Coyote's POV

Coyote yelped as his mother stepped on his tail, making her scramble back in alarm. "Sorry!"

He sighed, drawing his tail closer to his legs to avoid her clumsy paws, then continued to stare out into the pine forest, just barely able to see Mount Trail. Dreamily, he recounted the stories of brave Shadow Wolves who had driven off invaders from that very mountain, protecting the Green Forest and the peace it held.

After shifting from paw to paw in embarrassment, his mother beckoned him with the twitch of a snout, motioning to follow a patted-down path that curved east. He was drawn out of his thoughts by the excitement of leaving camp that coursed through him like liquid fire. It would be his first time seeing the territory, and he couldn't wait.

Coyote's mother, Dawn, looked energetic too, but for a slightly different reason. He could smell fear coming off of her pelt, and guessed that she was scared of letting him take this huge step. Dawn had always been a protective mother since his sister died, so she had devoted her parent life to keeping him safe. And now, here he was, going into the unknown.

Coyote could understand how his mother wouldn't want to let go, but even so, he had to grow up some time. And that time was upon him. He bounded across the pathway, cutting in front of his mother by accident and causing her to stumble.

Dawn steadied herself just before falling, and she almost seemed to mutter a growl before continuing to walk. Coyote felt his tail droop. Even if she was an over-protective mother, she was still his mother, and he had to respect her. One of the most valued qualities in the Shadow tribe was respect, and Coyote had to make sure he became the best Shadow Wolf he could ever be.

He slowed down a bit so that he was next to his mother, making an effort to keep his eyes on the path ahead and not the glimpses of black and white fur between the tall trees of the forest. Dawn padded on in silence for a few moments, then finally glanced sideways at her son. "You really want to be out there, don't you?"

Coyote nodded swiftly, determination sparkling in his eyes. "More than anything in the world. I want to be the best Shadow Wolf that I can be, and that means protecting the forest and the tribes at all costs."

Dawn closed her eyes and smiled. "That's a very noble goal, Coyote. I remember when I was getting ready for my first training ceremony. All I could think about was learning to fight and protect the tribes from Outsiders. It's definitely the experience of a lifetime when you're standing side-by-side with your kin, facing off against a bear, or a fox, or even a coyote." She opened her eyes and winked at him.

"That's how I got my name, right? You said I looked just like the first Outsider you chased off, a coyote!" He said, wagging his tail at the memory of his mother's stories.

Dawn grinned, seeming to remember the event herself. "Right, that's how you got your name. Pretty cool, huh? And then there was tha-" her words were cut off by a yelp as a dark shape shot out from the trees and bowled her over. Coyote leaped away, his fur spiked and a low, trembling growl emitting from his throat as he desperately tried to evaluate what was happening.

Dawn blundered around underneath the stranger's claws, but Coyote noted in puzzlement that she wasn't really fighting him, just batting at his fur. "Get off you lump! What in the Moon's name are you doing?!"

The strange new Shadow Wolf rolled off of her and sprang to his paws. He had bright hazel eyes that held a mischievous sparkle, and Coyote became even more confused. This wolf didn't look like he meant any harm, and his mother seemed to know him. Who was he? He stayed back, crouched and bristling, but the growl died to an uncertain whimper. "M-mother...?"

Dawn got to her paws and shook herself out, all the while glaring at the stranger. "Really, Blaze? Did you have to attack me on the way to Coyote's First Training?!" She said, ignoring Coyote's quivering voice for a moment.

The huge wolf hung his head sheepishly, then turned towards Coyote. "This is Coyote?! You've gotten so much bigger!" he said, trying to change the subject.

Coyote, deciding that this "Blaze" was okay, sat down and studied his face. "You've seen me before? When? I don't remember you."

Dawn glanced between the two wolves before seeing that an introduction was in order. "Oh! That's right, you wouldn't have remembered Blaze, since you were only a new pup that last time he came to visit. This is my brother, Blaze. Hard worker, skilled fighter, annoying beyond belief."

Blaze chuckled and puffed out his chest. "All important parts about being a brother! Ooh, and speaking of siblings, where's Feather?" He added as an afterthought, searching the path for her slim figure.

Coyote just gaped at him, shocked. He... he didn't know?

