Secluded Spring The Distance - Printable Version

Electing to step down from her position as Lead female had not been an easy choice. The stress of rearing two active children and juggling the responsibilities of leadership had weighed heavily on her shoulders. Their dwindling numbers only amplified that stress. Hawthorne had vanished, and soon after, Sylva, her mother, had as well. Jynx was fuming, once again dealt with a cruel blow of treachery. She couldn't blame the young Riverflow. Pups were curious at their age, yearning to explore and see more and more of the outside world. Sylva on the other hand, had finally shown her true colors. If she ever showed her face around the Notch again, Jynx would show her the price of treason.

What she really needed was a break...a time to decompress, gather her thoughts and clear her head. And, to spend more time with her growing children instead of always being on the job. It would only be temporary, this shift in power, she reminded herself. Once she had steeled her nerves again and stiffened her spine, she would step up and reclaim her place by Emrys' side. Just because she assumed the rank of second for the time being, did not mean she had lost any of her spirit. On the inside, she questioned herself. Wondered if it was weak of her, as a wolf in her prime, as a second time leader, to cave under such pressure? Other wolves she had once knew had been in her shoes before, handling the challenge of motherhood and leadership effortlessly. She shook her head in nonsense. Every wolf was different. Each with his or her own unique ways of handling these challenges. Whilst she felt badly for putting the full burden squarely on the shoulders of her mate, she knew Emrys would understand. He always did.

At the meeting, she had already known about the hunt before it was announced. She had discussed the need for a hunt with her husband before the meeting began, and both agreed that it was high time that the pups witness their first hunt. They were getting big now, and soon they would be moving on to targets bigger than mere hares and voles. When it came time for them to venture out in the world, or pull their weight in the pack, they would need to know how to catch their own prey. Prey that sometimes, fought back. As her mates call echoed in the air, summoning the Notch wolves to the location of the prospective hunt, her ears shot up. A firm but loving nudge of her muzzle was delivered to the haunch of each of her children as she ushered them along, reminding them not to get too excited. Arwyn, she noticed, didn't seem particularly thrilled. "This is one lesson that you cannot afford to miss. I want you both to pay attention and stay put." She said with a firm edge to her voice as they arrived at the small gathering. The scent of Mule Deer filled their noses, no doubt enticing their senses and peaking a newfound curiosity in the pups. But at this time of year, she knew, the males were in rut, making them less docile than usual. They’d have to be careful. She came to Emrys' side, brushing her flank against his, facing Nauja. "Good job locating this herd for us. We seem to have some options." As a refined huntress, her expert eyes skimmed over the herd, assessing each animal individually, looking for subtle signs of weakness. Tyne and Ambrosia had not arrived yet, she noted. But there was no rush, not unless the herd spooked, spoiling their chances before the hunt even began.