New Leaves on the Trees [Pack Meeting. Mandatory]

Cairo raced toward the meeting rock in the plains, tongue lolling. He’d spread the word to his littermates and now he skidded into the bare clearing among the grasses of the plains, looking around in surprise to find that only Paladin had arrived before him. Just then, Aurielle lifted her head and howled and Cairo moved to take a seat in the clearing, chocolate and dark chocolate splotched tail tapping the ground as he waited.

As everyone arrived, he looked around, then remembered his mother wouldn’t be coming. A weight hung in his breast, and Aurielle started right in. He listened with a growing bleakness. Every time he thought he’d gotten over the worst of the pain, a fresh stab struck again. He knew it would ease with time… It must if he wanted to function. But he’d never stop loving his mother.

As the shimmering white Archangel—no, Spirit now, went on with her long lift of announcements, he listened intently, ears perking slightly at the thought of maybe vying for one of the Beta positions. He had no desire for the rank of Soul, and definitely not for the rank of Heart. No way. Not with family, adopted or not.

He was definitely interested in reaching at the very least the rank of Dauntless. It sounded bold and brave, and the way she described the ideal wolf of such a rank sounded a lot like how good he wanted to get someday. He already had a mentor—Aurielle herself had taken him under her wing and been training him. He wondered if Justice might be willing to co-mentor and glanced around for the bearlike female.

The announcement of the festival Aurielle planned brought his head up even further, and his grief eased at the thought of such an event. His siblings had gone to the fighting Tournament. He’d watched, but had chosen to observe only, studying how the older wolves fought, taking in what he saw as food for thought.

Maybe this time, he’d enter in the spars.

As she called for questions, Cai glanced around again at the rest of the pack, then asked, almost hesitantly, “If there are no wolves in a circle, is it possible for an Oath to enter that circle, with no mentors in it?”

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