Named for her goldenrod fur and vivid yellow eyes, Sunflower was a founding wolf of the Lingering Howl, and was chosen to be the Herbalist. While not chosen by the paws of her pack-mates, she was chosen by the stars, in a dream shared by her and Whippoorwill.
She had a gift for medicine, and caught on well to the teachings of the grizzly known as The Herbalist. Her gift, in combination with her confidence, led her to be very arrogant, even more so as she grew older. She never thought that she would let herself fall prey to any sort of obstacle.
When she gave birth to her and Whippoorwill's pups, the herbalist had felt a great joy, even as she tried to hide it. The pups had been a formality, a way of allowing her and the lead wolf's legacy to pass on into a future generation. After all, she hadn't found a mate, and had gone to Whippoorwill herself to arrange such a thing. When the dream came... the dream where all four of those pups were walking away, into shadows, into other caves....
She told the lead, and the pups were sent away once they reached adolescence. No one understood why she had always been so removed, had been so eager to have Tortoise have them as soon as they were weaned. Sunflower never spoke a word about the dream to anyone, except for Whippoorwill, who she made promise to keep it a secret.
Time passed... She grew older...
She met a light, warm wolf while foraging one day. His fur marked beautifully, like the warmth a flame might bring. He wasn't overly bright in color though, in fact, she had been surprised when he had approached. One meeting turned into two, then three, than more than she could count on her paws. Sunflower found herself feeling that warmth not only on the outside, but the inside too. When she found out she was carrying pups, the wolf had been so excited she hadn't seen the look that Flame gave her.
She would wait for him only twice. He never came back. She pretended not to smell his scent when Sandbar, a younger pack-mate, passed by.
When she had her pups this time, she tried to keep her distance. She knew another dream was coming. She was expecting the loss. What she wasn't expecting... was for her son, Whitetail, to be wreathed in flowers, sunflowers, while The Herbalist guided his paws. Her joy was so large, she felt no pain when the other three pups were sent away.
As she turned seven, she passed on the torch to Whitetail, retiring to Elders' Cave. She quickly made friends with Moss, and, when Moss moved due to her own mate-problems... Sunflower moved too.
Surrounded by pups in her new place in the pack, the pale yellow wolf was able to watch over pups and pack alike. Moss came to visit often, her son Whitetail often a step or two behind to talk about his lessons with Herbert.
On the night of January 24th, 2021, after the pups had all fallen asleep during her favorite story, Sunflower needed a walk. She stopped by the Sleeping Den to check on Moss's health one last time, to lovingly whisper in her son's ear.
"Do great things.... I'll be there when you need me."
When Whippoorwill found her, curled up next Fox's final resting place, he gathered the pack for one last howl for the first herbalist that the pack came to love.
