A Great, Wide World of Wonder

She continued to listen with that unswerving attentiveness as he told his story, ears perked to catch it all. Finally, she answered, firmly, “I don’t think you will be like him. You’re good.” Those eyes bore into his when he looked back, before his assurance that she’d be a good leader brought a smile to those stern features once more.

Pupish authority fell away as he launched into more stories, of how he’d been nervous meeting others for the first time, or practicing training in front of his siblings. The story of the female he’d met piqued her curiosity, and she put in “You’d like my Da, then. He’s red. Like blood.” Not that she’d seen much blood that was fresh and not crusted upon the torn edges of prey she’d been given for supper and as a learning device.

“My brother’s black as night, too, but he turns blue under the light.” The transformation in her twin’s coat always astounded her anew when she watched it, and she smiled at the thought of it.

Her head tilted at his suggestion of showing the rock who was in charge, a half grin tugging at her maw, “I wanted to bite it, at first, but it’s such a silly thing to get mad over. It’s just a rock. If I lose my temper over a rock, how am I going to be the archangel my pack needs?”

Such wise words for such a young wolf.

She listened intently to his response, taking it into account before she fell silent for several beats. Then her eyes came up from the stone they’d dropped to, locking onto him as she found a solution that pleased her, piping cheerfully, “When I’m older, I’ll just have to help you explore!”

She paused, then ventured, a little more tentatively, “And, if you like, I can ask Da if you could join Celestial someday if you decide you want to try life in a pack. Or when I’m Archangel, you can see how you feel then.”

The slightest tap-tap of her tail against the wall announced her quiet hope that she’d said the correct words. The underlying message was he had a friend here in Celestial if he ever needed her.

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