Snowheart

"What's up, Snow Paw?" a young, just-weaned pup asked huskily, walking up to her. "Wanna hang?"

"Back off, Grulla," Snow snarled. "Your two and a half moons old!"

"What's your point, Sweetheart?" Grulla asked, laying beside her. 

Snow got up and walked away. She didn't like others, and they didn't like her. She wasn't the best leaf on the tree, but she was pretty enough. Maybe Moon Song would keep her, but definitely not for breeding purposes.

Snow loved the green grass and the rocks. She was always out this way, though she was supposed to stay by her step-brother, Dust Foot, and learn to pup-sit. Soon she would switch to have Cream Spot as her mentor, as she would be a better chaser and would fit perfectly with Dappled Merle's hunting party, because her and Dapple got along just fine.

Snow came back dragging prey. She knew if she had left camp, she would either have to come back with prey or herbs, and she chose prey. She wasn't herb-hunting for Spot Fur anytime so. Probably never.

"Ah, there she is!" Snow heard her mother, Mask Nose, say as she walked into camp. "Have you seen Grulla?"

"What?" Snow asked as she put the hog carcass down. "Is Night around? She might have taken him out."

Mask shook her head. "I wish she had. She's searching the edges of camp for her little pup. Poor NIght. I had a pup I was supposed to be watching once, and she ran off and died in the night. Turns out Golden Pelt killed her. That stupid traitor!"

"Quit ramblin', Mask, let's find him!" Snow said. "I think it;s my fault he's gone.

"You scatter-brain!" Burr Scratch said. "Follow his scent!"

"I don't know what Grulla smells like!" Snow protested. 

Burr gave her an exasperated look. "Then howl!"

Snow threw her head back and howled. She silenced, waiting for a response. She heard Brown Belly howl, but she twitched her ears and listened again. A weak, tired howl sounded from about a mile away. She turned her head and said to Wind Prairie, "I need a search party."

Wind turned her head and barked, "Night, Mask, Ice! Come with me and Snow!" She turned her sunset-colored head. "Dust, watch camp! Have Burr help you."

Dust lifted his head, sat up, yawned, then nodded. Wind shook her head and smiled at her mate. "Let's go."

Snow smiled and lead the way to where she'd heard Grulla howl. She tensed when she heard a rustle in the undergrowth, but smiled when she saw Grulla walk through and ask, "Snow?"

"Come on Grulla," she responded. "Let's go home."

"Are we friends, yet, Snow?" he asked.

"Yes, but only friends. I don't want a mate and pups."

Mask looked taken aback, and honestly kind of hurt. "B-but I want grandpups." 

"Mask, Soft gave you them."

"But I want some from mine and Moon Song's pups," Mask said.

"Maybe, Mother, maybe," Snow responded. But she was lying. Snow didn't want pups.

~Some time Later~

"And now, Snow Paw, I declare you an official Delta. Any name suggestions, Pack?"

"Snow Pelt!" one wolf yelled.

"No, no," Grulla said. "Snow Heart!"

"I like it," Snow said, while the rest of the pack agreed with grumbles and nods.

"No, no," Mask said. "It doesn't even make sense!" 

"The Pack has spoken, Mask," Moonstar said. "Your name is now Snow Heart!"

Snow looked over at Grulla and smiled. "Great choice, Grulla," she said, causing him to beam and pant delightedly.

~

Snow pushed one of her pups closer to her belly. She had been horribly wrong. She loved pups. She wanted to have so many more with him.

Grulla pushed his head closer to a sky colored pup. "How are you guys doing?" he asked.

Snow licked his muzzle. "Fine. I love you. You know that, right?"

"I know I love you too," he said. "It just took us a while to admit it."

Wolves trained by Snowheart: Thrushsage