Sparrow Flight Over Water

Mate of Patch

Mother of Robin, Lavender, Shade, Chomp, Sunshine, Pigeon, Branch, Splash, Dapple and Fog

Former Scout, Member of Strike Team

***

Sparrow nibbled at the grouse Root had brought her, her mind lost in thought. Her naming was today, but she wasn't sure what was to come of it. Smoke had already been named heir, but Shadow seemed to dote on her more and more in the days before. Maybe her mother was just worried for her. She was still greatly affected by the loss of Ice, Quail's littermate that had died before her naming. She took another bite with a huff. No use worrying about it now, she would take the name she was given with pride.

***

Smoke approached her mother on the other side of the clearing, her heart pounding in her chest. She took a deep breath as she stopped in front of Shadow, who was laying in a patch of sunlight. "Sparrow has survived her puphood and will be named today. I want you to name her as heir."

Shadow rose to her feet with a grunt, her eyes gleaming, "That was always my intention, Smoke. But now that you have approached me, I'll tell you that you must take part in the ceremony for it to happen." She chuckled at her daughter's expression, "Don't worry about what you will say, the words will come to you."

Shadow approached the Speaking Stone and let out a short bark to get her pack's attention. "Let all wolves of this pack gather around for a pack meeting!" Once everyone had gathered, she made eye contact with Smoke. "We gather in front of the great pine today to celebrate the naming of Sparrow, who has survived puphood and is ready to take her place within the pack."

Smoke stepped forward, causing murmurs throughout the pack. Sparrow watched in confusion, her paw still in the air from when she was about to step forward. Smoke looked their mother in the eyes before she turned back to the rest of the pack.

"I come forward today before this pup is named to make an important decision for this pack. I relinquish my title as heir so that my sister, a much more worthy pup, can be named heir instead." She turned back to Shadow, "Do you accept my decision to not lead this pack?"

Shadow nodded once, " I accept this position." With that, Smoke stepped back to her place in the pack meeting, winking at Sparrow as she did. Shadow beckoned Sparrow forward. "I call upon our ancestors to look down upon this pup and know that she survived a harsh winter, and is ready to receive her name. From this moment on this pup will be known as Sparrow Flight Over Water. With this name I also bequeath upon her my blessing. Sparrow, you are now the heir to this pack. You will train to lead this pack and will one day take your rightful place as leader with your chosen mate, whether they be from Fierce Pack or an outsider. Let all pack members who agree with this decision sing their approval with our ancestors!"

Smoke began to howl first, followed closely by Root and Quail. Soon all wolves were howling their song, Shadow's loudest of all. After the ceremony was over, each wolf passed by Sparrow and uttered their congratulations, her father Frostbite licking her ear as he passed. "I'm so proud of you. I can't wait to take you on scouts with me!"

Sparrow was beaming to everyone, but she wondered why her sister had given up the title at all. What would make her give up this honor? Was Sparrow really the wolf ready to lead this pack?

***

Sparrow decided to join Strike Team after the move to the grasslands to help them prepare for the winter, since the team was still struggling after Ember's death. As the heir, they felt they could not tell her no, and it was only Lichen who was reluctant to "replace" her mate with the young wolf.

***

Sparrow moved the pack back to the Deciduous Forest after Splash's incident, unaware that this was actually the pack's homeland. They will stay here until her death so she can be buried by Patch.

***

When Sparrow took over Fierce Pack from her mother Shadow, her first ruling was that wolves under the age of 3 years old were not allowed to have pups. This was to ensure that there were stronger pups within the pack and this also was meant to keep a handle on the pack's growing population. This ruling was not appreciated by her younger packmates. This rule also extends to adopting pups, under the principle that if you are not mature enough to have pups of your own you would not be able to take in an adoptee and care for them.

Sparrow and Patch decided to keep with the decision of Shadow and Frostbite, to select a female heir to train to take her place when the time comes. Sparrow also made a new rule: no other wolves in the pack were allowed to breed with her mate. She saw the issues that arose from her father, Frostbite, and his sired pups and meant to put an end to that. She will not allow any other wolves to breed to her daughter's mate and future co-alpha, Fox, either.

***

Sparrow is considering whether to make her named heir, Splash, take on the Alpha last name as she had been named heir after she had been given her full name.

Sparrow initiated a new rule that the pack's current herbalist has to choose one of their pups as their apprentice before they retire. The knowledge would be passed down from generation to generation this way and can ensure a dependable herbalist is always within the pack ready to care for the sick. Autumn chose his apprentice to be his son, Bracken, who took over when Autumn passed on.