Asters and Aspirations [Caelia]

She padded through the wooded hillock with a quiet grace, humming under her breath before she found the glade and its graves. Flowering plants and herbs had been planted over each grave, replenished yearly, or when a plant began to wilt.

Summer was on its way. There was much to announce to the pack, ranks to be given. But for now, she sat quietly at the foot of the grave that housed Cairo, the first and founder of the family and of the pack she now led. Was it selfish to wish that he had been her grandmother’s sire, instead of Nova, who had vanished when the litter was still pups, taking the eldest son with him, not to be seen until years later?

Probably. It would certainly have smoothed out issues. Many of them.

She shook her head then turned her to gaze at the asters that marked her great grandmother’s resting place. From what her father said, it was as close a flower as he could find that matched the late master healer’s eyes. White flowers covered the ground, with medicinal herbs sprinkled in with them.

Turning she padded away from the line of graves and sang for Caelia. The young woman, while not as hard-working and driven as Cairo, had still risen in skill, enough that Courage was no longer an appropriate rank for her. It was time that Caelia stepped up more, and took on an apprentice. Cairo, too, would need someone to teach.

Her haunches lowered to the ground, the soft moss a cool cushion as she waited, patient as ever.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think