He left the mountains quickly, his long legs carrying him swiftly down the rocky terrain. He had breathed with the crisp, clean mountain air in his lungs every day of his life until today. Today everything changed, an unfamiliar call ringing out over the mountains and then later again in victory shook the towering spires to their core. His parents had left with his sister in tow, but today had been the wakeup call the strapping young wolf needed to do what he should have done months ago. It was time for him to strike out on his own, cut his own path through the world and hone his abilities to conquer the darkness. He focused on the world around him as he ran, the crunch of dirt beneath his large paws, the sound of his heart thrumming in his ears, all these things helped ground him and keep him tied to the earth, only when he lost sight of these things was he in any danger.

For a moment he thought about tracking her down, the silver white girl who had been thrust into his life and into his very soul over a year ago. To be honest he had been terrified when his steely gaze had connected with soft pink hues of her own and the axis of his world had shifted. His parents were imprints and he knew what it meant to be tied to another, and he feared for her because of it. Church had been the light to their father’s darkness, but he wondered if he wouldn’t be a shadow in her bright world. For that reason he had turned away from the gathering, silent and stoic as ever and escaped into the deep cliffs and crags of the mountains. He would protect her, be there for her as a silent guardian if ever she needed, but he doubted greatly he could do anything but drag her down.

Inhale. Exhale. He ran to the beat of his heart, his claws flexing to gain better purchase on the rocks as he neared the border. He knew the mountain terrain like the back of his hand but as he prepared to leave he wondered if he would ever climb its peaks again. Finally he was out into the free territories, following the river south as he decided what to do now that he was on his own. His mother had always done the lion’s share of the hunting so he would have to dust off his skills, and find a safe place to sleep at night. All these things and more on his mind he almost didn’t notice the pair of boys greeting one another until he heard the term loner and his head jerked in their direction, gray ears pointed forward to catch their words.

On a whim, and very unlike him he decided to wander over and introduce himself. They looked about his age and perhaps being a loner would be more enjoyable with company. As he approached he caught the scent of the steely gray boy and it almost gave him pause, the scent very familiar to hers, flowery and warm like sunshine. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind and huffed quietly as he finally drew near. “Hello,” his gruff voice finally greeted them, deep and resonating from the broad chest he had inherited from his father, “I’m Jax, I heard you were loners. I am to, or am now.” It was one of the longest sentences to pass hi taciturn lips and it spoke volumes to how hard he was trying to be friendly.