Northstar Vale I returned to a stand of pines

Light rain fell from the sky, the last remnants of spring before it faded into summer. Celara's pelt was quite damp by the time she reached the cover of the woods. There had never been such trees back in her old territory. The trees there had been tall and thin-branched, always letting light in. Celara pushed the thought from her mind. That land was gone, and thinking of it would do nothing but hurt.

The wolf instead considered the territory. The mountains that surrounded the valley would make it defensible. The land inside was lush and green, rich with prey. It would never be like her first home, but perhaps she could forget about that place, given time. 

Celara was distracted from her thoughts by the scent of groundhog. They were slippery creatures, but if she were careful and quiet, perhaps she could corner it before it escaped.