Sunbeam Lair seorsum

She smiled—faintly—but only as she tried to recall certain things. “Oh, there were adults around. Any pack I had would disband in less than nine months or so… I just drifted. I had a cousin who looked out for us, at times… he disappeared, too. I met the north wolves when I was around two.” She didn’t even know when Sunny had gone—it had become impossible to piece her past together fully.

“The brothers… They told me I was a survivor, and I think they were the first wolves to believe I was capable rather than needing protection.” Perhaps, that had been what won her over from the start with them—they had looked to her and saw more than a frail little dove. “One of them became my mentor for healing… and the other…” She trailed off, her muzzle giving an idle shake. “I loved him. Greatly.”

She quieted and he spoke—nudging some of the pheasant his way, the rain outside all but diminishing. She was in no rush to leave his presence if he was in none. “Being a soldier is all you’ve ever known,” she remarked, tagging the hint of a question at the end.