"Go outside? Mumma says the ground not muddy anymore, and that the section near us is ready for to fro- fror... forage." Little Ev practically runs in circles, basket in hand, waiting for his grandfather to join him. Everett stands up, slowly making his way over, exaggeration his movements. "Grandpawww!" The pup giggles exasperatedly. "If you go any slower the cold season will come again."

Everett laughed, taking his basket and opening the door for Ev'ring. Together they walked down into the field and along the forest edge. Ev'ring was bouncing on his feet his eyes taking in everything, despite having seen this site time and time again. There was always something new to look at whether it was a plant finally flowering, a new animal burrow, or something being moved.

His feet barely left any marks as he and all other pups were taught to move in such a way that there was minimal traces left. Everett was even better than Ev'ring and at once point, the pup lagged behind to see how he was doing it. "Teach me how to move like that?"

"It comes with many moon cycles of practice, and it doesn't hurt to have a wolf too. Once you shift your wolf can help you as you practice." Everett paused, sensing mild disappointment. "However, how about we go foraging. I know your parents take you, so why don't you show me the best places."

"Okay! My teacher Tria has been showing us all the good plants for the past twelve moon cycles." Little Ev starts sweeping the area, expertly recalling his past findings.

Everett holds up a stem with purple flowers. The leaves that adorn it are with tooth-like edged but rounded. "What is this?"

Ev'ring examined it. Bring it up to his nose to sniff, "The smell. I know, but I don't know what plant."

"It's called Jekei Ivre. They probably don't show you it until you're older because it can be poisonous if eaten in large quantities." Twirling the stem in one hand, he sets in it his basket. All the plants would be taken back to the house, and then Ansley and Enze would decide what to bring to the pack house.

Little Ev grabs a handful of yellow flowers, ignoring the milky sap that leaks out of the end. "I got Aziola Penx." Throwing the common flower in his basket he heads to a different area. "Oh, Mumma will like this Ol TryllaI. She was running out." Ev'ring mutters, plucking the small white-flowered plant from the base.

"Come here Ev'ring." Everett beckons the pup over, kneeling down to expose a purple-flowered plant. "Do you know what that is?"

"Mhm." Little Ev points to the small, dark berries. "Raeliya. Tria says never to touch it and mumma says never to take anything that grows within a foot of it. 'Cause it is danger- dangerous."

"Yes, very good Ev'ring."

"You know..." Little Ev gathers a handful of the three-leaved plant—trefola—to add to his collection. "Reminds me of Red... Redaliya."

"It does. It is very close. Did I ever tell you Redaliya wasn't her real name? Well, it was about as real as a name could be, for no one else called her anything different." Everett smiles, helping Ev'ring harvest the small green plant, leaving enough so it would grow back lush.

"Red's not her name?" Little Ev shifted his eyes from side to side as if it would help him understand.

"Opalescence Alkingsly. I found out when her sister wrote to me." One letter, the only contact he had had from any direct relatives of Red.

"Tell me about her family." Little Ev doesn't stray far, eager to learn more about this she-wolf who he's been hearing about for the past few moonrises. Squeezing between two bushes he finds red berries, the small seeds littering the outside. "Fio Dekna! Yummy, sweet berries."

Pausing, Everett's eyes flicker. Breaking some stems, he places them to add to the half-full basket. Red didn't shelter him, but she didn't have time to raise a child, and she went from being alone to caring for a pup in a matter of moments. He had raised three; his eldest Evah, then Enze, and lastly Eli. His youngest, Eli, had died forty moon cycles ago. Red and Eli would be walking with the moon, maybe Eli would even meet Red, whom he had grown up hearing about.

"I don't know too much about Red's family. I never met them, however, her sister was called Nya'dein and her brother Seliek. Her parents, I do not know their names, but they, from how Red and Nya'dein depicted them were not very nice." The letter Nya'dein had sent was short, yet packed with information. It lay safe with the last letter from his guardian. "We are very lucky that we live in the major and minor healing packs with a good Alpha and a good High Healer. But Red wasn't so lucky as the pack she was born into was very set in their ways. Just like many still are."

***

I was just a little away from the scent wall that makes the territory borders. I had stopped to eat hare, though truth be told it was getting old. Hunting for something bigger would be a waste and unnecessary and birds were a pain to stalk as I was never good at jumping for them as they took to the air.

Chewing on the meat, it is only flavour with trefola. I had long since used up the herbs I took from when I left here, and most of what I forged was easier to eat raw as well as being a pain to carry.

