"Maybe I could give him a reason to stay safe." She chuckled.

"As if we don't have enough of those already. He's a reckless little cub..."

"If you can find him... I'd love to talk to him."

"He's in the back of the cave. Grounded."

"What for?"

"Leaving our territory. Again."

Jess sighed and closed her eyes.

"No matter how many times I tell him, he always goes out there. Always."

"I could have a word with him, and have a good reason for him not to."

"By all means."

Jess got up slowly, with a grunt. She was still sore, but seemed to be managing otherwise.

"...Told him about the birds, already, so if that was the plan..."

"I was worried especially that you decided to go alone. I did the same, and as one of the Guardians of our territory, I ended up nearly wounded to the point of death. At least bring someone with you, who can protect you should trouble ensue."

She smiled and pet him. "I don't want to see you hurt as I was. And when I'm well, I'd be glad to see you in one big, unharmed piece."

The cub reluctantly and stoically accepted the hug, but didn't seem to be paying much attention to her.

Jess smiled and looked at him endearingly. "You're lucky to have parents who care so much about you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..."

"Maybe I'm putting them in such a positive light, because mine aren't with us anymore. They serve the gods now."

Moonsong nodded gravely. "Sadly... many of my pups also passed."

"From illness or battle? Or neither?"

"Illness, lesser wolves, battles... I've lost cubs to them all." She curled up next to her latest and smiled. "But I've never let myself stop getting attached. Even if they can be gone tomorrow, it's all the more reason to love them now."

"I can understand your words. Especially how short we live to begin with."

"It's not that short. It's just that we're in a land filled with immortals."

"Immortals? How?"

"They live far longer than we do."

"They still die, however. Cut them, and they bleed like us."