There was a sharp scent wafting from the wolfess that took Halcyon by surprise. It was the smell of fear. Before he was able to react to it, however, it was gone and the girl before him smiled bashfully. Rather than dwell on it, he returned the gesture and continued with the conversation. She seemed to be a happy pup with a lot of energy. It was a nice sight to see after so much suffering. Winter was harsh to the animals who couldn’t survive and Halcyon had seen much death from the young lives that couldn’t fight. But enough of that. Emotions were jolly and he wanted to keep it that way. “That is great to hear! I am doing well, myself. Thought I would try my skills at hunting, but I seemed to have failed,” he said happily.

Turning around, he took a moment to see if he could pin point where the moose calf had ran off too. But it was useless. It would have returned to its mother’s side by now and there was nothing two wolves could do against a mother protecting her child. Returning his attention back to the young girl, a thought came him and he bowed his head again apologetically. “Oh, forgive me, where are my manners. My name is Halcyon. What name may I call you, m’lady?” He sniffed the air and found a faded scent of the mountain upon her fur, but could not tell if she was a pack wolf or had recently visited. She was young, of that he was certain, so it might be that her parents were nearby. Halcyon was good with pups and found their presence enjoyable. Maybe he would watch her until her mother came along to collect her.

Thinking of something fun a pup could do, he looked around the field but there was nothing within sight. Suddenly his ears shot up and his tail started to wag. “The lake should be nice and solid. Want to go ice running with me?” Taking a pup onto a frozen lake, what could possibly go wrong?