template by Punki of Adoxography

It was an exhausted Snapdragon that rose this particular morning, sneezing at a piece of moss that had flopped onto her nose during what had been a very restless night's sleep. Last night's ceremony and subsequent feast on the newly-fed prey of the first days of spring had made for an atmosphere that was hard to ignore. Besides, as one being congratulated on this first step towards a new level of Guardianship, it was only right for her to partake!

The night afterwards hadn't been much better. She had tossed and turned in that dark den much to the annoyance of some of the older Guardians in the center. Despite their grumblings and glares in the dim light from their combined bubble of warmth that she wouldn't feel on the edges of the area, she'd continued to burrow to and fro in attempts to chase the tail of sleep. It'd been like hunting rabbits, however; darting to and fro and never getting closer. But could she really help it? She was excited, after all. 

Her first Greenhorn. She'd been entrusted with the training of one of the Pack's young ones, and she could still feel the warmth of satisfaction burning in her chest just as she had when their names were announced. But the dark had brought on a new thing alongside her pride - anxiousness. Could she do this? Was she able to pass on her skills? She was hardly the most qualified; barely a Guardian herself, some would mutter. But Vervain had been given one and they were the same age! So if she could do it, couldn't Snapdragon? 

...Even if she had to ignore the small voice in the back of her head telling her that the other she-wolf was much more qualified what with her skills and her mannerisms and how she held herself an-

Not that it mattered. It was no use dwelling on the what-ifs and could've beens. The deed was done, and the morning of their first steps together down a new trail had dawned. 

Making her way to the entrance, weaving in and out of mossy nests and leaving behind a mess of her own as the only visual representation of how her night had actually gone, the shel-wolf impatiently paced the ground once outside for just a few heartbeats. Just long enough to steady her breathing and settle her nerves, forcing herself to recall her own Greenhorn days as she tried to plan for what they could encounter in their territory. The other Kingdoms were threats, to be sure. A constant storm on the horizon, kept back only by scent lines that Laws alone kept them from stepping across to wage war directly. Blaze, the one in her care, was young. It wouldn't do to take him along the lines and risk running into a patrol of the other Kingdoms. Still, he needed to know the borders, and wasn't that important? More important than prey though?

Oh, she should've asked Vervain what she'd done. She was sure the she-wolf had told her but in her nervous state she'd forgotten. Too late now. Snapdragon was on her own for this one.

Stars above help me guide him well! Forcing her fur to lay flat along her ruff and neck, the dark-furred Guardian turned back towards the entrance of the den and sat, waiting for the young male to appear as she tried to focus her energy on the excitement that had pounded through her blood only hours ago. Fixing a slight smile on her muzzle, she glanced back at the den once more, shuffling her paws impatiently. Hopefully he wouldn't sleep too much of the sun away, or she'd have to come in after him. What a first day that would be. 

Though perhaps that would give her an edge. Give her the reputation that she was not a Guardian to be crossed. Only a moment after the thought surfaced she shook her head with a snort, laughing at herself. No, that wouldn't do. He didn't need that, and neither did she. They'd be just fine together without him fearing her disapproving snarls every time he made a move. 

They could make this work. They would make this work.