Their subtle, nonchalant play delighted the young boy. There was no need for extravagant gestures that would have surely earned looks of confusion or possibly disapproval from their parents. Or the rest of their family. Or many others, really. Grins and giggles filled their lives and the duo mischief often went unnoticed by the world around them. No one had known the misadventures of Sila, and Baird had popped around the mountains enough to know some cliffs better, he hoped, than some others who had dismissed them in the past.

He pawed lazily at her face as she pulled a tuft from behind his ear. Grinning from ear to ear he mimed and played that he was going to bite at her nose. Movements clear and slow, a kind and silly play while his tail bapped at her body instead. Jaws snapped shut and eyes went wide in unexpected eagerness. Of all his roaming, he had not explored beyond the mountains. A singular ‘ha!’ bark of laughter and he rolled and jumped off the rock just as she pushed against him. Standing tall, his tail waved through the air, a flag signalling a journey! Dear, sweet, sister Sila! Such a quest must be quested! He grinned ruefully. And I do believe you and I are the ones to quest it! Be there monsters or a new pack, they must be discovered! For as loyal as they were, at least as loyal as he was, to a pack, his wandering spirit was hard pressed to be quenched. The life of a loner and a roamer did not fit him at all. The cloak of a packwolf was heavy and he wished never to shed it. To discover and to learn though, and to bring glory to another. The grin on his face turned rueful and he leapt backwards and away, eager to be on their journey. Come on! The west is calling to us! I hear its song on the wind! He dashed away down the trails, banner high in the sky. No matter what they found, he was sure he was going to find a bigger rock. This time he would jump on it first!