Glöd

Gnistor was Glöds absolute best friend in the world. They looked very similar and were often mistaken for eachother, and did everything together. Glöd felt a strong responsibility to keep him safe and happy, which she imagined he felt for her too. Their parents were kind. Sol, their father, was the chief of their family. Ever since they learned that there was a chief over him, an alpha, Gnistor had wanted to become the alpha, and Glöd of course supported him in his efforts. As Glöd grew up, their interests weren't the same anymore. Gnistor was reaching for the top, while Glöd was helping out with hunts and looking for a mate. She craved the community and belonging, while it seemed like her brother wanted to be a lone ruler.
But as Glöd studied and learned, it couldn't escape her that she had her own opinions of how an alpha should be, and she started wondering, why would her brother feel eligible to this position? Just cause their pappa is the chief?
It wasn't so surprising then, what happened on the day of the crowning of the new alpha. No one wanted to fight Gnistor for the position, it seemed to be an easy selection. Until a very young wolf, not yet adult, stepped up and challenged him. The wolf was from Skades family, who the rest of the pack had been distant from for a while, but recently rekindled with. The elders from Skade were humble and kind, not the type to make a pup face up against an older agressive wolf. Glöd scanned their faces and saw their shock and worry, but the pup ignored them.
"I'm Isa of Skade and I offer to take Alpha Askas place," the pup, Isa, bowed her head humbly but raised it with a confidence that lacked arrogance, but her actions seemed calculated. Glöd realized that Gnistor was the youngest of the adults present, and this could be why no one wanted to fight him. The pup is hoping he will step down for the same reason; not wanting to hurt a youngling. Glöd hoped the same, but she knew what Gnistor was like.
The pup was exceptionally skilled, but fighting an adult wolf as a pup was never going to work out. As soon as Glöd saw blood on the light coloured pups fur, she couldn't help herself. She flew up from her seat. The last thing she saw was her brothers teeth about to sink into the pups throat, before she tackled him from the side falling over him, grabbing his neck and holding him down. In a moment of confusion he tried to break free, Glöd could feel him thrashing around, but her eyes were locked on the pup. The pup panted, observing Glöds gaze, then nodding her head and limping her way backwards to her family.
That was how Glöd became the alpha. She announced her brother as her beta, but knew he would be less than cooperative after she took his place.
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Glöd was caught in a snowstorm. It wasn't a big deal, she was equipped to handle it. The problem was, she could almost hear something. It could be anything, she told herself, as the wind howled. But her ears kept tugging towards the sound and it was innthe wrong direction. Something compelled her to turn around.
With only the weak sound as her guide, she pressed on, snow and wind whipping at her face. The sound started taking form and soon she saw a figure in the snow and felt the scent of death. Staring at the dead wolfs open eyes, Glöd forgot about the pathetic howls for a moment. What looked like a lump of snow started moving towards her, seeking warmth. The puppy whined and whined, even as Glöd found a cave where they were shielded from the wind, the pup kept whining.
"Hush, hush little one, it's okay," Glöd tried, "shh, shh"
She wrapped her body around the puppy, luckily it wasn't young enough to seek milk at Glöds empty teets. Glöd had only had one heat yet in her life, and chosen not to have pups this time. The pup snuggled up against Glöds warm stomach, almost falling asleep but still whining. Glöd felt sad for the puppy who lost her mother, she couldn't imagine growing up without hers, and now this pup was all alone in the world. Glöd kept hushing until the sounds turned into a low hum, a tune, and she started singing softly.

Who has lit the star, that's mirrored in your eye?
Who removed the darkness from hunters' gaze on your first night?
Who has braided the crown of straw on your forehead?
Why do you grip so hard your mothers fur, my dear treasure?

Are you one of a thousand pups?
Is it you they're waiting for?
You, my little one, an angel-given name.

Are you the worlds hidden treasure,
That I'm protecting this cold night?
Is it the sky itself that I'm lulling to sleep?