"Are you nervous?" My cousin asked, as she played with the tunic she was supposed to be folding.
"Maybe a little," I admitted, "More excited and curious as to what I might find on the other side of the mirror, and where I'll be taken to. Do you know if anyone has turn it on yet to see where it leads?"
"The one that Father traveled in to meet your mom and grandfather as well as the one we all use now both go to the 10th Kingdom, maybe this one will also lead to New York." She mused.
"I don't think so," I shook my head, "There are no blacksmiths in New York – at least not in the city – and you would think that if there was something to be found there, one of us would have found it in the past 25 years or so. Is it possible for traveling mirrors to go other places?"
"I don't know," my cousin shrugged, "I guess we'll find out tomorrow."
As we continued to debate what I should pack, a knock sounded at the door. When I went to open it, I found my parents standing there. "All packed and ready to go?" Mama asked.
"Not even close," I sighed, "I don't even know where to start."
"I would recommend at least one change of clothes so that as you are washing one, you'll have another to wear. You never know if you'll come across a peeping Tom." She suggested while poking fun at my father.
"Not to mention you don't know how people where you are going will react to Wolfies." Papa reminded me, "They may not like them, or may never have seen them before. As much as I hate to ask you to do it, and I know I hated having to do it when I was your age, I want you to take clothing with you that you can comfortably tuck your tail in. While I love your beautiful tail, some people may not agree and I don't want you getting hurt."
"Yes Papa," I nodded, "I actually was thinking about that. I was planning to take some of my longer tunics with me that will cover any telling bulges in my breeches."
"Don't forget to take a cloak with you," Mama added, "You don't know how warm or cold you will be, but at the very least it will give you something to sleep on or under on the nights you are outside. Also wear comfortable boots and plenty of socks; I don't want you hurting your feet."
"Have you given any idea on how you'll eat while there?" Papa asked.
"I know that it's going against the way things are done for our people, but for the sake of not scaring people who might see, I thought I would hunt game the way non-wolves do. Reilly taught me how to set up snares and I've gotten really good at shooting moving targets with a bow."
"Sounds like you've been well-prepared for a while now." Papa mused, "Are you sure you only just found out you would need to do this?" He teased before sweeping me up in one of his signature tight hugs. "Oh, I'm so proud of you, my little she-cubby, I can't believe you are all grown up and taking your own journey. Keep your heart open to any and all possibilities, even if you think you know what you are supposed to be doing. Listen to your heart and your instincts; a Wolfie's instincts are their best guide. I only wish you were taking someone with you when you go."
"Me too, Papa, me too," I nodded moving towards Mama when he finally released me.
"I'm proud of you too, Honey," Mama sighed, pulling me in for a gentler, albeit no less firm, hug. "Do your best, but don't let the journey get in the way of who you are. Like your father said, keep your heart open to any and all possibilities, you never know if and where you'll find allies. I can only hope that you are being sent alone because there are others on the other side who are meant to help or be helped by you." She released me but not before I saw her wiping a stray tear off her cheek. "I'm gonna miss you."
"I'm not leaving right this instant," I reminded her, "You have the rest of the evening and tomorrow morning before I have to leave. I don't plan to leave the castle until then. I've already sent a few of Wendell's people to collect some of the items I thought I'd need, including the bow and quiver that Reilly gave me a couple years ago when he started training me."
Almost as if on cue, another knock sounded at the door, when I called for the person to enter, a few men in castle livery came in carrying various items like water skins, snares, and the like. Last to come in was Reilly, carrying a few items of his own.
"I heard you are being sent to parts unknown." He smiled warmly at me, but not before I saw his gaze momentarily flicker over to my cousin who was smiling like an idiot. "I thought you might need this." He then proceeded to lay my bow and quiver, full of arrows, on the table in the corner of my room. He then walked towards me and handed me a sheathed item with an ornately decorated handle. "This is a very special dagger to me," He stated simply, "It was a graduation gift from my grandfather when I became an officer in His Majesty's army."
"It's barely bigger than a table knife." I said, unsheathing the dagger and examining it for balance, weight, and sharpness.
"It's meant to be carried in your boot," He explained before handing me a larger version, "This one is meant to be carried on your belt; use it well and wisely." He paused for a moment before adding, "While you may not officially be one of my, or anyone's troops, I have to say it has been an honor and a privilege to train you, even if we didn't know what it was for."
"Huff Puff, that was very nice of you," Papa said, swiping at his temple before extending his hand. Reilly copied the motion and shook the older wolf's hand before giving me a nod and my cousin a rakish smile and then turning on his heal and exiting the room. Papa then turned to me, "You have been given a great honor; those daggers have likely been handed down for several generations in Reilly's family. You must take good care of them."
"I will, Papa, I will." I said gently placing the daggers in my backpack with the other items that the castle servants had been packing for me. "Thank you."