It was a crisp morning, the oppressive heat of the summer had been chased away by the chill of fall. Following the change of the seasons, a she-wolf returned home to a pack that had not seen her for quite some time. Such was the nature of her duty that it kept her away from the only place she would ever truly call home. A Recruiter did not have much worth if they stayed in the comfort of their dens instead of out in the world finding wolves deserving of being called a Crow.
The Scout who had accompanied her had quickly branched away to see his family. He was an older wolf, and Statice could not help but feel as if her conversation during their adventures had been burden to him. The old man was better off retiring, if even her words could not liven him up. His company had grown stale, and she could not help but desire a different Scout to guide her on her next venture.
But, the next one would not be for some time. There was something about being in the pack's lands that revitalized her. The sole daughter of wolves who had perished some seasons back, she had little family left but more friends than she could count on all of her paws. They had rallied behind her when she lost her parents, and even now as she made her way into the pack's heart she was greeted by familiar smiles and scents.
They were far more welcoming to her than the rogue lands she frequented. Her last expedition had lasted quite a while, with not enough success to warrant celebration. Yet, still they were glad to see her, and she them. The smile came naturally to her maw, a light returned to her orange eyes that had been dim before by months spent outside of her home territory. Statice could not imagine finding another home that would make her feel as welcomed or treasured as the Crows. She was young, but not so foolish that she could be swayed by love or enticed by treasure to join another pack.
This was her only home, and she hoped that just as she lived, she would also die here. She also hoped that it was some time off before that happened.
Her gaze, far more orange and vibrant than even the changing colors on fallen leaves, swept over the heart of the pack. It was strange, how time changed so many things and yet so little. It was one of the best things about the return home, and she spent a shameful amount of time catching up with everyone. Who was with who now? Who had puppies? Did so and so get that promotion they desired? There was much for the young female to catch up on, but for now she settled for small greetings and promises of more talk later.
Her bones were weary from her travels, and for now she needed to have the first truly restful sleep she had been unable to experience out in the world.
