The tiny red-furred pup blinked his amber eyes up at his mother in between her rough licks. He didn't know why she had to work so hard to clean him, he had only rolled in some muddy grass on the riverbank to cool off and now she would just be removing his protective coating. After a few more licks the pup scrambled away a few paces and scowled back at Wynandir who simply cocked an eyebrow at him. She beckoned him back over with a wave of her paw and the pup knew it would be futile to try and escape now. As he made his way back over to sit at her paws she began telling him a story which was her way of keeping him still.
"Did you know that your grandmother helped to start this pack?"
"She did?"
"It's true. She was your father's mum, she was one of the original three wolves that Fenn and her old beta recruited, and she was the lead hunter for years. She taught your old uncle Foulkes who's gone now how to be the lead hunter when she retired. Roshan named you for her, you know."
The pup's glances up at his mother in between licks were now filled with awe as he listened to Wynandir's stories about his grandmother and her escapades. Though it took the better part of the morning to clean the mud from Celrek's fur it was now much easier and more fun.
—
[Starting 397]
