His plan had, of course, failed miserably.
As soon as the first bit of meat he'd stashed away in the den he was relegated as prisoner guest of Asteraia had spoiled, Nike had nearly retched up all the of meat he had consumed. The smell had been unbearable, and the boy had gagged every step of the way as he dragged the rotten meat out of the den and buried it behind a bush.
Frustrated that his plans to get back at Aster for bringing him here against his will, he wasn't really sure what to do with his time. He could often be found near the boundary of the pack lands, his leggy frame lifted high as he tried to see as far out towards Enocra Woodland as possible. The worry for his mother constantly nagged at his heart, but at the same time he was a little frustrated. Why hadn't she come to rescue him? Sure, he'd called out to her and said 'stay away its a trap,' but like she was his MOM, she should still have at least tried to sneak close enough to see him, shouldn't she? And these thoughts would often lead to a spiral of assuming something terrible had happened to her and she was hurt or held captive by someone else or one of the night beasts had killed her.
So while he had gained a bit of weight from the plethora of meat left for him to eat, his frequent pacing of the borders sculpted him into something resembling what his mature form would look like. His ribs were only slightly visible now, his lanky frame gaining a bit of tone from his unwitting daily exercise. Physically healthy as he might be, his mental state was still fragile. Where was Everlast? Was she ok? Worse, was she fine and had forgotten him?
There were only a few days left in the three week sentencing Aster had decreed that he must serve, winter well and truly upon the land. He'd appreciated having a full belly all these nights, and a warm den to sleep in, but he still hated Aster with every fiber of his being for separating him from his mother. As he paced the boundary of the pack lands once more, her threat to track him and his mother both down and drag them back here if he tried to run echoed in his mind.
Only a few more days. Only a few more days until he could go and find her.