The snow made it hard to travel, but by dusk, Gaia had made her way from the crags to the river that flowed from the high mountains of Spirane through the marshy swamps of Iromar. She could hear the small bubbling of the water as it tried to stop the cold from freezing it over like it had the lake. It was still early in the season so the air hadn’t become so frigid, but soon the river would become solid and still until the spring thaw. The russet girl moved slowly to the banks and stopped only to take a drink from the chilling water. It slammed down inside her empty stomach with a mighty force that made her gasp. The days travel had allowed her to forget how hungry she was.

The sun was starting to sink much earlier now and most of the animals she could catch would be bunkering down for the night. Already she could feel the night air creep in, pushing away any heat the sun was trying to offer. For the first time in many years, Gaia missed the warmth of her old den in Spirane, the one she used to share with her brother, Cae. Bi-colored eyes gazed at the towering mountains. They were so close and yet so far. How could she return there when she left so suddenly all those years ago? No, she didn’t want to return to pack life, not yet at least. Being a loner, while difficult, had allowed her to finally come out of her shell. Gone was the shy girl who only whined and pitied herself. Gaia had grown, both in mind and body. Retaining her feminine beauty from Rhae, she had gained the lean and small frame from Iblis during her travels. The bowed back legs had gain in strength and hardly bothered her anymore, though they did give her a strange gait when she ran.

No, the girl was going to remain on her own until she felt it was time to return to a normal life with her own kind. Plus, she had one more thing to accomplish, but she was too nervous to achieve it. There was a wolf she needed to see again, if only one more time, before she could officially move on. Zaphkiel. She could feel him. He never left her though she had traveled so far away. Their hearts still beat together as one. Fate had deemed they be bound together, sharing a single soul until the end of their days. With a snort, the russet girl moved into the freezing waters of the river. She moved carefully until she came to the other side, her underside soaking wet and already starting to solidify in the coming cold. It didn’t matter though, her mind was still on him. Had he forgotten about her? Maybe he found a mate and had some pups of his own. Though this thought did not bring a smile to her face, she did feel somewhat happy for him. It was wrong of her to leave him like that, though she doubted she really meant anything to him.

Perhaps, one day, she would find the courage to seek him out and make amends. Maybe they could still be friends. Another snort followed by a shallow chuckle. A shiver struck her suddenly. It was becoming colder and colder as the sun started fading away. It was time to find a place to sleep, but there was nothing around her that could even be considered a den. So, with a sigh of frustration at her own absentmindedness, the girl found a pine tree and laid down beneath the braches. She shivered quietly to herself as she curled into a tight ball and waited for sleep to come.
Seven - Loves none – Fated for Zaphkiel - Homeless
Eldest daughter of Iblis & Rhae