parents. “Please tell your lord and lady that we offer our personal congratulations for their new daughter and that we would be honored to join them with us in celebration.” Dionne, who was quietly resting behind her husband as her son suckled on her teats, woke up a little earlier when the Moon Kingdom’s servant first arrived and also gave her a bowing gesture to show her thanks. “We sent a messenger towards your kingdom only moments ago with the same request. I’m sure Taylor and Renee would be honored that we join together in a time of peace and jubilation to officially add our children’s names to the Great Mother’s book.”

The white wolf bowed her head again before leaping her way back to her home kingdom with the reply. Within ten to fifteen minutes, their gray servant returned with the same news that the Moon Servant had given them. 

“Everything’s been agreed to, Sire,” The gray servant bowed in front of the members of the Sun Council once he returned. The Sun Council consisted of the former Alpha, Laxel, the current Alphas, and about three other wolves that were considered wise within the kingdom. “They insist that we follow the regulations of the Peace-Gathering Cave by bringing enough fresh kill to offer to the other.”

“Yes, yes; we all know that already,” Laxel told him. “It’s not like us older ones haven’t been to a gathering there before.” 

“I apologize, Sires,” The servant lowered his head again, feeling ashamed by his previous comment.

“It is all right; there’s no need to apologize. You may go now to get some much needed sleep,” Sol gave the servant a slight nod of his head. “Thank you for all of your assistance and loyalty, Thunder. I’m counting on you to help lead the hunting party for the late morning.” Thunder, the dark gray wolf, continued to show his respect to his leaders and the Sun Council as he left the Main Chamber and went off on his way to rest up.  

Finally, the Council was alone with the proud new parents and their newborn son. They cooed softly, gazing their almond-shaped eyes at the child that slept soundly in his dam’s front legs. He was almost a perfect clone of his sire, with exception of his bright red-orange fur speckled with a bit of his mother’s light-brown hue mixed in. Off-white covered his tiny muzzle, chest, and each one of his little paws to the ankles. His eyes and ears were shut tight, causing him to not notice much, but his nose was able to work, allowing him to recognize those that were crucial to his survival – his mother, father, and the others in the kingdom that rejoiced in his birth.

“Oh, he’s perfect, Dionne,” Sol murmured to his mate with a smile.  

The light-brown and white female only laughed airily. “You’ve been saying that ever since he was born, Sol!” She lifted her unmarked muzzle to his and nuzzled him. “Surely you will think of the perfect name for our perfect child at the naming ritual tomorrow night, yes?” She joked with him kindly.

“Of course I will,” he replied. “but Father’s rules still apply though.” 

“They’re not my rules, Sol; they’re the order of the Great Mother herself, passed down for many generations from Alpha to Alpha,” Laxel stepped forward, clarifying his son’s words to the young Alphas. “According to the Great Mother, a new pup’s name can only be made official during the naming ritual and not before then; from then on, all who witness the event shall call him as such, but if the rules are broken, he shall be damned by the spirits for all eternity.”

Sol nodded to his father, understanding the severity of the naming process. “I understand, Father. I haven’t actually thought of anything yet, but I’m sure it will come to me before we have the celebration at Peace-Gathering Cave.” Satisfied by the Alpha’s response, Laxel headed out of the Main Chamber towards the resting caverns. He turned back to his mate and the child they made together out of their love. “So, Dionne,” he began to ask her. “should we make our way back to our cave as well? It’s been a long night.” 

“Mmm,” she nodded, gathering her strength to stand while also grabbing her son with her jaws. She was still able to speak while the pup hung from her mouth, but it sounded a bit muffled. “I am tired, and the morning sunrise is close upon us.” With Sol by her side, the new mother hobbled forward out of the cavern, just in time for the dawn.

Sol’s eyes widened at the sight of the shifting colors of the sky, changing from dark-navy to lighter shades of orange-red as the sun began to lift itself above the horizon. He gasped lightly with awe; he had seen the sunrise many times before as a young pup and as an Alpha-in-training, but somehow the dawning of the sun this morning made him feel different as the low rays warmed his coat. Sol looked at his mate with a look of love, but only gasped again when he saw his son. He was still dangling in his mother’s jaws, but his coat reflected the sunrise, causing him to look as if he was glowing . . . 

