Squirrel

Squirrel had disappeared for a long but vague amount of time, only returning at the end of November, disoriented and seemingly remembering nothing. For weeks after, when talking to anyone she would lapse into a strange alien language, before realizing herself and switching to the common tongue.
At night, she paced about restlessly, muttering something about wisps and yellow orbs, and sometimes having seizures. Her apprentice, Hiccup, who was only just an adolescent at the time, was worried for his mentor and reported her odd behaviour to the alpha, Dawnblaze. The alpha spoke to Squirrel privately in her den, and after a while Squirrel made a full recovery, leaving her apprentice and all wolves in the pack relieved.

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Hiccup woke up late in the morning. Shafts of sunlight sliced through the den and into his eyes. He wondered why his mentor Squirrel hadn't woken him up at the crack of dawn like she always did. She's probably tired. I'll wake her up now. Hiccup got up and nudged the sleeping form of Squirrel, waiting impatiently for her to wake up. He tried again a few more times, fear and dread starting to bubble in the back of his throat. Squirrel was quite old... After a few more seconds Hiccup streaked out, brushing the lichen hanging from the den top out of the way. He stopped in front of Dawnblaze's den. The alpha's den. "D-Dawnblaze?" Hiccup's voice came out squeaky with fear for his mentor. The familiar orange she-wolf stepped out gracefully, her eyes lighting with curiosity. "Yes?"
"I-it's Squirrel."
Dawnblaze gave him a confused look, but then her eyes widened with understanding. She took a small step back, her expression twisting into shock and grief. "I'm sorry, Hiccup," She murmured, leaning toward him and resting her muzzle on top of the adolescent's head in consolation before straightening. "There is nothing to be done but honour her. Come, Hiccup. Let us honour Squirrel."

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"Tonight we honour a wolf who left us after doing her part on this Earth." The alpha's voice rang clear and strong from the Great Rock she used to address the pack.

I'm not ready yet.
Hiccup bowed his head, blinking away tears.
I can't do this.

"Squirrel was a brave, dutiful wolf, not afraid to risk her life to treat others. She was loved by many wolves, and was one of the very first pillars of our Pack. In our darkest moments, she never lost hope, and kept pushing onward. Squirrel, tonight, you go free. Take our blessings with you, and shine as brightly as you did in life as you ascend to the stars."

Dawnblaze dipped her head in respect as a wolf gently set down Squirrel's limp body on the soft sand. Then the alpha raised her head, letting out a long, low, mournful howl, which was quickly echoed by all the pack, even the pups. Hiccup lifted his head, joining in the howl. After two moments of howling, Dawnblaze leaped down from the Great Rock, gently picking up Squirrel's body by the scruff of the former Herbalist's neck and leading a procession outside the camp. She stopped at a large semi-circle of bushes, then pushed into it and dug a hole, gently dropping Squirrel into it and covering it again with earth. Dawnblaze looked at Hiccup expectantly, and he stepped forward, sprinkling some lavender seeds and flowers on the mound. "Lavender," He murmured to the others. "For devotion, serenity, and grace."

The procession was led back in silence, giving Hiccup a few minutes to collect his thoughts. When they finally reached the camp, he trotted straight to the Herbalist's den, settling down and staring at the store of lavender. Now the flowers made him tear up; he heard the sound of gentle, light footsteps, and looked up dully, expecting to see his mother Sunspots, but what he saw surprised him the most, making him scramble to his paws in shock. Squirrel's lithe dark ginger-furred frame shimmered with stars as she moved, her gentle smile the same as ever. She looked the same as she did in life, apart from the stars in her fur and the gentle white glow she radiated. "Squirrel...?" Hiccup's voice wavered at the sight of his former mentor.

"Be strong, my apprentice," She whispered, before padding away, rapidly fading. "Wait! Squirrel, come back!"
Hiccup tried rushing after her, but to no avail. She disappeared completely. With a heavy and confused heart, he padded back into the den, settling down on his moss nest. "I will be strong," He murmured determinedly. "I will be the next Herbalist."
He rested his head on his paws, intent on getting some sleep. The last thing he saw before he dozed off was a familiar ginger-furred she-wolf, smiling encouragingly at her apprentice, her scent wreathed with lavender and rosemary.
Lavender and rosemary, for devotion and new beginnings.

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Best Quotes:

"No, no, no. That's the other idiot. You're the primary one."
-Younger Squirrel to Aztec when she was annoyed with him and another wolf

"Herbs are so fragile, so delicate. And yet they can save lives of almost every wolf."
-Squirrel to Hiccup during his herbalist training

"You know, if you put your mind to it, you can achieve it."
-Squirrel to Firefly when she was pupsitting for the first time

"Do you know what you just did, you moron? No? Didn't think so."
-Younger Squirrel to Aztec the one time he messed up all her herbs

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Passing Plant:
Lavender
For devotion, serenity, and grace