Dawn froze, her eyes flashing with renewed pain and grief. She stood in silence, and Blaze looked at her in confusion. "Did I say something...?" He muttered.

Finally, she managed to speak. "Feather... died. She got sick, and she was so weak that..." Dawn broke off, then took a deep breath. "That she couldn't fight it off."

Blaze ducked his head in sorrow, grief flitting across his face. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know..."

Dawn smiled weakly, but Coyote could tell that she was just barely managing it. He whimpered himself. His sister had been a happy, care-free wolf, and he would always remember her for it. Still, he recalled somberly, the strange and powerful illness had been just too much for her small body to handle.

After that was when everything changed, and his mother became more and more protective of him. Coyote himself had vowed to become stronger, so that he could live on with Feather's memory beside him.

"Don't worry about it. You couldn't have known. Anyways, let's get back to the trail, shall we?" Dawn said, a note of finality in her voice.

Blaze nodded, and Coyote shuffled forwards once again. They walked along the winding path for a few more minutes before coming across a wide river. Dawn paid it no mind and trotted down the sloping bank, heading towards the water's edge. Blaze veered off next, and then Coyote followed, peering into the trees on the other side. Was there someone there? He thought he saw two sharp blue eyes blink at him from the opposite bank, but he couldn't be sure.

He picked his way down to the river, enjoying the sensation of sand softly cushioning his paws underfoot. Dawn shot him a worried sidelong glance, and he fluffed up indignantly. Sand isn't going to hurt me, Dawn! He thought. Ignoring her doubtful look, he skidded down to the river's edge and stared into the water. It flowed with a clear blue hue that glittered in the late morning light, appearing as if it were made of crystal.

Blaze was gazing into the woods on the other side, his hazel eyes floating from one point to another, as if he were doing a routine check. "See that over there? Those trees? That's Ice Territory. Not that the Ice Wolves care, seeing as they roam all over the Green Forest. Still, most of them hang around those parts, doing nothing but running around and babbling about how free they are." He explained in a demeaning voice, as if they were no more than pesky birds. 

Dawn stiffened at his indifferent tone. "They're wolves too, y'know. You think they don't care about anything? Go and see their tribe camp, then. You can see just how uncaring they are." she said sharply.

Blaze flattened his ears, a gesture of apology. "Woah, I'm sorry. No need to get worked up, sis. This is supposed to be a fun occasion!" He yipped, bounding into the river and onto a stone set solidly in the shallows. Coyote could just barely make out a trail of similar grey shapes that led across the flowing water to the opposing bank.

Dawn flicked her tail at him to go before her, and he hopped onto the first rock. As Coyote passed her, he could have sworn she murmured something under her breath, but it was too quiet to hear clearly. His mind, however, was drawn back to the stone, which felt smooth and slippery compared to the soft dirt of the forest, or the fine sand scattered by the river. He flexed his paws instinctively, his claws gripping the surface as best as they could.

"Go on, you can make it!" His mother urged from behind, and Coyote tentatively moved a paw forward. He experimented on the rock for a moment, getting used to the feel of it, before taking a sudden breath and leaping onto the next one. The distance wasn't too far, but for his short puppy legs it was tough. Blaze easily sprang from one stone to the next, and Coyote bit back a bark of frustration. He wanted to prove himself to all who he met, but it would be hard when wolves like Blaze were always three steps ahead of him.

Coyote shook his fur out and crouched, muscles tensed. I need to show them I can be the best Shadow Wolf I can be! He pushed off, forepaws hugged to his chest in front of him. With a thud he landed on the next stone, and he readied himself again. With another leap he made it to the next one, and then the one after that. Soon he was only a few steps away from the other side. Confident now, he jumped once more, his tail sailing behind him. But when he landed, Coyote's paws slid on the slick surface, and he careened off into the river.

"Coyote!" Dawn howled, and she charged into the flowing water, tossing up spray all around her. He spluttered as his head went under the waves, and desperately tried to paddle. But even with his best efforts, Coyote felt himself sink, his churning paws doing nothing to steady him. With panic engulfing him, he worked even harder, striking out as far as he could with his legs, but all it did was send him spinning deeper into the river. PHe gagged on the water, his thrashing becoming desperate as he lost the little bit of breath he had in him. Blackness edged in on his vision, and his lungs burned with the need for air.

