Elane’s life largely consisted of sticking by her mother, learning to identify insects and plants, as well as other practical things like stalking. She missed her sister, Omen. Derringer as well. She hadn’t seen either of them in a long time.
She followed her mother to the meeting. Not many wolves were here, but Elli found her sister was one of them. “Omen!” she cried, smiling widely.
“Omen! I’m sorry I haven’t been around, my sweet girl.” Evangeline’s words were quiet, only for herself, Omen, and Elli to hear; Elli knew that her mother had been so concerned about Derringer and Omen she’d begun to worry herself sick. “I’ve missed you.”
Elane studied Themis, Mabbit, and Yesimire. That family was close-knit, it seemed; Elli ached for that same closeness in her family. Yesimire was the princess from Hawthorne who’d married Demius, the prince. Elli had heard it tell that Yesimire’s sister, Wisteria, was the one who’d been assaulted by Phobus, the queen’s other son. That sounded awful. Whenever she asked her mother how Phobus had hurt Wisteria, and if she was okay, Evangeline responded firmly that the tale was not for young ears, and that yes, Wisteria was alright now.
Although she was not a pup anymore. She, Derringer, and Omen were freshly aged up. They might be handed their ranks at this meeting! Elli came up next to Omen. “Hey, Omen. I missed you,” she ventured softly.

“Step one, you say, we need to talk, he walks, you say sit down it’s just a talk.”