Northstar Vale Right Beside You

She swept past a tall tree, eyes glancing up to one of the chirping birds on the branches. Soon, winter would be upon them and the birds would be gone for a time—it was a silent time of year she dreaded. Somehow, though, there was a small spark in her chest that hoped it wouldn’t be as bad this year—not with a pack in the safety of the vale.

He commented on his assumption that mothers wished for the fathers to be nearby—spoken with the implication he was inexperienced as such. Her thoughts drifted to Tamar and Arsenio, considering—and then to her previous pack… where kindling relationships and closeness had not been a prevalent custom in their ranks.

Anything before the Watch had been irrelevant as well. Her family taken by flames—each pack disbanding within months of joining. Her jaw set, and she shrugged, a small sigh passing her lips. “I think… if you’re doing it right, then yes. I would assume a mother would want the father of their pups and her love nearby as often as she could to support her in those first few weeks.” A wry smile followed, tracing her lips but not meeting her eyes. “I’ve seen very little of that in my life, though. Tamar and Arsenio are a breath of fresh air.” And she would leave it at that, for now.

A militant pack did not surprise her—he seemed to be built for such a lifestyle. She could have questioned routine, but she dare not. It wasn’t her business. Instead, weaving forward, she came to a canopy of trees and mossy grounds, near enough to the lead pair to be of use, but distant enough that their visitor was not upon their doorstep. “We can make the cache here, if you think?”