Gryning✒️

The rustling sound of paws against gravel awoke her, when she looked up the young alpha, Gerd, was standing in Grynings cave opening. Gerd held a sleeping pup in her mouth and placed it on the ground near Gryning, but not too near, obviously careful not to trespass.

"I found him by the big birch tree," she said quietly, as to not awaken any of the other pups, "he must have gotten lost."

Gryning nodded quietly. She found it strange to have the packs alpha be scared of her, if their alpha is this much of a coward Gryning could easily take over the pack, and her lineage would become the heirs. On second thought, the alpha is probably just respectful of her elders. Maybe it's good to have a kind alpha, a trait Gryning obviously doesn't posess. As Gerd was leaving, she stopped at the entrance and looked back shyly.

"Was Fjällskymning good friends with Björk," she continued carefully, "when they both were alive?"

"How would I know?" Gryning huffed, sounding more annoyed than she meant to. Or maybe she did mean it? She laid her head down, she was so tired lately, she didn't feel like herself.

-

Her best friend, Nejlika, was sunbathing outside the cave with her while the pups played.

"That's a good name, Sommarkväll," Nejlike said while looking at the pup that looked exactly like Fjällskymning, "did you name him after his father?"

Gryning felt a horrible feeling inside of her, anger maybe, and she almost blurted out "I wish you had some pups so they could play with mine" , but she managed to stop herself. She didn't want to hurt her friends feelings. Not that Nejlika shouldn't feel lucky, at least she has a royal son, and a royal son who has been courting Grynings daughters ex girfriend! Nejlika and her family just has to have it all, don't they? Grynings eyebrows furrowed and tensed up.

"I need to change his name," Gryning decided, and she looked over at Nejlika, who looked very confused, and Gryning didn't know what to say, but couldn't stop her blabbering mouth anyway, her face took on a different expression, and her eyes started tearing as she whimpered, "it's.. it sounds too much like.. l-like.."

Nejlika stopped her from saying his name by laying her paw over her neck while hugging her in an embrace. Gryning started whimpering uncontrollably into her friends soft brown fur, and they stayed like that for a while.