Heading around the territory I find their water source. The snow on the ground is thinner than before, melting slowly with the heat of the sun as the warmer seasons start to approach. My muddied feet become wet, as my heat melts the snow.

Testing the waters, it is icy cold. There is a lot more vegetation and I ring out the hem of my dress until the water coming out becomes clearer. Taking my cloak, I fasten it around my shoulders, having taken it off in order to travel by tree.

I heard something coming before I smell it, the scent of everything in the water taking up the main presence in my mind.

Standing up straight, I watch as ten shifters come into sight; half are in their wolf form. They are travelling in what seems to be a big circle, alternating between those in fur and those in skin. In the center of the circle are medium-sized creatures, with big curved horns. I remember seeing them pass by my old pack to trade, their herds of sheep. Some packs keep sheep, but there are these nomadic packs that herd sheep as a means of trade.

"S'vela," one of the males calls out.

"S'vela kanae," I respond, my eyes focused on the sheep as they trot closer.

"Are you of the Canee pack?" The male's dark skin is rich, halting the herd, and helping the others bring them to a standstill. Some of the animals put their heads down to nibble at whatever bits of greens are sticking through or reaching their heads over to the bushes.

"No, I am about to go in to visit. I suppose you are here to trade?" A familiar voice hisses, it is rude to ask what others are doing here, especially if you have no ranking. Don't be insolent, Opalescence, remember your place. I don't know why everyone else seems to get it, but you just don't. My mind starts to work again as my attention is no longer on the creatures but the shifters. There is only one female in skin, but she doesn't seem harmed.

Pushing through the fog that separates Lily and me, I find she doesn't find them much of a threat either. No aura of danger leaks from them, and I cannot smell anything off. Easing away from my wolf, I can feel my mindlink with Everett. It too is in a haze; my wolf is growing weaker.

"Yes, we have some things to do here. The herd has to keep moving with the cold but when the warm seasons come we tend to hang around longer."

Settling down by the riverbank, I allow my gaze to make regular sweeps of the area, no longer too worried. It's not like one of them could kill me. "How do you keep the sheep safe? I'm sure you have had your fair share of Solus run-ins and not all are pleasant. Along with the fact these animals don't seem to be too fast."

"You'd be surprised at home quick they can run. However, it is a task. We don't go too far from these areas and we generally send out some scouts before we move in the herd." The one shifted female smiles, her dress only going down to just below her knees, where I can then see more fabric; pants being worn underneath.

"Did you need something?" I say, suddenly realizing that they must be here and not inside the pack for a reason.

"I sent my brother to let the Alpha know we are here. It's better to announce our presence by sending one member of the group then all of us along with the sheep. Though we can't stay for more than a few moonrises, we want to head to the Axinla pack after," the male from before answered.

"Wise." You know. It is kind of strange how so many are born into our roles. We are born into a wooden box that we are supposed to be happy with. An alpha leads a pack, a healer has to mend others, an omega will always be at the bottom, and luae lupaes will always be moon born. From the moment the visiting healer came to check on all newly shifted, his eyes caught mine. One by one my fellow recently shifter pack members were examined, and then it was my turn. He saw me for what I was and offered to teach me more; I was not allowed. With a bloodline running through me my parents wanted to shape me, keep me in a box to eventually give to a worthy mate. If paired right, my bloodline would be strong.

I didn't understand what the healer told me then. No, the weight of what I was- am never sunk in until the visions grew in pain. Before they had been pricks, shocks of memories that forced their way in. With my wolf there, the door was open. It hurt, and I would scream, then collapse. Then my parents would come. They would come and tell me to stop my overactive imagination, to stop faking it, and to deal with whatever it was.

They couldn't understand. They didn't want to understand. They wanted me to be like Nya'dein. My wonderful, dreadful, lovely, horrid, perfectly moulded sister. She sat in her box without touching the sides, while I banged at my walls and eventually light them aflame.

"Female." Starting, I tilt my head to the side in answer. "If you will help my sister watch over the herd, we will bring back some kill for you as well."

He didn't see me as a threat. Perhaps he wants me to join his nomadic group at a later point or perhaps he genuinely wants sometimes to help watch the herd. No matter it would be a useful deal. "I would like some of the kills bones."

"Fine. Do not try anything with the herd or we will know." He waves his hand and the five in fur and three in skin follow. The female is quiet as she mingles with the sheep, patting them occasionally.

