Taro

In her twilight years, Kurusu would find herself ready to retire from her role as Goddess of Wood.  She held this title with pride, as her father before her.  While she had seen many strong hunters and scouts come into the pack in their various ways, she had always known who she'd choose for an heir.

He wasn't here yet, and that was less of a problem than one may assume.

---

"This will make you strong, love," Kurusu says, looking straight ahead into the heart of the forest, "and it's not forever.  Just until you're ready."

"How will I know I'm ready?" her boy looks up to scan her face.  He's afraid of what's to come, excited for the adventure of it all, but still his legs tremble atop too-big paws.  "How will I know I'm ready to come home?"

Kurusu laughs, like the summersong of a wind chime.

"You'll know."

Her paw lands firm on his back, and he stiffens.  He looks straight ahead into the heart of the forest.  And he is afraid.

"You'll be ready when the forest gives you your name."

"My... name."

"The forest names you, as it named me, as it named my father.  It names us all, us who heed its voice."

"Okay."

She presses on his back, and he walks forward on steadier paws into the woods.  Beyond the forest, down the plains, through sand and storm, to a place far from where he'd come, and far from where he'd return.  Humid and lush, full of sights and smells like he'd never known.

Here he'd train with the Old Ones, God's and Goddesses of Wood long since retired from their lives as Beings, choosing now to live as Spirits.  They live in the air, now, and their voices call to him.

And he is afraid.

And so too is she.

---

Taro, God of Wood, Custodian of the Earth.  Leader of the Fubuki Clan, and Kurusu's only son and heir.

After spending many months training in distant lands to strengthen his powers, Taro returned to his pack to take over for his mother.  Eight years ago his grandfather passed quietly, and the Fubuki Clan left its pack affairs to Shura and, eventually, Kurusu.  Back then he was told to never return unless he could take over the title of Wood God, and he vowed to stow his fear and earn his place in the bloodline.