I trotted toward the gathering of wolves crisscrossing the pathways to den to den. Most of the Pup Schooling was here, and most of the fifteen adult wolves were Nannies, or Teachers. A large dark-grey male with jade colored eyes trotted up to me, with his mate trailing behind him.
"Welcome," he said, his lips drawn in a friendly smile. I wagged my tail before lowering it and flattening my ears and coming up to him and licking his muzzle. Once I backed up he continued, "My name is Shadow, and this is my mate, Spruce." Shadow and Spruce. Cute, I almost laughed, but I kept my muzzle shut. "You will stay in the den over there." He gestured to the left. "You'll find a friend there." Shadow winked. I grinned and loped over to the den.
"Galaxy!" I yelped. She nibbled on my ears and coat, cleaning me.
"You're filthy." Galaxy exclaimed. We went into the den. It was large and roomy. It could easily fit several Wolves. I sat down and suffered through the grooming. Galaxy began to walk toward the entrance. I looked over. She whirled around and tackled me. I yipped and pushed her off. I nipped at her ear. "No! Stop! You know that tickles and I don't like tickling." She settled in a groove in the dirt of the den's wall. "So, met any males?" She asked. Her eyes had a little gleaming star shining in them.
"One—"
"Really?" Galaxy squealed.
"Well, yah, but I did my job and chased him off." I said sternly.
"Aw, see, I would've…." Galaxy looked down at her paws.
"I didn't know you wanted to start your own pack." I barked, suddenly uneasy.
"Lupus," Galaxy cursed, "just forget it. I'm fine here. Living the glory life as Lead Hunter in the Alzaar Pack," she sighed.
"Don't use Lupus's name like that!" I snarled, teeth bared.
"Lu—geez, Silver, what's up? At first you seem angry, then… unsure and now you're mad because I said Lupus. What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I said, turning my back to her. Galaxy shook her head and stalked out of the den. I soon left too went toward the neighboring den directly across from Galaxy's. Olive eyes glanced up at me. A tan she-wolf sat with her newborn pups.
"Hello, Silverflash, daughter of Snowfear," she said politely.
"Is there a water source that is any closer than the Shenandoah?" I asked.
"Well, there's a pond a little east of here. Less than the Sun movements notice," she replied. I nodded quickly and raced out of the den and toward the pond. Its waters were algae-filled although it must be livable enough, for there was a small flock of Common Delingo's. I looked behind me and around the pond's edges. No Wolves.