Sparrow

The sun is high in the sky. It beats down, warming rocks and running through the woods, lighting up everything in its path. Among the boulders surrounding a wolf den lying a marengo and white wolf, with streaks of beige, eyes closed, soaking up the sun with a small grin on his face. This, is Sparrow, the lead male of the Fallen Valley pack. Soon after he is bombarded by pups, begging for food, play, and anything they can get their tiny jaws on. He rolls them over with large paws, sending them yelping. All the while his eyes are lit up with content.

- Is very gentle, always treating his pack with the upmost loyalty, respect, and kindness, no matter the rank

- Making his way from the grasslands to the mountains at the age of two, he joined up with his mate Honey to form their pack

- In return for his kind demeanor, he is among the most respected wolves in the pack

- He spends his time watching over the den as a pupsitter, chasing off grizzlies, coyotes, hawks, stranger wolves and the like

- His kindness should not be underestimated, for he will do anything to keep his family safe

- Enjoys teaching the pups new things and watching the happiness grow on their faces

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"Now listen, you have to make sure your shadow doesn't fall over the water, for if it does, the fish will see and your luck will be lost." 

Sparrow froze, his eyes locked on the motion under the water before him. With a flash of teeth, he opened his jaws and darted into the water, closing around a scaly, wet sunfish. He turned towards the pups and adolescents with his catch and dropped it in front of them. It earned him a couple of respectful nods from the adolescents and quiet "wows" from the pups. He held his head high and met their faces with the strength and regality of a lead male.

"Then, be as quick as you can and catch it between your jaws." He added.

"I want to try!" A black pup with a faded white mask bounded forward, skidding to a halt once he reached the streams edge and sending pebbles flying into the water.

"Grackle!" His sister, Briar, whined. "You're scaring all the fish away!"

"Briar, why don't you go a little farther downstream? Far away from your brother." Sparrow said with a smile. Briar nodded eagerly, so much that Sparrow was worried she'd tip over. Grackle, hearing his remark, turned away from the water and lopped after his sister, tackling her as they rolled on the ground with tiny teeth flying. Knowing that it was only play, Sparrow turned to the adolescents, trying to act as respectful as possible, though they couldn't hide their rapidly swishing tails.

"You all go upstream, try to spread out a bit so you all have a section of fish for yourself." Sparrow spoke.

His words were meant with scrambling paws and excited yips as they rushed along the sand upstream.

"Yes Sparrow!"

"Thank you Sparrow!"

"We promise we'll catch something!"

Sparrow nodded and faced the now dirty, but excited, pups. "You guys head downstream, but not too far!" He called after them, before he even got the words out of his mouth they were bolting down the streamside. As they ran he retreated up the bank a little bit, settling down on a grassy knoll and laying his head on his paws. He closed his eyes, opening them occasionally to glance from side to side, up and down the bank. So far it didn't seem like anyone had caught anything, well, except for the snail Glen had snagged.

His eyes rested on two puppies; one the color of gray, howlite stone and the other the color of the honeydew fruits that grew on the edge of the forest. They had just reached adolescents the previous sunrise. It seemed like the were growing too fast for him, their father. Hickory, the honeydew colored adolescent, would grow into a fine hunter, but it was Cinder he was worried about. The adolescent was too quiet and submissive, he wouldn't even play with the others. Even now, Cinder was several extra tail-lengths down the stream, away from the excited group. Sparrow sighed.

"Taking a break? You've got quite a handful." A chuckle rose from behind Sparrow. He turned to see his mate, Honey, walk over. She lied down by his side and followed his gaze, giving him a look afterwards.

"I'm worried about him," Sparrow said after reading her expression. "He lacks confidence, and in our world that gets you nowhere except for at the bottom of the pack." Sparrow sulked and flopped his head onto his paws again. "I just want the best for him, for all of them." He added.

He felt Honey lay her head next to his. He breathed in her scent and gave her face a welcoming lick.

"I know you do," Honey spoke. "But he will get it figured out. Maybe he'll disperse and become as just as good of a leader as you." She returned the lick and stretched her front legs out in front of her, the sun catching her honey colored fur as it traveled through the leaves above.

There was a splash to their right and all heads turned. Glen had pulled Oak under the water and they were squirming about. At first they were in the shallows, but Sparrow could slowly see them travel farther and farther out. 

Without hesitating, Sparrow leapt up and bounded towards the fighting pups. The water splashed and sprayed around him as he dove in and snatched Oak around the neck. He tossed them pup onto the bank out of urgency and retuned to look to see where Glen was. With a drop of his heart he looked around. Glen was nowhere in sight.

"Over here!"

Sparrow spun around, spraying water all over his sides. There was Glen, shivering despite the warm day at the bank, her wide eyes locked on Oak who lied motionless on the sand with the others crowding around his small body. She was at Conifers feet, who held his head high as he locked eyes with Sparrow. A flash of pride grew in his chest. That pup will be something this pack has never seen.

"Out of my way! Quickly!" Rudeneja pushed her way through the bunches of pups and adolescents, making her way to Oaks side. Sparrow followed the adolescents lead, pushing through the crowd in time to see Oak cough up a stream of water. Oak threw Glen a glare, who scowled right back. A sigh of relief escaped Sparrow; at least it didn't damage his spirit.

"What were you thinking?" An angry ball of fur trotted over to face Glen. The ball of fur was Ember, Oak's sister. "You couldn't killed him!"

"Would not! I had it all under control." She spat, shooting Conifer an angry (but Sparrow could see gratefulness in there too) glare. Conifer must have seen it to, for he made a small smile and narrowed his eyes.

"Don't get your tails in a knot," Sparrow walked forward, stepping between the two pups. "What happened?" before he even got the words out of his mouth, the pups were shouting in their high puppy voices. Sparrow barley caught any of it, something about Oak pestering Glen, causing her to loose her temper and pull him under.

"I think, what you all need is to share the adolescents catches-" Sparrow shot a look at the adolescents, warning them to not intervene. "-over by the den. Hurry along now, before they get any colder."

Without a single complaint, everyone went running off. Sparrow met Honeys approving gaze from across the stampede of paws. I'm slightly shocked that that worked.

"Conifer!" Sparrow barked, as the male adolescent started to walk off. 

"Yes?"

Sparrow waited for the rest of the wolves, all except Honey, to walk off. He kept them all in eyesight as he faced the young wolf.

"I'm proud of you, I hope you know that. Acting that quick without hesitation is a trait a leader would  carry."

Conifers eyes beamed with happiness and pride. "Thank you Sparrow," he said, dipped his head in respect. Sparrow nodded, signaling for him to move on with the others.

Once they were alone, he turned to Honey.

"Well that was interesting," she spoke. 

"Indeed, lets get back to the den, maybe the hunters caught something." Sparrow turned to take on glace at the stream. It bubbled across the pebbles and sang across the sides of the bank. He brushed his flank against hers, and they headed back to the den.