, and it's only by coming together, and sharing our strengths and weaknesses, and working toward the same goals that we become all that we are meant to be. Sometimes that means going on extra hunts, and sometimes that means putting our resources into a good Hunter and a strong heart, who's had a bit of an accident," he said, his voice a bit teasing once more. "You're not a weak link at all. Not even for now. You're part of our future, and no one resents putting time and effort toward that any more than we resent eating extra just before winter, or digging a den before pups are born."

Grayday's expression hardened somewhat.

"Of course, a certain healer might become resentful if she found out a certain patient was wasting her efforts on frivolous day trips," he added.