Youthful innocence in company with a tired and hungry body rendered the pup unaware of his predicament. That his parents weren't coming back was just not a possibility he could even fathom. They were his family, the only wolves he'd physically known in his life until Magpie came along. They'd never not come back, and so the notion did not even exist within his young mind. So too did his fatigue and naiveté lend to keeping him from picking up on the stress that his golden guardian was feeling. He merely leaned against her for the comfort he'd come to recognize in her, looking up into her reassuring opalescent eyes.

His head lolled to the side when Magpie's head turned to look off into the woods. When he saw why, his head lifted and his ears perked slightly. A big dark wolf! Maybe it was daddy! His tail wagged happily at the prospect, but before he could muster himself into a standing position he realized there was nothing familiar about the wolf who was approaching them. He was actually even taller than his father, and his coat was black instead of dark brown. But even as Forrest began to droop at the realization that this was another wolf who was neither his mother nor his father, he caught sight of the male's eyes. They were a lot like Magpie's! And just as he'd been entranced when he'd first met her gaze, he was equally stunned when the large male lowered his head and Forrest realized there was no black spot in the middle like the other three wolves he'd known in his short life. It was mystifying to the boy. His amber eyes went wide with amazement.

When the large male spoke of parents though, Forrest looked up to Magpie, letting her answer. He smiled and nodded when she spoke to him about how this had been something of an adventure, going on to explain what had brought them here. His little puppy tail began to wag back and forth along the forest floor again. "Oh, yes...um. She said she was comin back for me," he said with a nod, looking over to the tall male again. His tones were a bit softer than before, becoming unsure of himself again in the presence of another new wolf. But the comforting touch of Magpie's nose put him at ease. He'd come to trust her, and if she liked this man then perhaps he would as well!

It was the next question that Magpie asked of the man that made Forrest's ears fall back and his eyes avert from them both. He looked off into the woods. So his mother wasn't here either? Where had she gone? Why wasn't she back yet? Forrest felt nervous about the idea of someone other than his mother feeding him. His mother's milk was the only sustenance he'd ever known. But he was hungry, and the mere mention of having the chance to nurse made his empty little tummy clench. Sitting there with his ears back and eyes averted, the boy was quite the penurious picture. He didn't know what this feeling was, this embarrassment creeping up inside him, but he didn't like it at all.