"Have you by any chance been around my son and daughter recently?? I would like to know how they are." She pounced over a steam, careful not to let the deer drop.

Rika looked up at her and nodded. "Yeah, Cashews and played in the stream just yesterday but I haven't seen much of Zwei recently."

She sighed, "Zwei, he needs to learn....i had a dream he became alpha, but was immediately exiled for being a male alpha in our pack....I hope it will never have to come to that, he's smart like you."

Rika nodded. "Yeah. I feel bad for Zwei, the other female pups pick on him and call him a born traitor..."

"do they?? my poor son.."

"mother." A wolf with what seemed like a dark purple fur, even though it was black, walked up to her.

"Zwei, what are you doing out??"

He saw rika and nodded, "hello...mother i am to scout with you tonight, is that fine??"

"yes of course, you dont have to ask..."

Zwei saw the deer and his eyes sparkled, "whoa, rika you caught that?!"

Rika bounded over to Zwei and nodded happily. "You bet! My first kill! Your mom is an awesome hunting partner. So where have you been?" She asked looking at him curiously.

"ill be at the den, you two catch up." Victoria continued walking.

"Oh-umm...." he sighed and his ear went down, "i've been hiding..."

Rika took a step closer to him and nuzzled his shoulder sadly. "Why?" She asked, though she already knew the answer.

"you know why," he whimpered, "you hear them, i dont belong there..."

Rika shook her head firmly and wolf hugged him by wrapping her chin around his neck. "That's not true. You're the pack leader's son. You have just as much right to be here as anyone else."

"but im a guy, one of the only...lets go back, kay??" He slowly started to walk.

Rika looked at after him sadly then hurried to catch up and pressed her side against his comfortingly.

He looked at her smiling, "why dont you make fun of me, anyways??"

(I didn't know wolves could smile lol)

Rika looked at him like he just asked her why she didn't eat her own foot. "Because it's not right. You did nothing wrong and you don't deserve that kind of treatment. Plus" She said nudging him playfully, "you're a pretty cool guy."

(well, they do now)

"thanks, thats a first." He looked up to see the sun, "hunters will be out soon."

Rika nodded and began to run ahead. "Come on, I'll race you back!"

He sprinted past her and barked, "if you're not too slow!!"

Rika let out a howl and sped up, running neck in neck with him.

When Zwei reached the territory, he jumped in excitement, "i win, i win!!"

Rika laughed and tackled him down. "I can still beat you in a fight!"

Victoria walked up to them, "come on, no fighting today, this is a day to celebrate."

"Awwww." Rika pouted, getting off of Zwei. "I was just playing..." She said looking down.

"Mooooooom mom. mom. mooom. You should take a break for the day..you know, since its a day to celebrate"

She looked around, "eeeh i dont know..what am i supposed to do??"

"relax, roll in the dirt, be a pup again, that kind of stuff.."

Rika jumped excitedly. "Yeah! Come play with us!"

"fine, but first," she spread out her paws, "lemme take a nap, wake me up when the sun is high above" She tiredly walked into her den and fell asleep.