It was growing colder and it seemed that everything in the forest was dead, including his pack. He had not seen any of his packmates, particularly his alpha in weeks, but then again he had not been trying to be around anyone. He had not been in the mood to be around anyone and had been keeping to himself and it seemed that everyone else was doing the same thing. Sure he had never been the most social in the pack but he hadn’t seen Aerten, one of his packmates, in a long time, and he was surprised to find that he missed the feisty femme’s company. Maybe he would seek her out, see what fun he could get out of that. And then there was Kershov, the alpha of the lands. Grey Wind was worried about his leader but now he wasn’t even around to worry about. The brute knew that he should not worry about his king, that it was Ker’s job to worry about the pack and the lupines in it, but Grey Wind had grown to truly trust the white czar, perhaps the only lupine that Grey Wind actually trusted. He knew that he was supposed to trust those in his pack, and in a way he did, but at the same time he did not trust them wholeheartedly as he did Ker. He had not connected with anyone else in the pack, not even Aerten, like he did with Ker. Grey Wind knew that Ker truly understood him and did not judge him for the evil, monstrous being hidden inside the grey brute. Kershov had his own demons that he faced and he would not be the one to judge Grey Wind for the demons he had himself.

It was with these thoughts that the large grey brute pushed out of his den, heading towards the borders of his pack instead of staying hidden deep within the trees. He had not wanted to be around the company of others for a while, but he was feeling different today and decided to do a border check and see how the pack was, maybe someone else would be wandering around. Even though he was feeling more apt to be friendly he was by no means in a good mood, Grey Wind had not been in a good mood since he left his home years ago. He was just much better at keeping his anger at bay and hiding the feelings of hurt and pain that always plagued him. To some that knew him well might think he was actually feeling happy for once, but in reality he had just become that much better at hiding his true feelings behind a stronger mask. Instead of the snarl that wanted to come to his lips a smirked appeared, as if there was not some demon just under the surface waiting for the right time to push through and show its true colors. The muscular brute’s legs led him swiftly through the trees as he tried to clear his mind of the demonic thoughts that threatened to spill over and make him go insane with anger and ferocity. The wind pushing through his thick pelt helped settle him, the adrenaline of his run pumping through his veins helped as well. He already felt better since leaving his den.

As Grey Wind approached the borders of Abendrot the scent of Kershov and some of his other packmates reached his nares and he breathed in their scent and it was almost comforting to him. He trotted at a more leisurely pace at the edge of the trees, rubbing his pelt and sent against the trunks, making the scent stronger to show that the pack within was still strong and alive, even if the wolves seemed to have disappeared for a time. As Grey Wind was wandering a foreign scent reached his nares and he immediately was on high alert, pillars swinging in the direction of the stranger that had come to the pack. What the brute did not plan to see at the borders was a long, lanky pup. Pups did not come to Abendrot. It was not a secret what the pack was known for and it was not a type of pack that would be appealing to the young, so why in the hell was this russet and black colored young brute doing here. Grey Wind paused for a moment, yellow orbs staring down at the fox-like lupine before stalking over. He sat just inside the borders, wondering what Ker would think when he found out there was a useless pup at the borders. Would the white titan accept one so young that could not defend or fight for the pack? Grey Wind was not sure what his king would do, but for now Grey Wind was going to treat the small thing before him just like he would any other lupine at the border. Sitting on his haunches, looking down at the smaller form, he finally spoke. ”Hello. My name is Grey Wind, Captain of the soldiers here in Abendrot. State your name and business here.” His vocals were straight to the point and his tone was neutral, waiting to see what this pup could say for himself.