Inuho walked ahead, tail swaying with boundless energy as he guided Loona toward the center of the clearing. There, among fallen trunks and bushes flattened by the pack’s own paws, lay a small pile of freshly hunted prey—squirrels, birds, a few thin rabbits.

“I’m taking food to the Elders. Wait here,” Inuho said, voice muffled as he grabbed several squirrels at once. His eyes gleamed with pride. Then he trotted off toward the shadows where the Elders rested.

Loona was left alone.

She looked around. Wolves everywhere ate in small clusters: females nestled together in warmth, warriors roughhousing and fighting over bigger pieces, apprentices trying to imitate the adults, Elders watching everything with tired yet vigilant eyes.

And she… was just standing there, unsure where she belonged.

Until she saw Sant.

He sat between Lyara and a few warriors—massive, scarred wolves whose bodies told ancient stories. Sant lifted his head when he noticed her, silver eyes glimmering. A tiny flick of his ears, barely a gesture… but Loona understood.

He was calling her.

Excited, she grabbed a plump sparrow from the pile and walked toward the group. Lyara welcomed her with a gentle smile, pulling Loona closer with her tail, bringing her into the circle’s warmth.

Laughter came from all sides—especially from a tiny yet overwhelmingly present she-wolf: Naja. Her fur was as black as a moonless midnight, her voice strong like a seasoned warrior’s. She clung to Ravik’s side; he kept his stern gaze, clearly accustomed to her wild energy.

“AND THEN SANT TRIED TO CHASE THE RACCOON!” she roared, full of fire. “AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO FACE-PLANT RIGHT INTO A PILE OF BADGER POO!”

The warriors burst into laughter—even Sant flattened his ears, not bothering to deny it.

“But in the end we caught the raccoon,” Naja continued proudly. “And I PERSONALLY warned it: if it ever came back, I’d eat it finger by finger!”

“I still think we’ll regret not killing it,” Hada muttered, as worried as always.

Loona, a bit lost, whispered to Sant:

“Where’s Aemi?”

“Nursing Ame,” he replied simply.

Loona looked at the sparrow in her hands and made a face.

“…I don’t eat raw meat.”

Sant raised a brow.

Then stood up slowly.

“Come with me.”

She followed him to a small ring of carefully piled stones, like a mineral nest.

“Lionel taught me how to make fire… but without fingers I can only stack the stones.” He sat down. “You can roast your bird here. The night will be long.”

Loona nodded, leaned forward, and began building a small fire with dry twigs. When the flames finally rose, dancing softly in the dimness, she skewered the sparrow on a branch and held it over the fire.

“Poor little bird…” she thought as the smell of roasting meat filled the cold air.

Over time, the clearing emptied. Groups retired, mothers called their pups, warriors bumped heads in soft goodbyes. Only Loona remained, watching the fire eat through the sticks, waiting.

Light steps approached.

Inuho emerged with a squirrel hanging from his mouth, eyes sparkling with hunger and excitement.

“Let’s eat!” he said between bites, tail wagging. “If everything goes well… tomorrow you’ll try your first elk!” He took another noisy bite. “It’ll be a feast!”

Loona giggled softly and pulled the golden sparrow from the fire. She sat beside Sant, leaning against the white wolf’s soft fur.

“I can’t wait…” she murmured, taking her first bite.

And there, under the midday sun, the three of them ate together—for the first time like Loona already belonged to something bigger.

After they ate every last morsel and rested in the cold until late afternoon—around two o’clock—Inuho stretched his legs, yawning.

“Tonight’s the Night of the Roses. Are you going?” he asked casually, tail flicking.

Loona blinked, confused.

“Night of the Roses? Is that like… a wedding night?”

Inuho nearly choked on his own saliva. His ears shot up, utterly flustered.

“N-no! Nothing that intimate!” He shook his head quickly, cheeks almost lightening beneath his fur. “It’s when all the females gather—pregnant or not—and eat a piece of the Cônia flower. It’s medicinal, strengthens expectant mothers and heals wounds. An ancient tradition of the Fox Goddess… happens once every season. And tonight is the winter one.”

Loona smiled brightly.

“Ohhh, I get it! Then yes, I’m going.”

“Great!” Inuho lifted his muzzle, excited. “But first… let’s drink from the stream.”

They walked together to a small creek running quietly through the forest. The water was so cold it sent steam rising off the stones. At its edge, Liral, the blind Elder, sniffed the ground with her usual infinite patience.

Inuho dipped his head respectfully.

“I’ll be right back. I’ll go get Aemi and Ame.” And he darted into the woods.

Loona approached the Elder slowly.

“Miss Liral?”

The she-wolf lifted her head, smiling softly.

“No need to call me ‘miss,’ young one.” She chuckled. “What brings you here?”

“Just came to drink some water. And you… what are you looking for?”

“Two scents,” the Elder explained, inhaling deeply. “A pup that got lost around here… and an herb called maguí. Good for fevers. I want to save some for our journey tonight.”

Loona lit up instantly and sat beside her.

“Then I’ll help! What does maguí look like?”

Liral turned her muzzle toward her voice, following sound instead of sight.

“Round yellow leaves. Smells sweet, almost like honey.”

Loona scanned the damp ground until she found a plant with round leaves streaked green and yellow.

“This one?” she asked proudly.

