Dante

This takes place on one of the nights of the full moon before Faust returned

It's another full moon, and while everyone is starting to get the hang of how things are during the day around it, full moons are still new for the newcomers. They're not used to being around wolves who don't have to shift with the rise of the Goddess' light. One of those 'perks' to being royal; we aren't bound by the moon. We still feel her call, and we can be temperamental, but we don't have to shift.

Which is a good thing since this place can't be run without thumbs.

As the sun sinks lower, everyone gets ready for the night's events. Those in work in the communications towers are waking from their naps and getting some light grub before their shifts start. Patrols who walk the parameter will also pick amongst those they've been training for the past month to go with them. Usually seen as a punishment as it means they're denied going on the hunts to recover food, but some like doing it.

As I make my way down to make a new announcement, I prepare to make a lot of youngsters unhappy. Looking out over the vast array of bodies, so many have already shifted while the royals and Alphas get their teams set up for their various activities.

"Alright everyone, listen up. We're going to change things up from what you're used to."

Standing in a small clearing that was made for gatherings such as this, one of the side gates is getting opened in preparation for the hunts. There's a whole lot of eyes on me now, excited and glowing.

"I know some of you youngsters are used to going out on the hunts, but I'm going to change that up."

There's a chorus of howls, yips, and voices that rise in denial which has me smiling. This is their one chance to let off some steam, and they think I'm taking it away. Raising my hands, even the Alphas are looking at me as if I've lost my mind, but I just wait till the noise quiets to dulled annoyed whispers.

"Those of you who're under sixteen will be staying behind..."

Before I can continue there's a rise in complaints, so I clap my hands to show I've had enough of their drama, then continue.

"You'll be taken to the obstacle course. You're not usually allowed to go near it but I've gotten reports that quite a few of you have wanted to run it, so now will be your chance. While the others are working on bringing back food, you can test your mettle on the tracks and obstacles. A few of the trainers have already agreed that they'll record times for those who show promise. If you're not wanting to compete and just wanting to practice on it, that's alright as well."

That succeeded in shutting them up and making at least the majority of them happy. Now for the rest.

"Those of you who're sixteen and older are still allowed to hunt, but know that a tight ship will be run on you. If you show that you're just fooling around in a serious situation, you'll be banned from the hunts until trust is earned again. We have moonlight runs for that. If that's what you're wanting, make sure you're in the right group."

With that said, groups start dispersing more until I see three males standing off to the side. Triplets. Seeing them makes my heart twist as it reminds me of the brothers I lost. While not identical, they look so similar they could pass off as each other if one weren't paying attention. The main differences being their hair lengths and eye colors. They must be the Lunar Soul's Omega's children.

Usually they'd be tasked with staying behind to watch and guard the youngsters, but if I recall right, they're nearing their twentieth year, so they can go on the hunt if they wish. Approaching them as they watch the others, one looks over just as I'm about to them. His gold eyes are bright as he takes me in for a second then lowers them, bowing his head.

"Good evening, Alpha Dante."

An inch shorter than I am at six foot six, it would make the other two matching up at six foot five. Nodding my head to them all as the other two also lower their heads, I look out to the scattering mass.

"Good evening. Have the three of you decided what you want to do?"

The three of them look up at me with smiles on their faces as they nod, looking over to Alpha Fen who will be leading a hunt with one of the royals who will shift with the others. Their excitement radiates off of them as I motion them over, the moon starting to rise. Soon, just about everyone who isn't royal will be shifted and impatient to get going.

There's six hunting packs, split up into smaller groups so as not to scare game while on the hunting trails, each going into different areas. Alpha Kristos wanted to take lead on the moonlight run; those who aren't hunting and just out to run, romp, play. Free of their youngsters and getting time to themselves or with their mates.

Those very youngsters on the other hand will be here at the course, running it in their wild shape. I'd gotten so many complaints from the others on how the kids wanted access to it, but we couldn't make the time as the others were using it for their own training. This will be the test run to see how they take it, see if it's even worth it to make a window of time for them during regular days.

Once the gathering area has emptied of most of the bodies, there's a small crowd off to the side with the trainers leading the way to the training grounds. The variance in sizes among the wolves has me rubbing my chin, but I smile anyway. My youngest siblings, twin girls, are twelve, and they already have high scores on courses like the layout we have here. It was set to be moderately challenging; not too hard yet not too easy for the newcomers. If the youngsters can beat it at their ages now, they'll prove to be better than their seniors in no time.

Combining Lunar Soul with Grotto Falls equals out to seventy-four wolves, but as I found out, not all their wolves were present when the bargain was made. Both Packs have wolves who are away at college with a few from Lunar Soul having jobs elsewhere who hadn't made it to Grotto Falls yet before they moved again. With the purpose of getting a higher education in order to help their Packs, they were notified of what was going on but otherwise left to their own devices. Their tithes to their leaders still comes in but instead of going to their Alphas, it comes to me for the upkeep of this place.

So in updating that number, I came to find there'll be a total of ninety-two. And that's not counting the unborn of the pregnant women. While the Packs did take to their 'Packhouses', they are still building other homes as well to expand. A couple of the Midnight Fang wolves are the architects around here, but I was glad to learn quite a few of the Grotto Falls adults were carpenters and construction workers as well.

Breathing in deeply, I smile. Even though outside these walls our world is rocky, in here, everything is coming together like it should. As if pieces to a puzzle. Now I just need my brother to return safely, hopefully with some good news, and we can move on from there.

🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔

✰ \(‾▿‾\) 𝔇𝔬𝔫'𝔱 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔤𝔢𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔳𝔬𝔱𝔢 (/‾▿‾)/ ✰