Calling on Lily it takes a moment to come into effect. She helps me track the sheep without constantly looking at them. Going up to a tree, I duck beneath the branches with long needle-like leaves. Taking out one of the small glass vials from my bag I collect the sticky, amber sap. Once treated properly it would be a good adhesive to stick things together as well as a salve that could help with minor injuries.

Sitting around a small fire, the ones in fur eat it raw while the rest of us cook it to our liking. I lightly season it with and some plants I had dug up and dried, when I was in an area where the cold season was less and the warm season had approached quicker. Stuffing it, I put it on a stick and held it into the flames. As soon as it started to become a darker colour I pulled it away. Slowly chewing it, the heat is welcomed and I savour the flavour of a meat other them hare.

A different male from before comes up, and my eyes flash unexpectedly. Blinking slowly, Lily fades back. He hands me five bones, running my fingers over them they are red with meat clinging to it.

Placing them in the water, one by one I clean them thoroughly. They are a fairly good size, good enough for what I need them for. Slipping them into my pack, I stow them away for a later time, exchanging it for the fold-up knife in my pocket. With so much use the knife has gotten a bit blunt and worn, however, I won't need it much longer. Picking up a branch, I press the knife against it, pushing away so the wood chips will land on the ground. The bark doesn't have much resistance and I keep peeling until I hit the layer where water hasn't soaked it. Working around it, doing my best to turn the outside smooth and round. Running my fingers along it, I start to cut it into disks. My blade isn't at all right, but I push for it anyways.

Using one of the river stones, I run my knife along it as I've seen others do to sharpen it; it doesn't do too much, but enough to get the job done. I'd have to replace it after this.

Pressing the tip into the disks, I start to carve. The first few are dreadful, and I throw them into the fire. I progressively get better and the plants start to take shape. Engraving these small pieces is a task, however, I know Everett will enjoy them.

I only stop when I have fifteen new pairs, each with a new design and plant that I've seen in this area.

Sometimes. Sometimes I don't fear death. I don't fear my end, because I've had so long to ponder it. But I do wonder if I'll be remembered. Will my name be erased from the book, will future generations never know of me of what I did. Will I become a ghost of the past, one that is forgotten in time, a stain on history.

I don't want to be forgotten, but perhaps it is better. If I am remembered by my old pack it won't be in a pleasant way... but they aren't going to survive. I just know. A feeling, deeming rooted within tells me this. The Glaciek will be no more.

I have to go back. Facing my death is the price I will pay. A life for a life, a balance that I disturbed.

Standing up, I pause as I realize it is already dark. All the wood disks are in my apron pocket, I'd have to get some cloth to create a bag with, however that could wait until morning. Remembering the ten other shifters, I decide to take to the trees. Hauling myself up is harder in the dark, and at first, I can't figure why. Lily. She normally does these things automatically, as we work as a team. However, this big cavern and layer of mist spitting us apart is stopping the synchronization.

My vision blurs before everything gets sharper and I can see well enough to get into the trees. Going a few trees over, I settle on a large branch, high enough that one couldn't simply jump up. The green needles provide some coverage if anyone were to look at where I am.

Leaning against the trunk, I close my eyes. Slowly I call out to Lily again, bringing her back to me. It's so familiar, it is safe. My awareness spreads. I can hear the animals below, some are laying down and others are still nibbling on greenery. shifters have the fire going, I can hear the light crackles as some more wood is added. They must be mindlinking in order to talk with those in their fur. They sent someone to talk to the Alpha about arriving, they must be staying here so the pack has time to set up an area for the herd.

As Lily's presence grows, I am more conscious of Everett's link. Just one nudge and it would be open; tomorrow. I would tell him I am here in the morning, let the pup rest for the night. If he or Crylle caught wind of me, I'm fairly sure not much would dissuade him from dragging me back with him.

Refocusing, I center myself; Lily and I. The space in my mind's eye comes up, the place in my mind where my wolf resides. The field is no longer as bright and lush as I remember. Instead, it all seems to have taken on a tinge of grey. Moving toward where I know Lily will be. A misty fog rolls in, it feels like when I try and reach lily and I really have to focus on my goal. I want to reach her, I have to reach her, and I will.

Continuing, one step after another I reach her. Sitting on my knees I put my arms around her neck. She rests of snout on my shoulder; we are one here.

~~~

If you have any questions or comments in general, please feel free to leave them down below! I'd be happy to answer and I love to hear what you guys think about whats going on in the chapters :)