He could see it-- he knew he could. With a resoluteness to his gangly pawsteps, the yearling traveled down the mountainside. There would be something special, only for him, down in the caves of the grotto that his mother had warning them against adventuring into. But he could feel it down there, waiting for him and only him, like a gemstone hidden in the sand and wishing to be uncovered. His early days had been characterized by a certain kind of laziness that didn't seem to fit with the rest of his family, but there was an almost manic energy to his gait, now. Salem was on a mission to find whatever it was that was waiting for him down in the caverns, and he'd do whatever it took to get there.
When the terrain began to grow more jagged beneath his paws, his wild lope slowed hesitantly to a jog. The strong urge to come to the grotto had ebbed, and Salem could hardly remember why he was here in the first place. Suddenly, he felt the ache in his joints-- glancing back up at the mountains' steep slopes, he knew that he wouldn't be able to make the trip back up quite yet. Shaking his head, he tried to clear the fog that had settled, but to know avail. Why was he here? What was he doing? The confusion he felt almost seemed to make his head more cloudy, and he gave his head another rough shake. This... wasn't right, but he had come so far already. Maybe, if he continued onward, he could figure out why he was here.
Salem moved across the rocky terrain, but the thought did not come to him. He hunched his shoulders, suddenly aware of just how far he was from his den and his mother and siblings. His heart began to quicken, and he crouched down amongst the rocks. They all looked the same... how was he ever going to find his way home? Suddenly, a flash of white caught his attention, and with his piercing stare he saw the woman just as she crossed the gorge some distance away. Salem began to creep forward, uncertain-- but knowing that, perhaps, she could direct him home.
A soft 'woof' of greeting was offered as he approached, noting the tree trunk but not attempting to cross it quite yet. It looked dangerous with the steep drop down below. She was up on a rocky ledge, chewing on something, and as his stomach grumbled with the sight of food Salem realized just how long this little escapade had taken him. Would his mother be worried, or happy that he was finally exploring for himself? He shifted, uncomfortable with the silent question. His head was held low and his tail tucked against his ankle, a show of submission-- just in case this woman was some sort of authority. He'd always show respect to an adult. "Do... do you think you can help me?" The confidence to his voice gone, Salem sounded very much like the young boy that he was.