Evening Shade

March 12 2021: As the child of the Zephyrus Pack founders, Shade is given extra care and attention by the pack members. Fish and Chips did not ask for this special attention, but it is clear they appreciate it. The pair have had a litter of pups before, all the way in the beginning of the pack in order to boost its numbers, but neither of them talk about what happened to the litter. All of the original pack members who were around for that litter are long dead, leaving it an open mystery. Nobody dare discuss it aloud.

Shade has yet to develop an independent personality, still too small to even walk or talk. While the extra care is helpful, Chips warns not to continue this for too long or else the pup may grow up spoiled.

April 10 2021: As Shade grew up, they adopted nonbinary pronouns and could often be seen following their mother around. It was clear Shade had an interest in herbs, and Chips was all too happy to teach them. Whenever their father returned injured Shade dragged him to the herb storage to heal him. It was obvious that Shade would become the next herbalist.

At night, Shade would curl up next to their parents and listen to their stories. They would tell Shade about the founding of the pack, the first members who had joined and long since passed away, the trials and triumphs. Sometimes Shade even got stories about their old pack, but those were rare. Their parents clearly didn't want to talk about it, Fish moreso than Chips.

Shade's mother died when they were close to adulthood. Soon after, their father died as well, and suddenly Shade had to stiffly tell Morning Gaze they were heading out instead of playfully arguing with their father. Things are tense between them, with Shade still grieving their parents and in denial. Morning Gaze doesn't know how to act around them.

May 6 2021: It's been almost two years since Shade's parents passed away. As the months went by Shade gradually became more accepting of their new pack leader. Eventually, they even began talking to Morning Gaze outside of their duty. They're not quite friends but Shade has personally accepted Gaze to be the leader.

Today they finally approached Gaze about receiving a prefix. It was a new practice Morning Gaze had instituted; those in important positions or those those considerable skill could earn themselves a prefix. Shade had feared this would create a hierarchy and division in their pack mates, but the few who do have prefixes do not flaunt them arrogantly. Morning Gaze had persistently asked them to take a prefix and Shade has refused for months.

Finally, they accepted. They still like to be called Shade, but Evening Shade has a nice ring to it.

-used 4 marking app