The air shifted in the shaman's den as the melanistic brute came in. The mocha brown she-wolf stirred in her sleep and cracked open her eye lids, breathing in the familiar smell of her friend. She yawned openly as he bent down to see the flower.
"Hey, Yume, what's this?" She turned to look at him and answer when he took the plant into his mouth.

With a start, she leaped to her paws and called out a warning, "No! Don't eat that!" She bounded to him and harshly pushed his maw away before turning to look at him, the fright slowly dying from her glassy grey eyes. She drew a sharp breath and shook her head, suddenly finding the situation amusing now that the danger had passed. "That, oh smart one, is deadly nightshade."

She gingerly pushed the small, beautiful flower outside. Depositing the plant on the ground in a corner, she scraped ample dirt over it and returned to Espio with a small frown. "Honestly, Espio...that could have killed you," She paused and looked him over, relaxing enough to touch her maw to his in friendly greeting before drawing back, slightly embarrassed as a pink tinge crawled across her maw.

"My fault...I shouldn't have left it out after showing the pups never to eat that," she turned to look at the handsome ebon beta with amusement, "Too bad you weren't there, Espio...I could have used you to demonstrate what would happen if anyone did ingest it." She gave a soft growl of laughter and beamed around the camp, the summer's warmth reaching her heart and filling her with odd joy.

Her keen grey eyes widened in surprise as he snarled over her shoulder. About to turn, she gasped as the obsidian wolf leaped at her, suddenly laughing and pinning her to the ground. Surprised, she felt her fur tingle and she laughed, too. Pulling herself from his grasp, she retreated, snarling playfully and lunged at him, snapping at the air next to his ears with playful intentions. Suddenly remembering herself, she looked around the camp, hoping no one saw the pair.

She felt suddenly a little guilty as her mind came to rest on Sarita but she forced herself to hide that. She'd learned much from Espio and could guard her feelings almost as well as him now. Grinning at him, she flicked her plume at his face and bounded for the trees that grew near the camp. "C'mon, I think I saw a couple of plump looking squirrels that way...saving your furry butt has made me somewhat hungry!" She laughed at him, stepping lightly into the trees.

The she-wolf trotted on, glancing over her shoulder to see if Espio had caught up yet. Deeper into the trees, she sauntered, enjoying the brilliant shafts of sunlight, turned green by the leaves and falling onto the ground in scatters. Suddenly, she found herself staring at a large oak with a slash over its trunk. Curious, she sniffed the tree, catching the scent of Taka, faint and distant. Eyes widening, she took a step back, understanding immediately what she'd stumbled upon.

Staring at the ground in front of her, she sank to her haunches and wrapped her tail neatly around her paws. Guilt and sadness swelled up inside her heart as she looked at the upset dirt. A leaf fell from above just as a single crystalline tear fell down Yume's cheek. She quickly licked it away, waiting for Espio to show up, lost in time.

She was pulled out of her trance by the soft sound of Espio's voice. Turning to look at him, she smiled sadly. "Fine..." She pushed away the thoughts that nagged at her mind. It was my fault...I let him die... She sighed and threw back her head to look at the array of dancing lights. Ruby reds and many hues of green flashed across the dark canvas like paint.

"The aurora..." She murmured and stood up, eyes fixed on the dark firmament. Turning back to her friend, she thought she'd caught a flash of white fur around the trees. Pausing, she sniffed the air, hiding her suspicion. She turned to Espio again, eyes questioning as she flicked her tail towards camp again.

Looking apologetic and slightly embarrassed, she grinned sheepishly. "I know I said we'd hunt...but maybe we should get back..? Tetesi..." She paused, frowning and glancing around. She couldn't shake off the feeling of paranoia. Someone was near, she sniffed again, and watching? Guilt flooded her again, but this time she thought of Sarita. Get out of it, Yume! Espio is only a friend...he will never like you that way! The thought calmed her but also saddened her a little, bringing back the guilt. Did she want him to? She shook her head, impossible.

"Espio..." she frowned at him, parting her jaws to speak but stopped as Espio called out Sarita's name. She looked up as the white she-wolf appeared and saw the glee on Espio's face. Feeling half saddened and half exhilirated for him, she smailed broadly at them. As Espio spoke again, she shook her head, laughing.

"You two go ahead...I think Tetesi needs me back home." She growled softly, successfully putting cheer into her face. Smiling happily at Sarita, there was no trace of anything that she could take wrongly. "Welcome back, Sarita." She dipped her head in respect to the beta-femme and blinked at Espio again, taking in the happiness on his face.

The black wolf turned his head quickly to perk up his ears. Hatsuyume was announcing that she was headed back to the camp. Espio nodded to her, his indigo eyes shimmering as his heart swelled with warmth toward the shaman. He waved his tail. “Goodbye then, Yume. We’ll bring you back some of what we catch,” he called to her.

The beta male turned back to the white she-wolf standing before him. She seemed unusually happy to see him, and her broad grin showed it all. As her blue-tinged eyes sparkled, she whispered, “Of course there’s nothing wrong, Espio…my love.” His heart warmed up again, and he leaned forward to nuzzle into her neck, taking in her familiar scent. He hadn’t seen her in a while, but the shaman had taken his mind off of things.

As innocent as a lamb, the beta male wasn’t aware of Hatsuyume watching his glee, or of Sarita’s past suspicions. He just knew bliss. For the first time in his life, he was truly happy. There was no wrong…Baridiganda was now the strongest pack, with prey to go around; he had a wonderful mate and several friends. The only arguments seemed minor enough that they were washed away by his happiness.

Espio suddenly slipped his emotionless mask onto his face. He gave his mate a level stare and walked past her, headed toward a tall spruce tree. The wolf dropped into a crouch as his indigo eyes narrowed at the furry brush he saw hanging down from one of the boughs. Suddenly, the beta sprang and smashed against the tree, bringing the squirrel down with a shriek. He threw himself forward to bite it, and the small creature struggled. Its life went out like a doused candlelight.

“Hmm… Think fast,” growled Espio darkly. He picked up the dead squirrel in his mouth, swung his head around, and flung the body at Sarita’s face with a tiny smirk.