She’s never been away from her family but her parents had both encouraged her to spread her wings. There had been a lot of tears when she’d bid them, her aunts, and her baby brothers goodbye. Only one place would do for Izizel’s first solo adventure: the place of her birth.

It seems that she’s found the islands at the right time, far enough out from winter that her multicolored pelt will have time to fill in before the frigid air arrives. Of course, her first destination is her childhood home of the bay, so that may actually be moot, considering how much earlier than the rest of the islands Tinuvel gets cold.

It’s a surprisingly mild day as Izizel steps into the bay for the first time in years. It’s strange to have to be so cautious, but she has no idea who lives here now. Her blue eyes are alert as she moves without fear or hesitation. She still remembers every inch of this place, knows that the bears are likely already preparing for hibernation but that the wolves will still be lurking. Her father had always made sure she knew what dangers their home held, even when her mother hadn’t be sure she was old enough to handle it.

She snorts in excitement as she weaves her way through the trees that she’d once told all her hopes and dreams to. She halts when she comes to a clearing, not sure if she should pick up the pace or slow it down. She has already picked up one male scent, and she thinks there may be another - it’s so far off that she can’t be sure, and there are several female scents lingering too. The bay had obviously not been left empty once her family had vacated it.

She decides to just walk and see what happens. She could either run into somebody or not, but eventually they’ll catch her scent and come looking. That’s okay, it’s not like she has an ulterior motive or anything to hide. She can’t even conceal herself; even if her mottled skin would hide her among the foliage, her varnished gold and white body and dark frosted locks make her stick out. Her father’s pale figure is the only one who could pull it off, but only in the snow, something her mother had loved to tease him about.

Her heart pangs as she thinks of her family, missing them more and more the longer she’s away from them. Her ears droop uncharacteristically, though she stays alert, remembering that she’s a stranger here now. It wouldn’t surprise her for this to be the exact moment that someone would find her.