“Mama, I’m bored,” Jiho complained as he rubbed at his eyes. He wasn’t crying (he wasn’t!), but the Prince had stopped coming by to see him every day and Jiho didn’t have any other friends. Even the guards wouldn’t spare the time to play with him.

“I’m sorry baby,” his mother tried to soothe. “Papa’s working hard, and so is mama, because something very important is going to happen soon.”

Jiho frowned. He didn’t remember any festivals coming up soon, nor were there any birthdays they would be celebrating. “Something important?”

“That’s right. The wolves have important milestones in their growth, just like foxes do. Remember the first time you chased a mouse?”

“Mama!” Jiho complained, face going red. That had been embarrassing. He’d led the prince all through the palace chasing the noise only he could hear.

The older woman laughed lightly. “Jiho,” she echoed in a similar tone. “Why don’t you take guard Mikal and go to the market and find a present for the prince?” she suggested.

Jiho pouted. “But mama, the prince is the prince. He can get whatever he wants.”

“True, but I think he’d enjoy having something you picked out for him. Don’t you like it when he picks gifts for you, even if you could have gotten it yourself?”

That was true. Jiho gave it a moment’s consideration, then nodded his agreement. “Okay.” He ran off to find the wolf that normally wasn’t far from the nursery and playrooms.

Except it seemed Guard Mikal was busy today. Whatever was keeping his mama and papa busy also had the guards muttering to themselves, sparring, and reading huge stacks of papers that Jiho wasn’t allowed to read.

Jiho scrunched up his nose at the adults, all too busy to help him find the perfect gift for the prince.

Well, if they weren’t going to help then he could just do it himself. Jiho was five, after all. He was a big boy. His mama said so.