Cardinal the Crusader

'Cardinal': a position of high power

Chaseds found: 6 (3 caught, 3 -rechase- skipped)

~Basics~
Cardinal has always been a strong willed and critical wolf. She would do anything for her pack, and enjoys seeing them content. She and her mate, Reinyr, make sure any wolf who enters the pack is cared for and valued.

~Lore~
-THE BEAR - puppyhood-
Cardinal peered around the clearing with suspicion. She knew the adults would be livid about her sneeking off, but she just had to explore. But to be honest, it was getting pretty boring. It wasn't any different without the adults watching her, it was still just... Forest.
Cardinal yawned, this wasn't very fun. Near her, to her right, was a nice mossy nook between the roots of a tree. She curled up in the moss, the earthy scent lulling her to sleep...
The sound of soft but heavy pawsteps woke her- before her stood a large brown bear, sniffing and rummaging in the bushes she had been playing in earlier. She froze, the sheer size of the beast held her to the spot.
Suddenly, the grizzly lifted it's great muzzle, her scent picked out by it's massive ebony nose. It turned, it's eyes flickering as it turned to the cub-
"GET AWAY YOU SCOUNDREL!"
From behind her lunged another animal, quick as the wind, and hurled itself at the bear, which scrambled away in surprise. The other one, now recognizable as the she wolf Sunlace, turned to the pup.
"Cardinal! What in the stars do you think you're doing?!" The rust pelted wolf growled.
Cardinal quiet tucked her tail between her legs in guilty embarrassment as the two started the journey back home.


- WHAT WILL BE - young adult-
Lavender, the pack's matriarch, approached Cardinal calmly, a saddened smile on the elder wolf's face.
Cardinal stood alone by the edge of the pack, on a small hill surveying the grassing landscape. The sun was setting now, it's last warm rays turning the visible spring foliage purpley pink.
"What are you doing Lavender? Shouldn't you rest-" she started.
"No, not yet. I will not last the night I am afraid." The leader said, her smile unwavering.
Cardinal felt shattered. It couldn't be...
"But- surely not-" the young wolf whispered, fear and sadness and grief flooding her small voice.
"I am afraid so, my little friend. But I am sure that the pack will be in good paws. I entrust my role to you now, with complete faith that you shall fulfill it and care for our family." Lavender said gently, her deep blue eyes twinkling. What Cardinal would do for just a second in her head, to know what Lavender knew, to understand everything in the way the older wolf seemed to understand.
Cardinal looked down at her paws.
"How do you know it is time? Where are you going?" She asked quietly, sadly.
"I know it in my bones, in my being. When you are my age, you too shall know. I go to the heart of the land, my paws will take me there, just as yours will. I go to my mate, and I go so I may greet all who come after me into the afterlife." The great leader nuzzled Cardinal, and, almost eerily, whisked off into the grasses, ready to return to the stars.