Homecoming Warrior

It had taken an age, with many stops, but Cairo at last gazed upon his homeland, and felt his heart swell with joy. Deep sapphire eyes swept the plains he could glimpse above the wall, and his tail thumped. He still had a long way to go before he’d be running freely over those plains and bringing down prey with the pack, but he would be able to regain training after just a few more weeks.

Winter was steadily fading, especially here in the west. Spring would be right around the corner. Had he missed the pups’ birth? He hoped not. Chrystal took flight, leading the way ahead to seek out Aurielle and Paladin. She hadn’t told him whether he’d missed any pups being born, but he’d been too happy at being reunited with the owl to pester her for not spilling.

It was evening, and he watched the dark hillock that stood like a single sentinel in the middle of the plains, a faint trail of wood-smoke misting through the trees, definitely from the crack in the ceiling of the fire-chamber. He drew in a breath of anticipation as he spotted a glimmer of light in the distance at the base of the hillock, slow-moving but steadily approaching. “There she is.”

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think