Moss Flower Pack

You're wandering through a thick coniferous forest following a babbling stream and sweet scent of prey. You round a bend of the bank and push through thick underbrush, only to stop in your tracks as another scent suddenly fills your nose- another wolf is close by. Your legs stiffen and your fur bristles, and your eyes scan the shadows cast by the ancient tree trunks that surround you. Suddenly a birch-colored she-wolf appears, seemingly materializing from the earth itself.

"Hello stranger," she says. Her green eyes are kind and her body language is relaxed, but she radiates the aura of a strong leader.

"Hello," you reply, looking at her cautiously but lowering your hackles. "I seem to have wandered farther into the forest than I intended."

"Of course," she smiles, "I often lose track of time in the forest myself. In fact, I was out exploring when the wind brought me your scent. My name is Tika, and I am the leader of the Moss Flower pack. We don't get many newcomers this deep in the forest, especially from other packs. Please, come share a meal with me and tell me about your travels."

Shaking the remaining tension from your body, you follow the she-wolf. After a brief lope through the forest, the thick trees give way to a hidden clearing dappled with sunlight and alive with the bright hues of wildflowers. You notice a small den at the edge of a clearing, and hear the whines of young pups.

Three wolves appear from the opposite side of the clearing, each carrying prey. The first two glance at you but pay little mind. The third catches your eye, drops his kill, and starts your way.

"Hello," he barks as he approaches. He is a large, smokey blue wolf with glowing eyes. He looks as if he stepped straight from the Dreamlands. He briefly touches noses with Tika and turns his attention back to you. "My name is Mercury, and I help Tika lead this pack."

"Hello," you reply before surveying the rest of the clearing. "Where is the rest of your pack?"

"We are a small pack," explains Tika. "It only feels like a few moons ago that I came to this forest looking to begin a pack of my own. Our numbers are growing - " she casts a warm glance towards the pup den and continues - "but we are still new to this land and growing our territory. Our scouts are out exploring now, but we have much to learn about the places outside of our home range."

You nod understandingly, having once been a lone wolf yourself.

"Please join us for a meal," says Mercury. "Food is plentiful here and we are a small pack. It should not go to waste."

The hunters pull a large deer carcass from a nearby rock crevice for the pack to share. The scouts return, and even the sitters emerge from the den to eat, despite the loud protests of the pups. You fellowship with the pack, recounting stories of your travels and sharing the lore of many wolves past.

The afternoon slips away like a soft breeze, and you remember that your pack is waiting. You can feel a palpable tug to return to them - a sensation that a leader feels more fiercely than other wolves. Noticing your distraction, Tika looks at you knowingly and approaches.

"The sun is setting and your pack will be missing you soon," she says. "I'm thankful that we crossed paths. Hopefully we will meet again some day."

"Yes," you reply with a smile. She turns back to her pack and you bound back into the forest in the direction of home. As the sun dips below the horizon and faint stars begin to twinkle overhead, you hear a chorus of howls from the depths of the forest you are leaving behind. It is the Moss Flower pack, howling in thanks for food, family, the forest, and fellowship.

As you reach the edge of the forest, you howl in return then continue on your way.