Pipevine

 To be named after a butterfly is to be sure that your place in the pack is secure.

  This did nothing for Pipevine's nerves, as he was a part of Swallowtail's pup-boom crisis project, along with the other wolves. From the forty-odd pups that were taken and given better homes, only he, Rubble, and Patron were granted the luxury of staying within the queen's pack.

 With Rubble going to a new home as well after being raised to adulthood, it rose his old fears. Although assured that the queen wouldn't send his friend off to some pack that'd toss her away, Pipevine is still worried, especially because of the recent hard spot.

 With Seishin announcing that he'd be taking Pipevine as his successor instead of Slip or Ripple, the skypelted wolf was... worried, to say the least, that the other males would resent him. 

 Ripple didn't care much, stating that as long as Pipevine kept his nose out of the chases and let him lead, it was fine; Khumbu outright said that he was happy for him too. Then, the Queen decided to speak with him.

____

Butterflies.
 The moon is dark and gone, and thunder roars from its place in the cloud. Tricolored eyes look up into the storm, ears flicking back, and white toed paws press against the strong wet stones beneath. 

 With no light, it isn't easy to see or hear whoever's coming near, but it never stopped Pipevine- besides, those strange mottled yellow markings easily identified the newcomer as the Queen. He swallowed nervously, tail pressing closer against a hindleg; it wasn't unusual for the Queen to check on the pack, nor take time out of her day to speak with each individual, but it was still nerve-wracking and almost strange for her to come by and speak with him.

 Swallowtail's strange (really, eyes that strong in color weren't natural- although his own were strange too) blue eyes were piercing things, and she perked up happily at seeing him; she was always earnest, and very kind, and it was still so strange to think that this was one of the leader's who helped with the pupboom (notorious for all the wrong and right reasons), and that for some reason she had decided that he and a few select others were special enough to stay but something always told him to be on guard, because what if one day he wasn't?

 "So. I've heard Seishin has decided that you were to take over his position when he retired?" She asked softly, a strong but clear voice echoing in the quiet. The only noise was the soft plinks of rain on stone, and occasional rumbles of thunder, but her voice still seemed to take up all the space in the small area.

 Pipevine blinked, realizing that the Queen was waiting for an answer. "Oh- yes. He has. I'm... honored, really. It wasn't... I don't think anyone expected it; with him teaching Ripple on how to lead the chasers, and with Slip being his pup- it was a bit out of the blue."

 He suddenly wished that he wouldn't blurt out his entire thought process to the nearest authority figure that gave him the time of day, but- it was too late. Swallowtail was clearly thinking over his words, before huffing softly in a warm chuff; a normally gruff and aggressive sound that so obviously was one of fondness. 

 "I suppose it would be. But I think he made the right choice. Though there is something I wish to speak with you about- it's your name. Do you remember your old one?"

 His... old name? "No, not- not really. Do I need it for some reason? I have to admit, though, I was young."

 The Queen laughed, before shaking her head. "Ah, no. You don't I was just wondering." She paused, sitting down next to him (so close- she was practically leaning on him oh stars SHEWASPRACTICALLYLEANINGONHIM) and looking out into the rain. "Did you know that we have two name-lines here?"

 What...? Name-lines? "I'm sorry, I don't know what those are. I didn't... can you explain?" Pipevine asked, turning towards the strangely marked female.

 "Of course. Name-lines... well, here, name-lines are how we track who's related to who; my children are named after fire mountains because of their father, but Menalaus was named after me because I care for her as one of my young. Seishin would name his young after spirits and tales, Azalea's will probably have her own change to names like hers, and Fire named her children after fire mountains as well." She paused again, humming thoughtfully. "You know swallowtails are butterflies, right? The larger blue ones... I've heard them be called 'blue menalaus morphos'. And one of the more beautiful ones I remember are dark blue with orange spots. Do you know them?"

  Understanding dawned in a flash, like lightning in the distance. "They- I've seen them. Pipevine... swallowtails."

 She smiled, with eyes and ears, looking down with that strange fondness. "Yes. Pipevine swallowtails."

 And Pipevine couldn't speak at all, his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and his mouth as dry as the deserts he'd heard from Pale. Swallowtail looked at him, and laughed again, free as can be. "They're my favorites after fritillaries. Ah... I must be going now, I think. The forest calls to me, you know. Stay safe in the rains, Pipevine."