The days within the haven of the Glen found the female in better spirits since her encounter with young Mercy. His innocence and exuberance, his ambitions for the future, reminded her pleasantly of the youths she used to tend to in the mountains; the first real glimpse of her past home, made real. And though she as glad to have met a young one she could mentor, she applied caution with her proximity, doing her best not to crowd him or the den made for his friend. A fact she had learned early on with her own charges, was that children wanted their space until they sought the attentions of others. They were of the same pack, and there would be time for future lessons if either felt the necessity.
With this in mind, the woman continued her routines to make sure the caches to the communal den were well stocked and relatively fresh. As she had yet to participate in a pack hunt with the wolves, there was a limit to that she could supply for the new mother; a few voles or hares at best, but anything larger had yet to be seen or taken down.
However, in terms of fresher foods, there was always the Creek to provide a banquet of sorts. But as she had seen few bones and scales around the den’s maw she could only assume that few within the pack were able, let alone knew, how to hunt for the slippery treats of the water. It was a different taste, surely, but more plentiful to feed from than the elusive vermin of the neighboring woodlands. Always cool to the tongue and rich with nourishing meat; it was a wonder more hadn’t provided this offering to the new mother and her young. Although if there was a reason, she hadn’t been made aware of it. Regardless, such thoughts did not discourage her from the creek, as the day found her again at its shores. Though her bi-colored eyes reflected upon its surface, she looked not upon her own reflection but to the many silvery bodies flowing harmoniously along with the flow of the current. A single paw raised at the ready as she stood and waited...