Abbu came up to us and licked our foreheads with his big scratchy tongue full of affection. It dispelled the solemness and brought forth more curiosity and eagerness from the others.
Some younger wolves we were already familiar with peeked at us from the back desperately trying to hold back from coming up to greet us. They became impatient and finicky and kept shooting us eager looks. But they had to stay patient. Afterall, they had to wait their turn for the more esteemed members were being introduced to us.
The first to come to us was that arrogant looking wolf, Qasiv. He sniffed us and gently nudged our snouts. Bin stared at him while I kept internally screaming that he was a suspicious one.
The rest followed after him in one's and two's after him. I learnt a few new bigshot names I had never heard before. We familiarized ourselves with each other's scents and the tails of my siblings were constantly wagging at match speed. Where did their nervousness go now?
Jo and Kasim returned from the tribe. They gave a brief report to Uhd and joined the rest of the meet and greet.
At last it was the turn for those youngsters to come up to us. We began to get rowdy together. They targeted Bin and I in particular in this strange game of snapping tag. They gently nipped our ears as if to show their 'elderness'. That showoff howler began showing off as usual with his dexterous feints dizzying the tots and filling them with childish admiration. Heh. I will not fall for it.
At some point, I started a head count. One me, two...three...four... five... si-
Six?! Where was six?
I counted again. One of my siblings was missing.
My senses heightened and I went full alert mode. My 'Big Brother' senses were tingling.
There! By that massive paw of that arrogant wolf sat my brother happily wagging his tail with glimmering eyes; fully intent on making friends with that big bad wolf. I widened my eyes and dashed to him screaming inwardly, "No! Baby Bin! No! Gah!"
Unfortunately, I was too late. That super sussy guy booped noses with Binyamin and his tail almost reached supersonic speeds. They ignored my gloomy stares and began bonding. Why?!
'Bin, just look at him! He's gonna squish you with just his pinkie!'
The atmosphere over there was so carefree, daisy filled and it make my blood pressure rise.
Like that, I began feeling dizzy. All these things one after the other were too much for my tiny puppy dog brain and I collapsed in a heap on the ground.
I woke up to Ummi's and Abbu's worried faces.
"Nūh? Can you hear me?" Abbu asked.
I turned my head and saw my siblings standing in a row casting curious looks at me. Only, one of them was still not there. Binyamin, that mischiefmaker was comfortably seated under the chin of Qasiv with no care and full of satisfaction and I almost passed out again in anger.