November 9th breezy chilly at 23 degrees F. Evening


With a freshly caught rabbit in her jaws Narimé settled down in her usual place at the lagoon. It was the same spot she'd slept by Sloane so many months before. Dropping her meal and casting a wary glance around the young huntress kept herself alert for danger. alert for that one wolf Djinn if she should try to show her face around and jump Nari for her meal, but also alert for any sounds of pack mates or wolves that she considered her friends.


With the strong breeze carrying scents away Nari could only rely on sight. This made her more nervous since she was now used to using her nose far more often around the pack and for hunting. Even so, the girls bluish purple eyes glanced around seeing no danger spare for a leaning Aspen tree that looked like it might fall into the lagoon at any moment if a strong gust came through its arching canopy.


Turning her gaze back to the rabbit Nari looked over the cooling creature. Its fur had bits of white scattered around the brown fur. The cold of the season was changing the creatures fur unusually early to the snowy white color. We may get snow earlier this year. She thought quietly while beginning to gnaw on the rabbit. The storms will be harsh this winter. Her prediction may well come true, but the young wolf wouldn't truly know until the storms began to hit Lore. As much as she loved winter and snow the young woman knew that too much snow and cold could be dangerous.


This winter would test the silvery wolfs hunting skills. Nari would find out then if she was really meant to be a hunter. Images of wolves plowing through snow chasing elk and moose ran through the girls head. It both excited her and worried the young wolf. At the same time she couldn't wait for the future and what it held, but also Nari didn't want to know of the hardships she may face. At least I won't be alone in my lifes adventure. Willow Ridge wolves, my friends in other packs, and all of Lore will have to face the future with me. She thought a bit of how her father had met his end up in the mountains. Narimé hoped that he'd had a good view of the world up in those mountains as he passed. Then maybe he could find her here in the willows from on high wherever he was.


Her white rabbit was late. Late for a very important date back to his den. But this little rabbit would never make it back to the warm den. Instead it would make its way back to the earth in a different manner. Licking her chops Narimé played with the back bone of the rabbit. She noted how it could bend so easily and flex in her paws. Then the girl flipped the bones to a gorse bush on her right and settled down her somewhat hungry belly on the grassy earth. Her eyes glanced around still looking for danger. However it seemed all was quiet at the lagoon. Her plan was to stay for a few days then head back to Willow Ridge that way if Sloane had ever come and she wasn't there he could stilll scent her in the area. For a little while at least her scent would stay unless it rained washing away all scents of earths creatures.


A tune sung in her head. A tune that Nari could not remember who she had learned it from.
The song was sad but also hopeful Narimé noted while humming it. The tune slid easily on her alto voice. It was only then as she tried to sing the higher notes did she realise that they were harder for her to sing. Not like how she had sung and howled to the moon with a high young voice a little less than a year ago. No, her voice had changed. It was a lower cord than it had once been. Narimé paused her singing to test out her voice again. Singing a "Do-Ray-Me-Fa-So La-Tee-Do" the girl was amazed at the change. She wondered suddenly if anything else had changed. Standing up she twisted her head around tryign to get a view of her legs and body. After a few minutes of looking at odd angles Nari padded over to the flattest part of the shore. She glaced into the water gazing at the image relfecting perfectly back at her.


The wolf that looked back at her stunned the young wolf. It was not the image she remembered from all those months ago the last time the silvery wolf had looked into these waters. Her legs, they were still long,but they actually seemed to fit her body now. Those damn huge paws were just the prefect size now. Her fur wasn't quite so fluffy anymore; it lay sleek against her lean but strong body. And the blacker tones that had been in her younger fur was now replaced with varying shades of gray. Plus her tail was fluffier now, which Nari actually quite liked. She flicked it around enjoying the way the mixed silvers, whites, and black fur swam fluidly as she moved.


Even as Narimé took in everything that she was seeing, the girl couldn't believe that the wild but beautiful young woman in the water was her. Shaking her head Nari backed away from the water then sat down and gazed across the lagoon. It was not as beauitful as it had been that one night. However even in late fall the land and water held its own beauty. The fall leaves were strewn across the ground, and everytime the wind blew the leaves would swirl in little brightly colored tornadoes underneath the trees.


Trying to forget the image in the water Nari padded back to her sleeping spot. Though this time she did not lay down. Instead she sat lightly glancing around at the world and thinking of the previous song she'd hummed. Where did I get the song from? And what does it really mean? She raised her muzzle a little and parted her lips letting the song flow from the deepest parts of her soul.




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Green earth wakes to the golden rays of the sun.
One half cloaked by shadow, one half spying the light.
Those who welcome the glittering light, fear the night.
Those who welcome the blanketed night, fear the light.
Each surviving their own stories on green earths might.


Let the dark skies dance with the warmth of a billion souls,
and when the sun rises those souls will disappear waiting for the night to come again.
When the night comes a second time those bright souls will search the earth for the fallen,
and lead those poor spirits to the nether world where they too will become the ebony night.


Green earth wakes to the golden rays of the sun.
One half cloaked by shadow, one half spying the light.
Those who welcome the glittering light, fear the night.
Those who welcome the blanketed night, fear the light.
Each surviving their own stories on green earths might.


And the rain falls on me...
When the souls of the departed shed their tears,
It is for those who had not yet taken the journey to the deep darkness.
Those tears in turn provide life to those in the land of the living.
So the rain falls..."