Libby twitched an ear in annoyance. "Alright, alright! Then we don't go. I just really wanna explore..."

"And you will," Alice assured her. "Just...not now. Though I sneaked out once."

Libby's eyes grew wide. "You did? You never told me before!"

"Because I didn't want to encourage any bad behavior...and because Pike made it very clear to me not to tell. But ah well, whatever. You'll probably go out exploring someday soon when no one's watching anyways. Just don't get me involved, okay?"

"Promise!"

"Good. Okay, so back when I was your age and first started getting my lessons I grew just as bored of Grandma as you two probably are. So, when there were little wolves at the rendezvous site and no one was paying me any mind...I sneaked away."

"You did?"

"Uhuh. I sneaked out and walked in the direction of the forest. No, Libby, I did not go in, or even get close to it. I wasn't very far from the rendezvous even before I caught my first prey. Before you get excited...it was a cricket. Just a plain cricket. And I'm pretty sure it was lacking one of its long jumping legs...so not exactly impressive." Alice shook her long off-white fur. "Nowadays I make a very good hunter, though!"

"What happened next?"

"Well, I wasn't sure what to do then. Part of me wanted to go back and show everyone my very first catch...even for a five-legged cricket, it was kinda impressive a pup of my age -your age now- was able to catch something, I suppose. But I then decided to bury my prey for later, and continued to explore.

"I went my way and started to head north, walking parallel to the forest edge. I thought I smelled something funny, so I wanted to go check it out. Next thing I know I stumble and fall down a hole in the ground, probably an abandoned badger set or something. I got scared, thinking something might still live in the darkness of the hollow...so I did what every wolf pup would do: I started crying for help. And help came. The wolves of the rendezvous, which had already been looking for me, found me rapidly and then brought me back to the site. I wasn't allowed to leave for a long time after that. They even forced me to stay in the den again for a few days! Ugh."

Libby's excited expression turned into a disappointed one. "That's it? That's your grand adventure? No more hunting? No more exploring? You just caught a five-legged cricket, fell down a hole and went back? That's no fun!"

"Hey, I was terrified!" snapped Alice. "And if you were out there, you'd be, too! Even the bravest wolf pups feel scared when being out there on their own!"

Libby puffed out her chest. "Pfft! I wouldn't be!"

"You absolutely will. There's plenty of creatures out there on the prowl for a tasty young wolf pup like you!"

"Then I'll fight them!" Libby sunk down into a play bow, tail wagging. "I'm plenty fierce!"

"And plenty tasty for a coyote or bear," Alex added drily.

"Shut up!" Libby responded. "You're just a scaredy-mink, Alex! I'll go out exploring someday, and it'll be the best decision I'll ever make!"