Liral wrinkled her nose.

“No, young one. That scent is sour… and the leaves have two colors. That one’s poisonous,” she said calmly.

Loona dropped the plant immediately, shivering, and resumed her search with far more caution. Until she finally found a bright yellow herb—round, soft to the touch, sweet-smelling.

“Here!”

“That’s the one,” Liral said, satisfied. “Good eye. Take it as a lesson… not everything that shines is a cure, young one.”

Loona sat beside the Elder, watching the creek shimmer. That was when she noticed a small pup, dark-brown fur with pale gray spots, enthusiastically biting her own hind leg like it was a rabbit bone.

Loona tilted her head, smiling.

“And you? Who’s your dad, little one?”

The pup ignored her completely and kept gnawing on her own leg, humming with lupine delight.

Loona laughed.

“Ah… then you must be Inuho’s daughter.”

“Did you call me?” Inuho appeared behind her—with his own left paw in his mouth—looking like he’d sensed someone mentioning his name on the wind.

Before Loona could answer, a voice sliced the air like an arrow:

“Both of you—TAKE YOUR PAWS OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS! NOW!”

Aemi arrived with her tail raised high, wearing a look that could send a bear running. Inuho instantly dropped the paw he was chewing, and Ame—the pup—spat out a clump of fur that was most likely her own.

Liral burst into laughter, slapping her tail against the water.

And without hesitation, both Ame and Inuho leapt into the freezing creek, splashing water everywhere—as if nothing had happened.

Loona just laughed. Laughed with a warmth that bloomed deep inside.

When the sun finally sank behind the mountains, the last golden rays vanished into the snow. The air grew colder, more sacred—as if the entire forest held its breath.

Aemi gently picked up Ame by the scruff and walked toward the main clearing. Loona followed them, with Liral and Inuho behind. With each step, the silence was broken only by the crunch of dry snow.

When they arrived, Loona froze.

The clearing was alive.

Ravik stood beside Lionel’s daughter; all the warriors formed a protective ring around the females, and even the Elders, despite their age, held firm, unyielding stances.

Gohan, ever dramatic, shouted from the line:

“Hurry, Liral! You’re old, but still gorgeous! Run, darling, or you’ll be late!”

And then:

“And you, Inuho, STOP BEING USELESS!”

“What did I do?!” Inuho protested.

“I’ll show you what you did!” Gohan snapped, lunging forward.

Loona giggled softly as she followed Liral into the center, where all the females had gathered.

Meanwhile, at the guard ring, Ravik approached with his usual threatening calm, grabbed Inuho by the back in a single motion, and dragged him out of the clearing.

“Training time, Inuho,” he growled.

“HELP! I DON’T WANT TO DIE, AAAA!” Inuho screamed as he was hauled off like a helpless rabbit.

Loona nearly fell over laughing, but quickly composed herself—the center of the clearing was… breathtaking.

All of them were there: from Ame, the youngest pup, to Liral, the eldest and most revered.

Lyara lifted her head, majestic, and her firm voice filled the night:

“All gathered… howl to the moon.”

The females raised their muzzles and howled together—a powerful sound that made Loona’s chest vibrate. She and Ame, being young, stayed silent—half lost, half mesmerized.

Lyara approached them with gentleness.

“You don’t need to howl yet.”

Then she returned to the center and continued:

“Hada and Aemi… strong, promising apprentices. May the Fox guide your path.”

A unified howl answered.

“Mara, healer apprentice, warrior of great heart, Sant’s adoptive sister… may the Ancestors’ wisdom follow you.”

Another howl filled the air.

Loona, thrilled, tried to join in—only a sharp whistle came out. Some females shot her amused looks.

Lyara went on:

“Lira and Naja, brave warriors. May you always fight with strength and loyalty.”

Another howl. Loona whistled again, glowing with excitement.

“Liral… our Elder. May you still have many days and moons with us.”

Liral laughed loudly—heartily.

Lyara finally turned her gaze toward Loona and Ame.

“Ame and Loona, our new pups… welcome to the pack.”

All the females howled, strong and proud.

Ame and Loona flushed with embarrassment.

The ritual lasted a full twenty minutes, howls weaving with the wind, until suddenly—something bloomed.

Right at the center, a millennial purple Cônia flower sprouted from the frozen earth, its petals unfolding in seconds. There were exactly as many petals as there were females present.

Each she-wolf took a petal reverently, ate it, and howled once more.

The sound echoed through the entire forest.

When it ended, Lyara lifted her muzzle and called:

“Sant.”

The Alpha crossed the circle of warriors, approaching with steady steps.

“Thus ends the Night of the Roses,” he declared. “Blessings to all. We leave for the North in twenty minutes. Prepare yourselves.”

The clearing began to dissolve.

Loona ran to Aemi and Sant, Ame in her arms, bouncing with excitement and speaking so fast she barely made sense.

Aemi glanced around, panic rising.

“Where’s Inuho?” she asked, ears burning with tension.

Sant exhaled.

“Training with his father…”

Aemi paled.

“WHAT?!” She bolted into the trees. “He’s going to DIE! He’s going to be EATEN ALIVE!”

Lyara watched Loona hop around, nearly crying with emotion, hugging Ame like a fluffy pillow.

The Night of the Roses had been a milestone.

And Loona, for the first time, truly felt part of that world.