Edith sucked in a cold breath the moment she seen Kira walk into the Healer's Cave smelling of fresh blood. "Little Moon what happened to you?" She hastily called out dropping what she was doing and rushing over to Kira's side.
Kira shrugged while showing a lazy smile. "I had a slight accident while testing this new she wolf that wants to join the pack." Hearing this Edith frowned hearing her say such things in a relaxed manner.
"That is something for the Elders to do not you personally." She said pulling Kira over to one of the stone benches a little further inside.
Following Edith's instructions she took a seat and waited for her to come back with her supplies.
"If it were any other day and wolf I wouldn't have bothered but grandmother took such great pains to find someone to test me a little more and when I recognized who she was I decided to test her." She said as Edith came back carrying an intricately carved wooden box.
Frown at her still Edith moved with a practiced calm while asking her. "What have you done to anger grandmother so much that she is willing to test you in these ways dangerous ways?" She asked concerned for the younger girl.
"I went and did what my mother had done but instead of cowering I asked for her to test me." She replied when Edith lifted her hand away from her face.
Angrily dabbing at the wound with a soft cloth Edith glared at Kira. "So that's why such a strange thing happened at dinner the other night! Have you completely taken leave of your senses Kira, why would you do such a thing to grandmother?" Her voice came out a bit high pitched though it was clear she disapproved of what she had done.
Kira remained silent as Edith carefully went over the wound. "This isn't some random whim that was made without any proper thought or planning Edith. I've spoken to her about this countless times before and she has refused to put in the request for me so I took it into my own hands to put it in just like...that's not the point, I am willing to go through whatever testing grandmother wants to put me through to prove myself ready." Edith heaved a helpless sigh knowing that her own father shared the same sentiment and would have volunteered to go with Kira if not for the new baby.
"You can't blame Grandmother for worrying over you so much Little Moon as the Pine Wood pack's territory falls outside of Thaleia's territory meaning anything could happen to you." Edith said while inspecting the plaster placed on the side of Kira's face. Understanding this quite well she even suspected Mireya had a hand in covering up the truth.
"Thank you for helping me again Edith and I will do my best to make sure there isn't a next time and I won't hold you up." She said showing off a cheeky expression that had Edith feeling rather old.
She wasn't given much time to dwell on the feeling as the large group from the early afternoon had returned covered in dark smudges, water spots and hands so dirty her mother might faint from the sight. The round faced bright eyed pups were all excitedly trying to show off their finds to her as a much older apprentice tried his best to keep some semblance of order. She greeted their enthusiasm with a dazzling smile of her own which only worsened the situation as they all tried being the first one to show off.
Alpha Grant entered the main pack hall with one of the many visiting ambassadors from the far norther territories. During their talks he noticed that Ambassador Sun showed a greater interest in their livestock than the stone they mined. There weren't many packs that liked the concept of rising food, meaning such skill wasn't as widely spread as hunting and survival techniques. Many youth who came to learn from his pack didn't bother with this aspect of how they survived so long on this mountain.
"Would you be willing to give some insight into how your pack chose the animals you did." The soft spoken Ambassador Sun asked while ignoring the parting crowd.
Alpha Grant noticed the familiar figure of the Little Moon standing within the crowd, reminding him of a certain matter. "I am sure that Head Elder Hanae would be willing to speak with you on this matter. You will have to excuse me Ambassador Sun another matter has suddenly come up, Reed come and show the Ambassador to the Head Elder's meeting chambers. Little Moon we need to speak follow me. Hearing the words that were spoken a bit louder than the first caught everyone's attention and interest.
Kira remained impassive at suddenly being single out by Alpha Grant for an unknown reason.
Stepping into Alpha Grant's office Kira noticed the room lack a personal touch, where the very hall held the beautifully carved history of the Stonemason pack or the family portrait that had been carved within her grandmother's office.
"Little Moon have a seat."
Seated she mildly wondered if this had anything to do with the recent beatings she had been handing out recently. A few parents had already come over complaining to her grandmother about it yet she wasn't scolded and the group that went crying to their parents had still come back for more.
Alpha Grant gave a slight frown when noticing how unbothered the Little Moon seemed by this rather sudden and unexpected summons. Most wolves would become jittery messes that would start pouring out confessions of guilt with only a look from him.
"Kira I need you to answer me truthfully, did you willingly consent to the test Head Elder Hanae has issued?" He asked the question as one would a friend in a kind and gentle manner.
Out of everything she thought he might bring up it never occurred to her that he might bring up that one, so it took her a moment to reply. "Alpha Grant it was actually me who asked for grandmother to test my skills." She spoke softly while keeping her eyes slightly averted though it didn't stop her from noticing the alpha's expression growing worse.
"Kira do you understand the risks you will be taking by requesting to undergo this test?"
He noticed her lack of reaction to this question and frowned thinking he would need to have a long conversation with Hanae afterwards concerning this problem.
There was a very good reason that elder pups were no longer allowed to participate in these kinds of tests, the death rate was too high and birth rates were dropping. The High Council that came about started enforcing certain rules to help this situation greatly ensuring young pups made it to adulthood. So testing would only be done on young wolves who'd not only went through their first change but completed training that would help them first stabilize their emotional and physical state.
The reason wolves underwent this dangerous test was considered a rite of passage that proved they understood the pack teachings they learned since young pups.
Kira cocked her head to the side showing her confusion. "Alpha Grant I am a bit confused on what you're implying. Grandmother will be testing me to see if I am prepared to leave for the Pine Wood pack to uncover the truth behind the deaths of my parents." She said in a strong unwavering voice that allowed one to feel her determination through words alone.
Now it was Alpha Grant's turn to be utterly baffled by her, he'd seen the request form that could not be mistaken for anything other than a Rite of Passage test with both Hanae and her name on it.