It was a dull ache that had brought him back to the mountain. It had been a constant reminder that she existed and he needed her. It was also a feeling he greatly feared. After all, his father had died because of the imprint bond he shared with his mother. That kind of power a wolf held over another was something to be feared. Halcyon didn’t fully understand why he knew his soul belonged to her, it was just an innate feeling he couldn’t shake.

For half a year, the russet boy tried in vain to forget about her, the nameless wolfess who had put a spell on him. But her memory was too great. He couldn’t remember how his own mother smelled, but he could easily bring to mind his imprint’s scent. The saddest part of all of this was the simple fact that he didn’t even know her name. During the chaos that had been the puppy gathering, Halcyon had never managed to ask his princess her name. He only knew she had become the most important thing to him.

Small paws carried him up the slope to where the scent of wolves hovered lazily above the grass. He stopped there and listened carefully to the sounds of the mountain. Birds chimed in the autumn chill and in the distance, a goat called out in an annoying bleat. This pack was vastly different from where he came from. His birth pack had been the rolling hills and he now lived in the flat swamps. Living on the side of a mountain seemed… tiring. Halcyon sighed. ”What am I doing here? She doesn’t even know who I am. There’s no way this is going to work. I should just go home…” he said to himself. And yet, his paws remained firmly in place. His brain was finally listening to his heart and forcing him to come face to face with his imprint. Another few minutes passed and the pup remained by himself at the border.

Finally, he lifted his muzzle and sang his song. It was a beautiful tenor note that echoed through the trees and cliffs of Spirane. It was more than just a summon. It was his heart’s song, calling out for the wolfess who would forever hold his soul. It was a song just for her and it begged for her to come to him. After he finished, he sat on his haunches and waited, his tail anxiously thumping the ground next to him.