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Laisren was relatively swift in answering her call, and he appeared smelling of deer blood, a fact that merely solidified Gwen's belief her path today was the correct one. "Good afternoon, Laisren," she returned his greeting. "Please, won't you join me? I have something important I wish to speak to you about."

She paused a moment to give him a chance to do so, and for her to gather her thoughts, then said slowly, "Please keep in mind that I do not mean this as a criticism of your skill, but rather as an expression of the pack's need and my own faith in you. I am dying, Laisren. I do not know how much time I have left in the world and I would not want my pack and my children left without the best care I can give them, so forgive me for being blunt." She let out a slow sigh, then continued. "You've hidden in your brother's shadow long enough," she said gravely. "You are not just Regulus' brother, or Aurielle's uncle. You are just as much Surreal Adravendi's son as Regulus is. She may have chosen Regulus as her heir, but that does not in any way diminish who you are, and I believe that is a fact many have forgotten. It's time for you to stop being Regulus' little brother, Laisren, and be your own man. You need to step forward out of their shadows, stop hiding as just another warrior in the pack, and give the pack your all. And I feel that means not being a warrior, for you. You excel at something no one else in the pack does - you are a skilled hunter, Laisren, and Celestial has not had a huntmaster all winter and it shows." She shook her head. "Laisren, you are not meant to be a nameless warrior in an army of nameless warriors. When my grandfather adopted your mother, he gave her a proud name, one that was gave a wolf respect and power. Whether I agree with that action or not, you are now heir to that name, and all the respect, and power, and responsibility that conveys. You need to step forward and take charge of something that the pack desperately needs your skills in, rather than hiding in a low rank that does not need you. Take pride in your hunting skill, Lais, claim your due as an Adravendi, and help me give my children a future here instead of letting the pack drift away."