The morning sun warmed the verandah of the Kindy, where a dozen toddlers tumbled over bright rugs and soft toy blocks. Mia stood at the edge of the play area, clipboard in hand, guiding a circle of young pups through a song about the moon and the river. “Round and round the river we go, under the moon’s soft silver glow…” Their little voices rose in ragged harmony, and Mia beamed with pride.
Aurora arrived moments later, Malcolm wiggling against her hip. Angel rode in Mia’s arms, already settled among the toddlers. Aurora paused to watch Mia’s gentle hands clap time, then eased forward so Malcolm could see his auntie at work.
“Come on in,” Mia whispered, settling Angel down on a small cushion. Angel’s wide eyes lit up as she joined the others in clapping.
Aurora set Malcolm on the verandah floor beside her, kneeling to help him copy the clap and turn motions. He watched Mia closely, then managed a few clumsy claps of his own. A freckled cheeked girl toddled over
As autumn deepened, vibrant leaves began drifting gently onto the newly paved roads, creating brilliant splashes of red and gold against the fresh black bitumen. Each morning, Moonrunner rolled smoothly through town, ferrying excited pups to Kindy, elders to the markets, and volunteers to their daily tasks.Aurora stood by the kitchen window, sipping her tea, watching as Jason carefully strapped Malcolm into his booster seat on the bus. Mia followed closely, Angel bouncing happily at her side, thrilled at the prospect of another ride through the bustling pack lands.A quiet knock at the kitchen door drew Aurora’s attention. She turned to see Elder Runa standing at the threshold, holding a small basket of fresh herbs.“Good morning, Luna,” the elder greeted softly. “I brought these for you, sage and lavender from my garden. Good for calming busy minds.”Aurora smiled warmly, welcoming Run
Dawn’s first pale light stretched across the horizon as Moonrunner’s engine purred to life. Jason sat at the wheel, his hands steady on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Beside him, Nathan checked the route notes on his tablet, while Mia and Aurora settled Angel and Malcolm into their seats behind Angel in her booster, and Malcolm strapped safely into his car seat.“First official run,” Jason said softly, glancing in the rear-view mirror at the two gleeful faces pressed against the glass. Angel waved excitedly; Malcolm kicked his feet, already testing the seatbelt’s snugness.Aurora leaned forward, brushing Angel’s hair from her forehead. “Ready, sweetheart?”Angel nodded emphatically. “Ready!”Mia smiled at Malcolm. “You ready, little man?”Malcolm gurgled in response and reached up to tug at Jason’s tie, already familiar in texture. Jason ruffled his hair, chuckling.
Weeks slipped by in a blur of activity, the rhythm of life moving steadily forward. Construction on the main road was progressing smoothly, and the pack buzzed with excitement about the upcoming arrival of their new bus.Jason walked alongside Lucas early one morning, clipboard in hand, inspecting the freshly laid stretch of bitumen. The black road gleamed under the morning sun, a stark contrast to the red dirt that had previously dominated the landscape.Lucas bent down to examine the surface, running his palm over the warm asphalt. “Smooth as silk,” he remarked with satisfaction. “They’ve done an exceptional job.”Jason nodded, squinting into the bright sunlight as he gazed down the straight expanse toward town. “It changes everything. Makes us feel more connected, like we're part of something bigger.”Nathan joined them a moment later, stepping out of the passenger side of
Early morning sunlight streamed through the open garage doors, illuminating the gleaming new bus parked inside. Jason stood with Nathan, both men holding steaming mugs of coffee as they admired their latest acquisition.Nathan took a thoughtful sip, nodding toward the sleek vehicle. "She's a beauty. Ready to give her a spin?"Jason chuckled. "Definitely. Though I'm not sure who’s more excited, us or the pups."Aurora and Mia arrived moments later, Aurora holding Malcolm securely on her hip, Mia guiding Angel by the hand. The children’s eyes widened at the sight of the shiny white bus, the Moon Swept Pack logo proudly displayed along its side.Angel pointed excitedly. "Bus!"Mia laughed, lifting Angel into her arms. "That’s right, sweetheart. It's our new bus!"Nathan pulled open the sliding door, revealing the clean, spacious interior. "Step right up, everyone. Let’s make sure it’s pup approved."Aurora c
The Pack House’s council chamber sat cool in the morning light, its wide windows overlooking the cobbled square below. A polished timber table filled the center, surrounded by high-backed chairs carved with ancestral wolf motifs. Jason and Nathan stood at one end, flanked by Lucas, the town planner and the accountant, Mrs.. Crawford, whose leather satchel bulged with papers.Aurora, newly returned from the Kindy meeting, slipped into her chair beside Nathan, Angel curled against her. Mia sat opposite, Malcolm on her lap. The steady hum of the pack gathering for business drifted in through the open door.Jason tapped the table. “All right, everyone. We’re here to discuss the purchase of a small bus for school runs and community transport, and to finalise funding solutions for the road project. Lucas, would you start us off?”Lucas cleared his throat. “Thank you, Alpha. After scouting options in Adelaide and Melbourne, I’ve iden
The sun rode high in the sky by the time Aurora, Malcolm tucked against her hip, and Angel cradled in her shawl, stepped out onto the dusty shoulder of the main road. The survey stakes bright orange flags fluttering in the breeze stretched in neat lines for as far as she could see. Heavy machinery rumbled back and forth behind a row of volunteers, shaving the earth into level banks for the future bitumen.Aurora inhaled the warm, red-tinged air and let Sam’s aura ripple gently around her just enough to keep both babies soothed, without disturbing the workers. She offered quiet smiles and nods as she passed the first group of pack scouts, their sweat-darkened shirts sticking to their backs but their faces bright with purpose.“Hello, Luna!” one of them called, setting down his grader to bow.Aurora inclined her head. “How goes the prep?”“Drainage trenches almost finished,” he reported. “We’ll have culv