Erhyi

Nymẹ ruled her second litter with an iron first, and Erhyi (pronounced: air-yee) felt the pressure keenly. She watched her littermates struggle to win Nymẹ's favor; she watched them wither under her judgment. One day she pounced too hard on a littermate. Her mother snapped at her and swiped at her with barely sheathed claws, and that night, Erhyi ran away.

First she roamed around the swamp, bumping into hunting parties and scavenging for food. Next it was to the Pass, where Ilia didn't mind Erhyi's company as long as she didn't mess up the neatly stored herbs. And then it was to the steppe, where she met Yaya, who stubbornly asked to join every hunt even though she was constantly denied, and Zhiyuan, who was small but could win a race against a hare. Erhyi quickly formed a tight group with them, and for the first time she felt stable. The three of them gathered every night to listen in rapt fascination to the elders' tales of great hunts.
Their calm didn't last forever, though. The hunters of the steppe gathered rumors from all the wolves that passed by, and one day, they turned on Yaya. She's the reason her littermates all left for the beyondlands, they murmured. She's too ambitious for the pack.
Without a second thought, Erhyi defended her friend. She chastised the hunters even though they were older, and she challenged them to fight until Zhiyuan stopped her. You've already made your point clear. You may never change their minds, but they will respect you and Yaya now.

Zhiyuan led the three of them to the distant prairie, where the hunters laughed away the rumor and let them join hunts. Among the plains, they spoke openly. Erhyi was treated as an equal, with respect. And as Erhyi grew to speak her mind, she reflected — maybe she didn't need her mother to accept her. She only needed Nymẹ to respect her.

So one day when Nymẹ came to rest in the prairie, Erhyi challenged her for the rule.


Born in the first rays of a winter morning to Nymẹ with 1076 stats (365-155-188-153-215)
Took over the rule at 10 months with 1152 stats (405-155-197-153-242), transitioning from impulsive to combative
Held vigil for reaching Level 20 at 1 year 4 months with 1686 stats (634-198-260-199-395)

Guarana munched: 13