Felicien was gone… but it felt like yesterday that he had been taken away. The blind male had taken on a snow leopard to defend his son, gripping onto the beast’s muzzle even as life faded from him in a grotesque scene the youth would not soon forget. He had shelled up, the runt falling within himself as he blamed himself for his sire’s demise. The boy had vowed though, after taking the time to grieve, that he was going to become stronger. He was going to work hard to do his part, even with his smaller size, to make a difference.

Morning found the tiny boy outside of the den, though not terribly far. He worried for his mother, Avalon, and had developed a fear that he might worry the woman to death… literally. Amée had started taking care of some plants near their den… he wasn’t sure if they were useful but… healers used plants. When he could he wanted to ask Acere if he could train to be one. Even if he wasn’t big… even if he wasn’t as brave as Feli was… he could be strong in other ways. He’d learn how to mend wounds and make sure none of his family was lost ever again.

“Bonjour, mes petits amis!” {{Hello, my little friends!}} Amée greeted softly. The flowers weren’t doing the greatest since they were Northern bound and cold was coming but the boy had tried desperately to keep them from being cold and dying off from frost. The boy curled around his small “garden”, well, patch of flowers, and hummed softly. Things were going to be okay.

She'd gone on a mock patrol after watching some of the adults do it, though she wasn't super close to the borders because she wasn't quite confident to go on a real patrol just yet. Someday she would. They'd be a year old come springtime, so maybe she could ask her mom or their alpha to take her on a real patrol so she could keep the borders safe. So nothing bad would happen to any of them like...well...like her father. The thought of him made her start to tear up, but she took a deep breath and shook the thought away. He had died to protect her brother, and she didn't want anyone else in the pack to get hurt or caught unawares like that again. He had died a courageous death...but she wished they had had more time with him. Mom had been sad since he passed away, but she never stopped loving them and teaching them what she could. While she wasn't young and strong like she said she had been in her younger days, she still did her best to get out of the den every morning to spend time with them, play with them, and take care of them. Claire was grateful for having her mother around, and she enjoyed the things their mother taught them as well as the stories. Her thoughts were brought back to the present when a rabbit darted in front of her path, but Claire had been too slow in responding to have a chance of catching up with it. Oh well...maybe it was time to head back towards the den anyway. As she headed that way, she heard the faint sound of her brother and she cocked her head and listened. Was he talking to someone? Curious, she pressed on until he was in full view. "À qui parlez-vous, Amée?" {Who're you talking to?} She stopped a couple of feet away, tail wagging a bit as her head remained tilted. "Speak