This will be a good day.

Desert had told herself that, over and over, for several days leading up to this, and even more the night before. She had repeated the thought so many times not because she was trying to convince herself, but because she was taking comfort in the thought that there could still be good days.

It had been a month since her brother, Draco, had banished Pawnee and redeclared war on Wind Pack. Everyone had fully accepted him as their alpha, and Desert had noticed many of the dogs were holding their heads higher than they had been previously. But they weren't any less hungry.

A loud bark sounded to gather everyone into the center of the clearing. The early morning sun was climbing over the treetops, making the frost on the branches sparkle. Normally winter should have been drawing to a close, but this one had been particularly vicious. The prey had become more and more scarce before winter had even started, and Desert had little hope that things were going to improve.

But she wasn't going to think about that today. Today would be a good day.

Draco stood before everyone now with his back to the overhang, his presence commanding in spite of his gaunt frame. "We are here today to welcome a new trainee into our ranks," he began. "I have complete confidence that she will serve her pack with her whole self, whether that be defending it from outside dangers, providing food, or healing its injuries. Minerva, daughter of Desert and Balder, please step forward."

Desert smiled. This was why it was a good day. Today her daughter, her little fighter, was going to become a trainee. Minerva's brother and sister hadn't survived the famine, and neither had her father, but she had held on despite the odds, and Desert could not have been prouder.

She stepped forward now in front of Draco, her dark face characteristically serious and solemn. Tansy, the preceptor, was now beside him also. He continued, "You have chosen the path of the defender. You will now spend your days learning and training to become the best you can be. Your father defended this pack with dedication, and your mother continues to. We trust that you will do the same."

Draco then stepped back and Tansy stretched out her short neck to touch her nose to Minvera's, although she had to stoop down in order for the Bulldog to reach. "May Siglitun's strength and courage be bestowed upon you that you may defend your pack from any dangers it faces, and may his blessings be on your training."

The surrounded dogs began to cheer, with Desert doing her best to be the loudest. Minerva wasn't one to broadcast her emotions, but Desert knew she was excited for her new rank. Any dog would have been excited to get out of the clearing and finally explore the forest for the first time.

As the cheers began to die down, Desert saw Minerva begin to turn away, but Draco suddenly began talking again. "This past winter is the worst we have faced in years. Minerva's brother and sister, Caerus and Skadi should have also become trainees today, but they were also stolen from us by this accursed famine. Nevertheless, I say to all of you again that Night Pack will not be defeated by this. We have many young dogs who will rise up and fight for their pack, dogs who will not let the mistakes of their parents define them."

Desert guessed this statement was directed towards Pawnee's sons, who were two months younger than Minerva. She had noticed that both they and their mother, Chloe, had refused to talk about Pawnee at all since his banishment. Desert couldn't guess whether it was because they missed him or resented him or both, but she remembered well how much Pawnee and Chloe had loved each other. Before this hunger took everything away from everyone.

"You are our hope and our future," Draco said, finishing. "So go and be who you're meant to be."

A few more dogs cheered, but otherwise the ceremony was over. Desert came up to Minerva and gave her an affectionate nuzzle. "Look at that, you're free," she said with a smile. "How does it feel?"

"The same, I guess," Minerva answered with a shrug. "It'll probably be different once I actually start training."

"Well, that will be very soon," Desert said. "You start today."

"Will you be training me?" Minerva asked. "I didn't know if there was a rule about that, or anything."

Desert tilted her head thoughtfully. "Not a rule, necessarily, at least as far as I know. We'll still see plenty of each other, don't worry."

"I wasn't."

Minerva looked away without saying anything else and Desert repressed a sigh. Sometimes it was so hard to tell what her daughter was thinking or feeling. She had always been reserved, and after her father and siblings had died it only got worse.

"Your cousins are going to miss you," Desert said, attempting to restart the conversation. "They look up to you, you know. But I suppose you'll be glad they'll be out of your fur, huh?"

"Yeah. There are puppies everywhere."

Desert nodded with a slight smile that was tinged with sadness. The pups had all been born at the worst time. New life was beautiful, but at a time like this there was a constant fear that it would end before it even started.

She looked Minerva in the eyes, deciding to give one last try. "I want you to know that I'm proud of you," she said. "And your father would be too. You're going to be an excellent defender."

"I'll try," Minerva said after a short pause. "I wish he could have been here."

"I know," Desert murmured.

"Well," said Draco, interrupting them as he turned away from his own conversation with Tansy. "It's nice to have a ceremony like this, isn't it? It lifts everyone's spirits."

"Yes, but you spoke for an awful long time," Desert commented. "I didn't know speech-making was a new hobby of yours."

"Any alpha worth their skin knows how to make a good speech," Draco said. "And I've always had a way with words."

Desert snorted. "I suppose that's one way of putting it."

Draco smirked and then turned back to Minerva. "Well, I'm sure you're dying to get out there, so go join Jade and Emma. They'll get you started on your training."

Minerva nodded with a very slight smile and padded off to join the defenders. "Good luck," Desert called.

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Are you worried about her?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Desert asked. "Don't tell me you don't spend every minute worrying about Gannon and Jas."

"Fair enough. But you really shouldn't worry about Minerva. She's strong, and she'll be fine. And so will Gannon and Jas."

"I hope so."

Draco smiled slightly and then changed the subject. "I've been meaning to talk to you about doubling the patrols along the new border. Wind Pack hasn't backed down any, which is to their credit, I suppose. We need to be extra vigilant."

Desert tilted her head. "Shouldn't Pebble be who you talk to about that?"

"Yes, of course," Draco said, "and I have. But I want your input as well. The two of you are the dogs I trust the most."

"Well, I'm flattered," Desert said dryly, then paused for a moment. "I understand your thinking but everyone is overworked as it is. We don't need any more dogs dying of exhaustion."

Draco sighed. "You know I miss Balder too--"

"Don't bring him into this. I'm concerned for the whole pack."

"Which is why we have to protect what we have!" Draco snapped. "We need that territory if we want to live. So sacrifices have to be made. I know that just as well as you do. It will be worth it in the end."

"Will it?" Desert challenged. "Will this war really fix anything, Draco?"

"It has to!" Draco shouted, causing a few dogs to turn and look at them in surprise.

Desert glared at him and Draco took a deep breath and lowered his voice again. "It has to. I've given us all something to fight for. Anything is better than slowly wasting away in our own territory."

Desert closed her eyes. "I'm not going to have this argument with you."

"Then go lead a patrol. Pebble just left with one to the Storm Pack border. Pick whatever dogs you want. I trust you."

He stared at her with the "argue-and-you'll-regret-it" look and Desert turned away without another word. She wasn't sure why she even bothered, considering that her brother was nearly impossible to reason with even in the best of times. She'd had a bad feeling about this conflict ever since it started, but there appeared to be no other alternative. Gathering Juliet and Chloe, she left the clearing and headed east for the Wind Pack border.

"What was that all about?" Juliet asked.

"Nothing," Desert said simply, in a tone that signified she didn't want to talk any further. There was no point in sharing her feelings when nearly the entire pack agreed with Draco. She didn't want any more arguments. This was supposed to be a good day.