Word Count → 521

The rhythm of their paws became a part of the day as the drummers raced over the landscape. They had bid farewell to their new friends in Ichika no Ho-en and set out west, eagerly headed back to the land they had claimed... the land that was now New Dawn's claim. Silvery fur rippled down the young wolfess's back as she raced next to the shadowy form of her mate, her pink tongue lolled out of her mouth with heavy pants. She was like a steam engine, each breath leaving a puff in its wake in the chilly afternoon air. No matter how fast nor how long they kept up this chase – their final chase whose trophy was their dream – the girl did not tire. Her golden eyes glanced to see the determination in her mate's olive green orbs, and she knew he felt the same. They no longer lived on a strength that was just their own anymore. Now the two wolves were fed by the innate power of Pack.

Her eyes only brightened more when the lands began to smell of their musk and she knew that they had crossed over their borders... their borders! Everyone would be waiting for their return; or if they were not already there, then they would be racing towards New Dawn as quickly as the night and day couple themselves did. Zalen's howl rang out then and Titania barely had to even take a breath before she let her own soft tones sing out to compliment his. They no longer howled for the moon to abate their loneliness, they were pack wolves once more!

Mismatched paws bounced dexterously over the changing terrain of New Dawn. Not even the brief moment when the two had to cross the old Highway 104 that was one of the last human remains in these lands did she slow. Instead, she soared over the crumbling concrete as though it was not a scar upon their lands, but just another part of their domain. They breached the forest, and soon she could see the same den before them that she and Zalen had spent their first night in.

She danced to a stop, skipping to slow all four paws at the same speed. Her tail lashed high in the air with the exhilaration of the moment. She walked a small circle around Zalen as if releasing the last of her energy, and then her paws became still at his side. She nuzzled her mate tenderly, licked his cheek, and returned, “I love you.”

Her eyes turned to peer into the cave. Had everyone made it? Were they all here now? Well if not, certainly they would come. She knew of them all, though only the seed had been sewn thus far. Soon the intricate roots would take hold, to sprout a deep pack bond between them all.

“Almost an entire moon's turn in the making, but we did it,” she said to Zalen, every word stitched with pride. Her eyes turned to see the first of her pack to emerge. “We all did it.”

Cliff notes for this post: Titania greets everyone and then is like "go us" and then howls with Zalen.

Word Count → 1137

The Alpas arrived and wolves emerged from the land all around them, appearing nearly one atop another, all excited to meet their new family. Titania's golden eyes scanned to each in turn as they appeared, standing tall with pride at the hardy lot before her. The first of all was a snowy wolfess who introduced herself as Deuce. There was much about the wolfess that made Titania like her right away. She was the same color as her own mother, she appeared to have the wisdom of her seasons, she had clearly been through much – as evident by the marks on her face and her tattered ear. Yet aside from these shallow assumptions, there was a depth to the woman that Titania could feel in her presence, so it did not surprise her when she also added that she was Soran's mate. Titania smiled to her, her mouth closed during this important time. Posturing was paramount right now, and all the pack would know that their body language was true in this moment, so she would not risk sending the wrong signal by baring her teeth at Deuce, not even to smile.

The woman nudged her pack toward them as if to show what she had brought with her, but the pack was only a symbol of the good Deuce could really do. Titania's tail twitched with acceptance as she nosed the pouch when Zalen's snout was clear, smelling the deep herbal scents. Then she moved to Deuce, touching her nose to Deuce's first and then greeting her with more wolfish affections. The woman smelled of Crimson Dreams, of her herbal remedies, and of Soran. “Well met, Deuce. I am your pack sister, Titania.” She left out the whole 'the Alphess' bit, they would all know the moment they looked at her. She probably already knew her name, too, but did not want to let anyone be mistaken. “My heart howls for you. Thank you for bringing such a skill to our family.” She nuzzled Deuce once more and then turned to greet the others.

A gray wolf with a series of deep scars on his face stepped forward next. She knew him not, but something seemed untainted about him, though she could not place it. She didn't know Augustus yet nor could she scent a wolf from a Luperci; she didn't know what her sixth sense was trying to tell her. She had never met a non-Luperci before. Either way, it was a thought to be realized another time, for here they all stood as wolves. She stepped over to him, gave him her customary nose bump, and nuzzled him gently as she memorized his scent. The Alphess accepted this one, too. “Augustus, welcome into my heart.”

Another came then, one with a mottled coat, who she would later come to find was also not a shifter. He was seemingly lost beneath all the introductions, and for now he was content to prostrate himself. When the small sound came from him Titania's ear tilted toward him, and then her attention became his. She trotted over to him, wagging her acceptance. Her nose prodded at his fur and her tongue lashed out one single time to lick his ear. She would have his name, and made to ask, but Mordecai had come and his introduction stole her attention. She moved to the dark wolf and bestowed upon him a greeting not unlike that which she gave to the rest of the pack and said, “New Dawn welcomes you, and will give you all you shall ever need in return. Welcome, Mordecai.”

Another dark wolf was now on the scene, first prancing in with pride and authority as she moved past the core of New Dawn. Titania's eyes moved to her but were without malice, for she knew this display was not a challenge to her station. She gave her tight smile again. “Soran,” she said the name smoothly, as though some relief had washed over her. But it was not that she had been anxious before, only that she was already starting to view the good natured wolfess as a motherly figure. She was happy to see her here, though there had been no doubt in her mind that she would arrive. When she met with Soran her tail whipped the air and she drew her flank down hers, respectfully and lovingly. Titania knew that she and her pack would benefit from Soran's guidance, just as Zalen already had. “It is my pleasure to see you again, sister.”

And last but not least, another cloudy one hurried to them with apologies for his tardiness. Yet they had only just gathered and Titania did not see offense from the wolf. “Shandom,” she barked the name, but from mirth above anger. “Welcome to the light.” This was another wolf she knew already, having met Shandom at the perimeter of New Dawn before the pack's inception. They shared many of the same desires in life, and Titania knew Shandom's presence here now was the Moon's doing. He, too, would bring experience to their pack, she thought as she nudged his scarred muzzle. The thought soon had her eyes tracing through the pack. There were many signs of strife here, displayed with physical scars and with the stories that had gone untold for now. They were no ragtag group of hopeful misfits, they were a pack.

As she looked at them her eyes caught sight of the multicolored wolf, and again she moved to Thoirni. She would not have anyone left out of this momentous occasion. “And you? Let your pack know their brother's name so we may welcome you.” She urged Thoirni. The pack mulled around a moment after he spoke his name, and then Zalen commanded the mound and so commanded their attention. Titania slipped up to his side and lowered her haunches, sitting with rapt attention while he spoke.

She nodded along, and even yipped softly (almost like the sound a wolf made when caught in a dream) a time or two to emphasize her support for his words. She let him speak, though, not stealing the pack's attention from their Alpha. She had every right to, if she wanted to, but the words Zalen spoke were from his heart, and from her heart, and there was not a syllable she could have added to improve upon his speech.

Drawing back to her paws as Zalen's words came to a close, she nuzzled both he and Soran in turn, the affections of an infant but hearty leadership. “Loyalty above all! Family before all!” She echoed Zalen's mighty words just before his howl blessed the lands, and then tossed her own countenance skyward to join in the wolfsong.