My first attempt at a post. I'm probably missing so many details! Will edit later. Everyone welcome to join in!

There were thoughts now beyond just her basic needs. The den was very familiar now, and she moved about it confidently. It kept her attention for the most part, but, over the last few days, the opening of the den kept drawing her eyes. Signe was curious. Wolves came and went from the portal, and, for a while, she'd thought them gone for good when they left. Now she knew that they could come back, and a thought was forming in her tiny mind.

There was somewhere else.

It was a strange feeling that accompanied this thought. Her whole world was the den; her sky was its ceiling. The concept that there was something outside of all her known memories was exciting. Fortunately, the albino pup had yet to learn fear and knew no reason other than instinct to stay by her mother's side, but her curiosity was beginning to overpower the latter urges; so much so that she had padded halfway to the opening of the den before she'd stopped to think about the larger white wolf behind her. The howl of the wind called Signe onward in a language she didn't understand but was eager to learn as she was when Mother spoke to her. Her head tilted as the wind howled again, and a smile split her muzzle.

She howled back as loudly and strongly as she could then giggled as the wind answered. The Wolf Outside was playing with her! Excited, she turned to look back at her mother and siblings to see if they wanted to play, too.

Zeek continued to take a lackadaisical approach to Papa's instruction not to wander. At four months old, even the pudgy pup had been made somewhat lanky by the spur of growth upon him. He was utterly confident that soon, very soon, he would be tall as Papa — no, taller than Papa! And the Big Bad Wolf would run scared from Zacharie. It all made sense in his head.

Between the buffets of wind, a sound pricked his ears. Zeek's curly tail gave a wag at the high-pitched howl, the irresistible impulse to answer welling up in his throat in quick reply. His gravelly little song echoed off the grey mountainside, and he bounce-ran after the first voice. Maybe this would be a new playmate- er, practice-mate! For battle! Yeah!

The white pup froze as another voice rose above the first. Her little ears swiveled to focus on the sound as every fur on her nearly vibrated with a mixture of excitement and confusion. The latter quickly vanished as she gave into the former emotion. Another! Another to talk to! Maybe even to play with!

Signe gave another howl; this time, she poured so much of her happiness into it, she thought she would run out of howls. She spun in place, wobbled, then sat hard, tail scything the ground. Red eyes squinted into the space outside of the den's mouth. Who would appear? The last howl hadn't sounded like the big one. As far as Signe knew, she and her siblings were the only pups in her small world. Were there more. . .out there?

The big howl was forgotten now--the white pup wanted to see the smaller howl's owner! In her little mind, she already designated them as a new playmate.

They answered! Excitement doubling, tripling, Zeek's response turned more into a caterwaul of unrestrained enthusiasm as he bolted even faster. Between trees and over rocks, and then!

There they were!

He skidded into a play bow, panting curly tail lifted high. Salut!

She was little, and all white, except for a pink nose and pink eyes! He sized her up and decided he could probably take her in a fight. But she frankly sounded so overjoyed to meet him, Zeek wasn't sure what to do with himself. His littermates never called for him so excited. Was he supposed to do something different, here?

The white pup blinked as a body slid into the mouth of the den. Such colors! So far, her life had been a palette of whites--from herself to her environment--so this wolf's coat of browns and greys dazzled her eyes, and, when he spoke, it made her giggle for reasons she had no words for. Her tail scythed the air.

"Shaa-loo!" Signe replied, head tilted as she dropped into a playful bow. She blinked, "Wha shaa-loo? Chu shaa-loo? M'Siggy!"

Signe searched her small memory. Had she learned what a "shaa-loo" was? She had learned so many words so far-! She knew the words for her Mama and her siblings, the den, and a few names. She smiled. A new word!

Unafraid, she approached the new wolf and began sniffing, committing to memory this wonderful stranger.

Saah-loo-t He corrected with exaggeration, snickering at her poor French. He was realizing a lot of folks didn't seem to have the knack for it. Zeek rolled his eyes, proud of himself for having the ability to converse much better in the superior tongue. It's hello, in Français. I'm Zacharie.

He sniffed her back, circling the pale she-wolf with tip-tapping paws awash in eagerness. And then with a yippy growl, dropped into play-bow again. Little teeth snapped the air by her face, I'm a warrior! Bet you can't beat me Siggy!