There is nothing that is quite as special as the passing of power from one generation to the next. There is magnificent beauty in new life entering the world. Each one of these lives carries near limitless potential. The plant pushes its way out of soil and reaches up with tender leaves to the sunlight. An egg cracks as a new life finds the strength to push free of its bonds. The infant leaves the womb and takes its first breath. Each of these inspire awe.

  It was in a quaint cave that one such event occurred. Five wolves sat, feeling a sense of wonder as they looked upon the beauty in front of them. Five infant wolves laid on the hard packed ground in the center of the cave. Despite the feelings of hope and love that filled the air, a heavy feeling of sadness accompanied it, a feeling of longing for a different future. One by one, each adult wolf moved to the center and picked up an infant. The first was a wolf with piercing silver eyes. The second was the largest of the five adult wolves, with a body marred with scars. The third was a wolf with gleaming golden fur, accented with faintly glowing runescript. The forth was a lithe wolf who moved with silent grace. The fifth and final was a wolf with dark black fur, whose muzzle was adorned with purple runescript.

  It was at this moment that one of the infants began to stir. He was being held by the silver-eyed wolf by the scruff of his neck as she walked near a wall of the cave. Arriving at the wall, the silver-eyed wolf sat down with the now awake infant and placed him gently on the ground. This baby wolf looked around the cave to see each of the other four pairs of wolves had also separated themselves from the group and retreated to positions of quiet. He returned his focus to the beautiful wolf in front of him. Her silver eyes showed vast intelligence and wisdom. She leaned forward and began to lovingly clean and groom the young infant.

  In that moment, the young infant wolf felt peace, warmth, and love. This moment was not destined to last. The silver-eyed wolf broke from her caretaking actions and gave a keening howl. She gazed at the other four adult wolves and waited for them to return the howl. After the fourth return, the silver-eyed wolf returned her gaze to the infant in front of her. She brought her muzzle forward and touched it gently to the infant’s. Words bloomed in the young’s wolf mind.

  Alpha has chosen you of this litter to give you a name and her blessing. She gives you the name of Alphus. Prepare to receive her blessing.

  The young wolf, now named Alphus, did not understand the words appearing in his vision. He looked to the adult wolf, Alpha, whose muzzle was still touched to his. As he watched, the silver coloring in her eyes began to leave. The color pooled in her tear ducts and flowed down her muzzle. The color continued to flow up the muzzle of young Alphus and entered his eyes. Alphus's eyes flashed bright silver before the color settled into his irises.

  On the outside, all that changed was the color of his eyes. On the inside, Alphus became stronger in mind, in body, and in character. A feeling of warmth flowed across his whole body. It started in his eyes and went all the way along his body to the tip of his tail. When the changes were completed, more words appeared in his vision.

  You have received the Blessing of Alpha. +5 to Intelligence and Charisma. Leadership characteristic unlocked. +2 to each other characteristic.

  The words that appeared seemed to make more sense to Alphus this time. He understood that they indicated growth. As soon as he had finished his thoughts, he heard another howl from Alpha. The howl meant more this time. It communicated joy and success, but also sorrow. Alphus turned his head to look at the other pairs of wolves and his breath caught. This same process was happening to each pair.

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  The golden-furred wolf leaned down and gently pressed her nose to the sleeping infant in front of her. The golden hue began to retreat from the corners of her fur and collect in her muzzle, before continuing across to the infant wolf. The grey fur of the infant instantly became golden. Small runes began to appear across the beautiful fur. Once all of the gold had left her, the adult wolf raised her head and howled. Once again, this howl echoed deep inside Alphus. He could feel the joy and excitement in the howl, but also the sorrow.

  As the howl came to an end, the large muscled wolf brought his muzzle down to the infant in front of him. Alphus was curious what change would appear in this adult wolf, as he had no unique coloring. As he thought that, a red glow began to emanate from the large wolf’s entire body. The red glow collected into his muzzle before passing down to the sleeping infant. Alphus watched in shock as the adult’s frame seemed to shrink, the muscles becoming less pronounced. At the same time, the young wolf on the ground noticeably grew in size and began developing the beginnings of a muscular stature. Once the changes were complete, the now smaller adult wolf let out a howl. This howl was filled with much more regret and sorrow than the previous wolves.

  Alphus looked between the last two pairs to see which would be next. Slowly, the small and lithe wolf began to impart her blessing on the infant in front of her. She began emitting a soft green glow that collected and flowed to the young wolf at her feet. Fewer changes were noticeable, but it was still obvious that the young wolf had become more streamline. Alphus guessed the young wolf would be the quietest and fastest of them. Another emotion filled howl sounded in the cave. This howl spoke of freedom and excitement, yet it was twinged with a sense of reluctance and regret.

  Alphus turned to look at the pitch black wolf and the infant he had with him. As Alphus expected, the black color began to collect and pass to the infant, as this happened, the runes that had characterized the adult’s muzzle migrated to the infant’s muzzle. The once black wolf let out a harrowing howl. This howl contained much more raw emotion than the previous. The howl was so emotion-filled that it brought images to Alphus’s mind. The first image showed an exhilarated black-furred wolf as he left on his first hunt. Next he saw a powerful sun beam bursting through a storm cloud. He was witness to the collapse of an old and weary wolf while a mewling infant found their feet, then the same old wolf abandoning the infant wolf as the infant cried out for help. Alphus found himself lost in the powerful feelings it contained.

  When the howl ended, silence settled upon the cave. The once easily distinguishable adult wolves now looked nearly identical. Alphus's curious gaze soon drifted to the area around him. The cave they were in was of a medium size. It was a single circular room characterized by rough walls. Five more adult wolves could fit into the area before the cave would begin to feel overly full. Soft moonlight and a cool wind drifted in from the only exit. Grass stopped growing less than a foot in from the entrance to the cave.

  Alphus was jolted from his thoughts as Alpha once again brought her muzzle down to his. Soon thoughts, feelings, and images began flooding his mind.

  Alpha guided the four other wolves in a hunt against a large-hooved animal. Alpha stood side by side with the other four wolves. The five wolves curled up next to each other on a cold night. The five wolves ran in the forest, the wind rustling through their fur, their howls echoing through the night.

  The message was clear to Alphus. Alpha was saying, “Guide them. Protect them. Lead them.”

  The images began to be more educational and less filled with emotion. He saw the five wolves work together on numerous hunts. He saw Alpha observing various animals and monsters. The images focused on two monsters in particular, goblins and humans. Each scene that contained one of the two monsters was filled with terror and anger. Soon, the images came to an end.

  Alpha howled again and the four other adults stood. Alpha moved to the entrance of the cave and howled a second time. The four adults moved to join her. Once all together, they turned, looked at the five pups, and ran off into the night.

  Alphus knew they would not be coming back. The events of the night were too much for the young wolf and he soon drifted off into a restless, fitful sleep.