Pebble peeked out of the edges of the Pack Den; today, he was officially six months, and 8n a few moments, he would be assigned as a Delta, and the entire pack would work together to train him.

He saw the flash of a black pelt ripple through the grass. The leaves scattered dappled light across Pebble's monotone pelt as he watched silently, his river-blue eyes wide and round with excitement.

There was a thump behind him and he spun, eyes wide as Smallmoon towered over him, a small but pleasant smile on her face.

"You enjoy watching them?" She asked inquisitively.

Reluctantly, Pebble nodded. "Yeah. I, uh...enjoy seeing them run so freely." He looked at his paws and added, "Nobody doubts their loyalty."

Smallmoon visibly winced.

Pebble shuffled his paws. "Sorry."

"No." Smallmoon shook herself. "You're right. Cmon, we have a ceremony to perform."

Pebble's eyes widened. "Really? You really, really mean it?"

Smallmoon nodded. "I really, really do."

The two wolves returned inside of the den. Pebble anxiously sat to the side as Smallmoon launched herself onto the raised stones that decorated her stone and let out a long, loud howl that echoed around the den and out into the forest.

Two wolves entered the den; a black-pelted male known as dusk, and a ginger wolf known as dawn. They were related, and had recently become Deltas.

Close behind them was Doe, Pebble's mother. She had been out training them, apparently.

"Members of The Pack Of Silence," Smallmoon called, "Today we have been blessed with a young pup becoming six months old. Pebble has reached the edge of the Coming Of Age ceremony, where he will become a delta and let his true loyalty and strength shine. Then, he will choose the path he takes; whether that be a hunter, fighter, or scout. Or, prehaps he will wish to be a universal pack member, and hover between the three roles. Whatever he chooses, may the stars guide his paws and light his path."

"May the stars guide his paws and light his path!" The pack cheered. "Pebble! Pebble! Pebble!"

Pebble beamed; he was officially a Delta! He watched Smallmoon bound down from the stone, dismissing the meeting, and walk over to congratulate him.

"Good job, Pebble." Smallmoon said. "You're a Delta. And I must say, you are quite different than your father, pelts aside, in more than just loyalty. What you said earlier was tactful; Eclipse would've simply jumped at me and snarled it in my face before he broke my spine."

Pebble winced.

"..And, you have a heart." Smallmoon crouched down. "I've seen you and your butterfly friends, Pebble."

"I, uh-"

"I'm only teasing." Smallmoon joked. "I want to kickstart your training, so for today, you're with me."

Pebble rounded his eyes. "Really?"

"Really."

Pebble let out an internal cheer as he trotted after Smallmoon.

The two wolves stepped into the sunlight, and Pebble realized just how small he was out in the forest. The trees towered high above his head, and the canopy stretched out as far as he could see. He blanched.

"It would be too much stress for your young legs to walk all the way across the territory after just becoming A delta, so we'll explore the training area for now." Smallmoon said. "Follow me, and remember the path."

Pebble nodded; he was good at remembering things.

Smallmoon led him into a small clearing with grass that reached his shoulders. He let out a growl and swatted one away from his nose, stumbling back and landing on his tail with an, "Oof!"

Smallmoon chuckled and nosed him up. "Silly pup."

"Delta." Pebble corrected hotly, shaking himself off. "But thank you." He added when she fixed him with a playfully exasperated look.

"Don't get too big of a head there, Pebble." Smallmoon joked.

"I won't" Pebble promised.

"Now, you have to know how to defend yourself." Smallmoon instructed. "Think fast!"

Pebble shrieked and dove aside a second before Smallmoon leapt at him. The bigger, older wolf was about the size of a wild boar, making her much quicker than others, but she was still much bigger than Pebble.

She snapped her jaws at Pebble, nearly catching his leg. Pebble weaved through the nearby grass, doing as much twists and turns as he could, Smallmoon close in persuit.

An idea occurred to Pebble and he spun, and dove underneath Smallmoon's stomach as she glided over him.

She skidded on the grass as Pebble ran as fast as he could, lungs burning. He threw himself at a nearby tree and scrambled up it, perching on a branch.

Smallmoon paced around the tree. "That was a nasty trick. But it was smart, and it worked, I'll give you that. You're smart, Pebble, but I believe you've cornered yourself."

She paused and rammed the tree with her paws, shaking it. Pebble blanched.

He got to his paws and nearly fell when the tree was shaken again. He scanned the area for exits, but aside from going up further, there were none.

He had gotten up off of pure adrenaline, but now that he was momentarily safe, he had nothing to go off of. He stared at the hulking tree and blanched again, but shook himself and steadied his paws on the trunk.

The wolf below rammed the trunk again, and Pebble heard a voice.

"Smallmoon, what are you two doing?"

"Pebble's climbing a tree."

"Why?"

"I think it's his own form of evasive maneuvers."

"Oh my stars..Smallmoon, Alpha or not, if my pup falls you are DONE."

"He'll be fine."

Pebble gathered himself and jumped at the tree, ignoring his mother's shout of, "Be careful!" And Smallmoon's bark of, "Don't die!"

The rough bark made for lots of pawholds for Pebble to climb higher, until finally, he was facing the canopy.

Pebble stuck his head above and then pulled his head back with a shriek and he blinked, trying to stop his eyes from burning.

"PEBBLE?!"

"I think I just stared at the sun..."

"..."

"Pebble, you can come down now."

"Uh.."