Celwynn

          The she-wolf padded across the moor, no particular destination in mind. She had been a lone wolf for most of her four years, and she never stayed in one place long enough to want to return there. She also didn't particularly like the company of other wolves, so moving constantly allowed her to avoid most of them. Still, though, it could be nice to have a place to return to after all this time. As she considered this, she came abruptly to the top of a hill. A warm breeze was blowing, ruffling her dark gray fur, and she lifted her face to enjoy it. Just then a voice from right over her shoulder startled the large, muscular she-wolf enough to send her tumbling down the other side of the hill. Upon coming to a stop in a heap, she looked back up to the top of the hill to see a face peeking, one-eyed and wincing over the edge.
          "Ah— so sorry! Didn't mean to startle you!" The similarly large, but lighter gray and brown wolf slunk down the hill to join the big gray female who was just then righting herself and making sure nothing was broken. He sat down a little too close for her liking, and she stared incredulously and with some considerable fury at him.
          "Ahem, right— my name is Abutilon, like the plant. I hunt, and, well, I saw you... You seem to be alone," he spoke rather loudly and simply, as if she spoke squirrel and wouldn't understand him.
          "Oh that's very astute of you. Yes I am alone, and I like it that way," she grumbled at Abutilon, who was still sitting much too close for comfort.
          "Huh. Well, you ought to come with me! I've got a nice place to stay, and we could use another hunter." He got up and with a swish of his tail, beckoned her to follow along.
          With a deeply furrowed brow and a scowl, she stalked after him— not to follow him home, of course, but to tell him all of the reasons she was perfectly fine on her own. After making her case completely and thoroughly to the wolf equivalent to an upbeat brick wall, she found herself begrudgingly, but curiously and willingly joining the Redfeather Pack and becoming the leader of their hunting team.

-

          A large, dark wolf rested in a sun-warmed patch of grass next to a pair of younger wolves who seemed to be bickering and laughing about something. Celwynn glanced over at her older pups with a shake of her head. The older and bigger gray and white male, Foulkes had become a stalker, like her, and she was quite proud. The younger, smaller, red and brown female— her first daughter, Celbrimm— was becoming a wonderful chaser. The young she-wolf's mate, Narquelion was there too, looking on with that sullen, but attentive gaze of his. Celwynn turned her own gaze back to the four gray pups tumbling about in front of her. She raised a paw to bat at one lazily, chuckling as he bit it with his sharp little puppy teeth. These four would form almost an entire third hunting team on their own, and she was massively proud of that.
          A deep, grizzled voice sounded from her other side, "I see you're feeling accomplished."
          "As a matter of fact I am," she said in her own wizened and rather acidic tone. As she glanced over at the light gray and brown herbalist, though, her face and voice softened. She looked away again, muttering to his apparent delight, "it's all thanks to you, you know."

-

          Celwynn nosed her way through the dried willow branch curtain covering the entrance to the herbalist's den. She peered around in the dimly lit space as her eyes adjusted, looking for Abutilon. They were meant to be presenting themselves to Fenn today, so where on Earth was he? At last she found him curled up, still fast asleep in his nest in his private, sectioned off area at the back of the den. With an exaggerated roll of her eyes at one of his patients, she stalked in through the opening and gave him a good hard swipe over the ears. He immediately awoke with a start.
          "Oh! Ah! I'm awake! I'm awake now, what do you want?"
          "I want to be where we said we would be an hour ago! Have you forgotten? Or did you decide you didn't want to spend the rest of your days with this miserable old she-wolf?"
          "I— oh no. Oh dear. Is it today?!"
          "Yes, of course it's today! That's what I told you yesterday! Up with you now, let's go before she changes her mind!"
          After a good bit of verbal thrashing from Celwynn, Abutilon was up and ready to go. They made their way hurriedly toward the Alpha, who was still waiting for them, enjoying her breakfast and chatting with another female. As the two disgruntled Wise wolves appeared before her the red and golden leader excused herself and padded over to meet them.
          "I was a bit worried you weren't going to catch me before I left camp," she confessed to the pair with a lopsided grin.
          "Well, we almost didn't with this one sleeping all morning without a care in the world!" Celwynn's bark was filled with nervous excitement instead of annoyance now, as she stood in front of her leader.
          Abutilon winced, but then stood a bit taller when he heard the affection in the old she-wolf's voice. He dared to lean his head into hers, all too aware of the annoyance it might cause, but not caring too much on this happy occasion. To his relief and quiet delight, she did not object, but stood there taking it while Fenn asked them several questions. Their Alpha asked them about when they had decided to become mates, what their plans were, and the obligatory questions about fealty and the like. When all was laid out and discussed, Fenn happily gave her blessing and wished them well.
          A few others had gathered when they realized that the ceremony was still happening after all, and there were several congratulations and a long howl to commemorate the event. At the end of it all, the pair still had their heads together, and even Celwynn was enjoying herself immeasurably.