He felt lost, without a purpose. And so he found himself aimlessly wandering about the freelands, no clear path before him. He could - should - return to Diveen, and soon. His parents were probably worried about him, although they hopefully knew that he could take care of himself by now. Still, he was not quite willing to return until he had something worth showing them. His father was so loyal to the pack and had been even before the sky fell. Diveen did not call to Xavier’s soul the way it seemed to call his father. He had no real reason to stay there and no real reason to be away from it. The lack of reason was almost maddening.

And so it was that autumn found the grayscale wolf wandering among the pine trees. His coat had begun to fill out again with the brisk wind that threatened the approaching winter. He was not a vain wolf, although he did prefer the colder months. He tended to get a bit scraggly when it was hot. Not a dignified look for anyone.

Despite the faded leaves that had fallen from the trees coating the ground, Xavier was able to move fairly inconspicuously through the forest. His light weight was spread out enough on his large paws that he was practically silent, save for the odd moment where he stepped on a branch. He wasn’t being particularly careful to avoid making noise. Perhaps it was not by chance that he stepped on a branch here and there. To be without purpose was one thing. To be without purpose and to be alone? Well, no one wanted that. Good or ill, he would welcome the change that company would bring.

four | 30in, 140lbs | no heart | no soul | no shelter