Suddenly, the water above him stirred, and he felt a tug on his scruff.
A large white paw flashed in front of his muzzle, and he felt the way it pushed against the river's current. The water seemed to grow brighter, and he realized he was being dragged up to the surface. Coyote's head broke free of the rushing river, and he gasped, air flooding back into his lungs. He twisted around to see who had saved him, but a muffled growl made him stop squirming and instinctively go limp. His tail dragged in the current, creating a "V" that mingled with the flow of the water.

Within a few seconds, though it seemed like ages, he felt solid ground brush up against his pelt, and he carefully got to his feet. Upon looking back across the river, he saw his mother, still wading in the blue water, and Blaze a ways off on the shore. Wait, then who's carrying me? Coyote thought. A voice distracted him, and he turned to see who it was.

"You should be more careful next time. A pup your size could get swept away in an instant in a faster current."

Coyote bristled, not knowing how this stranger could think of that river as anything but fast. It had almost pulled me away! he thought indignantly.

The one who had saved him, a pure white she-wolf, continued speaking.

"This is your first time over the river, correct? You'd better get used to it if you want to go to training."

"With all due respect, I think our pups can handle themselves." Blaze butted in icily. He stared with narrowed eyes at the she-wolf, who Coyote could only guess was an Ice Wolf.

The white wolf merely nodded, her blue eyes blinking slowly. Blaze growled and shoved past her, his tail falling protectively over Coyote's flank. "Come on." He ordered gruffly. Coyote was surprised at his hostility, but he still did as he was told. This was, after all, his mother's brother, which made Blaze his superior. Still, he glanced over his shoulder at the mysterious Ice Wolf who had saved his life.

She followed him with an unnervingly calm sapphire gaze, not moving from her spot on the bank. Coyote wondered why exactly she had been there. It was almost as if she was waiting for him to fall, like she knew it was going to happen.

The patter of water sprinkling against sand drew his attention, and he saw that Dawn was just now getting out of the river, small droplets spinning away from her pelt as she shook herself off. She must not be the fastest swimmer, he thought to himself, seeing as she just got out now. Dawn looked from her brother to the Ice Wolf, confused.

"Oh, thank you for saving him! I thought for sure he would be swept right away!" Coyote bristled, but his mother continued without noticing. "Coyote, did you thank this nice wolf?"

"Oh, er, thank you for rescuing me," he muttered.

The Ice Wolf smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Don't worry, I get it. You don't want to rely on someone else. That's what the spirit of freedom is like."

Exactly! Coyote thought, surprised that she seemed to know what he was feeling.

Just then, Blaze nudged him from behind, a bit harder than necessary. "Come on," he growled, "we're wasting time." Coyote was pushed into the trees before he could say goodbye to the strange Ice Wolf, and Dawn blocked his view as she trotted up to her brother.

"What was that all about, Blaze?" She inquired crossly. "You were so rude, even after she saved Coyote's life!"

Blaze just shook his head, plodding on through the trail. "It doesn't matter. You worry too much."
He said frostily.

Dawn snorted, and Coyote's tail drooped, feeling like he was the cause of their tension. Blaze stared straight ahead, his care-free attitude gone now. A heavy silence settled upon the three Shadow Wolves as they padded along the earthen path, making Coyote squirm in uncomfortableness.

He tried to take in his surroundings, noticing the bright blue and black birds that twittered and swooped among the trees. Once he caught two of them fighting, and he was surprised to see how vicious the pretty birds were. I wouldn't want to mess with one of them, he thought to himself, then realized he was thinking about a bird. No way! I would eat them for breakfast! He amended, his chest puffed out proudly. Nothing was going to stop him!

"We're here." Blaze barked, startling Coyote out of his thoughts. He peered around his uncle's legs to see vast clearing, full of different colored wolves who looked very, very big.

Coyote shrank back, thinking, This isn't a bird... Maybe I can't take it!

{Author's Note: woo, longest chapter I've ever written! :3 anywho, once I get out the next two chapters, the real story will start! I hope you all will like it! And don't forget to comment anytime you see a spelling mistake or anything. I want to make sure I get this right! ^-^}