There is little in the way that I had learned save a bit of stealth, although I suppose it was an innate talent considering who my parents were. One of the most notorious alphas of Molodian - a murder and a power hungry wolf - and then there was my mother, a skillful liar and a leech. Sometimes I missed the press of her warm body in the darkest of nights but the feeling faded swiftly upon memories of her vile attitude towards me and Zharko. She hadn't even cared when Aranck told me that Zharko was dead and gone! All this time I didn't even care that my father was dead or that my mother had disappeared. All that had mattered was how lost and lonely I was without my brother, and here I am back at it again.

Truly, I am a pitiful excuse for a wolf, but I make do with what I have. Against the odds I have survived. Mostly through fleeing and hiding, but that was surviving nonetheless. My blue-green eyes snap to attention as he looks up, water dripping from him, and despite the way my heart seems to roar into my ears I am watching him aptly lest he try something. His chocolate fur and strawberry markings are lovely to me, after having seen so much gray in my life, but he is a stranger. I twitch when he snorts and shakes the water off, much like a rabbit ready to bolt, but his whine makes my head tilt slightly.

It is obvious that he means no harm. No, wait, not obvious. I had seen how devious a wolf could be - the way my half sister had smiled at me, cajoled me into going with her, and then told me her plot to get rid of me once and for all. Still, THIS wolf had nothing to gain by killing me I think. Maybe it is a bit of bravery from an empty stomach and a lonely soul. Either way, I don't run.

As if testing his word I slowly lift my snout, ears back, and breath deep. All I get is his scent, my own salty one, and the smell of the river and fish. "Me neither," I say slowly, one ear rising tentatively. My tail sways at my legs in response to his while he steps towards me so he knows that I accept his approach but I am still cautious. "I am Zafira," I say quietly, shrinking back slightly as he finally comes close enough to sniff me. But when all he does it sniff I unfold a bit, reaching my own nose out to sniff him. He smells of far off places and scents that I have yet to encounter.