Heron Lake Plateau guiding light

Owen felt safer with a little distance between him and his sisters sometimes, especially on a day like today when the girls all seemed extra-rowdy. Even Kite's unsteady legs were frisking all about and looking for trouble. Owen didn't really envy Eljay his job, but he wasn't about to go running over to make himself a chewtoy for his mischievous siblings—Eljay was the one who'd been silly enough to volunteer for puppysitting duties, and now he could reap the consequences with no help from Owen, thank you very much. Owen would just stay right here deep in the cool shadow of the prickly bush, where it would be very difficult indeed for either Phoebe or Vasa to sneak up on him. (Kite never seemed to be all that sneaky at the best of times still, frankly, in his experience. She had enough trouble getting her little white paws to go in a straight line, never mind tiptoeing and pussyfooting about in stealth mode.)

Yet no sooner had he thought this, as he stayed silent and made sure his own cloaking remained firmly engaged, remaining still except for the slight tilting-back of his head as he blinked upwards and checked the far-off skies for any further signs of either starfall or snow (Owen still wasn't entirely certain which of these he could most reasonbly expect and when) when his musings were interrupted by Eljay's concerned call, first for himself and then right afterward for Kite. Owen blinked again in surprise as he lowered his eyes nearer earthward, and got to his feet with some concern. At first he thought that Eljay must simply be overlooking the middle Redhawk-Voulge sister, but no: Owen didn't see her now either, as he cautiously poked his nose out from his hidey-hole and looked warily about. Phoebe and Vasa were keeping themselves well-distracted wrassling with each other at the moment so Owen went ahead and extracted the rest of himself as Eljay put nose to ground and started snuffing about for Kite. The wind was in Owen's favor, and it was no difficulty whatsoever to stealthily haunt Eljay's own tracks as the puppysitter followed the trail of the missing girl. But with Eljay's attention divided between the ground and chivvying the other two girls along in an attempt to keep them closer by, Owen sighted the other one first. Kite? he said, a touch of uncertainty warring with concern and surprise both in his voice, and then concern quickly won out as he continued, Wait, no! Stay back from the pond—Dad said!

 Maybe it was mere coincidence, but that seemed to be the direction her meandering feet were taking her surprisingly quickly today. What a time and use for her to be learning to walk swifter and straighter, Owen thought as he quickly sped up into a gallop to try and catch her up. He didn't like how much of a head start she had on them all, though—already?! He felt another sharp pang of sympathy for Eljay as he tried to get between Kite and the water and herd her gently back toward the group: how could these smallish wolves manage to cover such distance in so short a time, anyhow?!