Like the sun . . . Sol thought to himself, quickly agreeing on what he was going to do later within the next night. That’s it then – I’ll name him after the glorious sun . . .

-------------------------- 

Meanwhile, the new parents of the Moon Kingdom celebrated amongst their followers after sending their messenger out to their friends in the Sun Kingdom. Luna gazed over the nuzzling forms of the dark-gray Alpha and his silver and white mate as they allowed their first-born to nurse.

Their child’s coat had dried since her first bath, so her true coat of silver-gray shimmered in the still shining moonlight above them. She had a few spots of white on her belly and around her closed eyes and underneath her tiny nub of a tail.  

“She’s a little beauty, isn’t she?” Luna asked her Alphas, still entranced by the resemblance of the new child to her parents. “She’ll be a wonderful heir for our kingdom.”

“Mmm,” Renee stroked her tongue against the nursing pup that suckled on her teat-lined belly. “Yes, I’m sure she will, especially after the official presentation within the next night.” 

“Indeed!” Taylor replied back with a smile. “My daughter . . . Tomorrow night, she will receive a most special name from her father.”

“Just don’t reveal it yet, my lord,” Luna reminded the new parents. “The Royal Kingdom in the heavens will be angered if you break the Royal Protocol of new heirs. By Royal Law, a newborn child can only be officially named during the naming ceremony. From that moment on, the pup shall be known by that name, given to it by its patriarch.” The white wolf nodded her head in approval of the rules. 

“Yes, yes, I understand all of that, Luna,” The Alpha clarified to the midwife. He was trained in the ways of the Royals ever since he was a pup, destined to become the next Alpha of the Moon Kingdom since birth, so the naming ceremony was something he had been waiting to do for a long time. “Now, would you excuse us for a moment, please? I’d like to speak with my mate alone for a bit.” Luna gave him a worried look, but Taylor reassured her with his words. “Don’t worry; I’ll be back to help with the hunt in a few minutes.”

“As you wish,” the midwife lowered her head and turned away, heading for the outside of the cavern as she was commanded. 

“Ah, what a day it has been for us,” Taylor walked over to his mate and nuzzled her once more. “We helped bring a daughter into our lives, begun to spread the news of this wonderful occasion, and tomorrow night . . . ah, our daughter’s birth shall be celebrated throughout the kingdom as everyone chants her name once she is christened!”

“Mmm,” Renee replied back. “I’m sure things will be just fine.” A small giggle slipped from her lips. “You know, you’ve been so excited ever since she slipped from me and your paws caught her for the first time, Tay. I hope this doesn’t change how much you love me, darling.” 

“You’re still my number one love, Ren,” Taylor licked her nose, tickling her sweetly. “It’s just that our little girl . . . our princess . . . she’s our legacy, the heir of our great kingdom! We have to love her and cherish her as much as we can.”

“Indeed,” the silver and white she-wolf leaned over to her daughter and groomed her once more as the child began to wiggle to a warmer part of her mother’s belly, whimpering quietly. “Now, I think I’ll be fine with her right now. You go ahead and lead the hunting party.” 

But before Taylor could even depart from Renee’s side, Luna poked her head into the entrance and lowered her head with a slight whine. “Majesties, there is a messenger from the nearby Sun Kingdom who has an important announcement for you. Shall I send him in?”

“Yes, you may, Luna,” Taylor nodded. The white she-wolf walked out and the dark-gray wolf from the neighboring territory carefully stepped into the cavern, his tail and head lowered slightly to show respect of the differences of their ranks. “Greetings, my brother,” The male Alpha cheerfully welcomed his fellow lupine with kind words and a friendly nuzzle between friends. “What news do you have for us on this wonderful day?”

“Your Majesties,” The messenger bowed regally to the Alphas in respect. “I come bearing an important announcement from Sol and Dionne, Alphas of the Sun Kingdom. Today, an hour before the dawn, the Prince of the Sun Kingdom was given life. As a sign of friendship, the Alphas humbly ask your presence at the Peace-Gathering Cave tomorrow night to witness the christening of our Kingdom’s latest Son.” 

“Hmm, thank you for the news, my brother,” Taylor bobbed his head once more. “We have news to return to you as well.” He motioned his head to the direction of Renee with her cub. “Renee, my queen, has also just birthed our royal heir, the Princess of the Moon Kingdom. We just sent our own messenger to your