Follow Closely, Little One

Gargoyle shifted his weight from where he lay, sprawled out in the shelter of a pile of fallen pines where much of the pack had taken shelter the night before. As always his mate and pups were near, but this morning was special. He and Ocena had talked recently about the cubs starting to get some serious training. Well, that was the first order of the day. Careful not to stir his sleeping family, the brute rolled over onto his tawny belly and pushed himself to his feet. A couple quiet pads and he was beside his larger daughter. His yellow eyes blinked as he cocked his head to the side, watching her for a moment. She was so lovely. All of his children were, but she - she reminded him of his mother. Of Clash. Clash had been almost ten years old when she'd had Gargie's litter - five pups and yet she somehow managed to raise them all. He often wished he could go back to that time. Back when he didn't even know what vioelence was really was. Back when family was family. ..... back when he had a tail...

But enough flashbacks. Pups were about the future. About a hope for a better day. He lowered his nose and nudged at the girl's skull. "Rise and shine, Avalon." His rough whisper was little above a breath. He didn't want to disturb any of the others. The sun wasn't even fully up yet - parts of the world were totally black. Only at the very top of the peak was the rising sun beginign to shine on the snow cap. It would be a good hour before the light touched the rest of the earth, and this was the perfect time to go hunting. "Come along," he murmured taking a few swinging steps towards the edge of the clearing. "This morning, you're with me on my rounds." He'd leave further explaining until they were out of earshot. One thing he'd have to teach her was that silence while hunting was key. An important lesson to learn early, espically for a large wolf, which, by the sight of her paws, she was going to be.