.

A whole month had passed and Pripyat had settled into his new home splendidly. At first the brave face Prip wore as he grew accustomed to the increase of activity and wolves was forced, put on just for his mother’s sake, but soon enough the grey boy grew to enjoy the hustle and buzz of living with Jefferson and so many others nearby. Living at the lighthouse had never been boring, but living at the ranch was exciting. There was always something to do or explore, and always there were wolves coming and going. Already all the rooms of the ranch had been thoroughly investigated and the grounds surrounding the home mentally mapped out. The barn conquered and the animals discovered and daily he was allowed to go further out. Returning home midday and before dusk was essential, and Pripyat had never wandered far enough away that he could come running to Geneva’s worried call if he heard it.

Yet the itch was always within him, to go farther and farther, and it was only the ever watchful eyes of the adults that kept him tied to the ranch and it’s immediate surroundings. If not with his mother than often he was shadowing Jefferson, and even if both his parents were absent it seemed that someone was there, or they had been until now. When he awoke the house was already empty, which was not completely unusual except that outside there was also no one. Where was his mother and father? He could probably call out to them, but something in him decided against it and rather than wonder or distress Pripyat simply puffed out his chest and embraced the opportunity.

Fleeing down the steps of the ranch, his four legs worked furiously to take him as far as they could. Effortlessly he soared through the fields, tiny paws kicking up dirt as they hammered on the ground. The exhilaration kept the race going for some time, and when Pripyat did slow and spin around the ranch was gone, hidden beyond his eye sight. A feeling of success made him turn and continue away from the ranch, his eyes and ear alert for any new sounds or sights, and his tiny heart slowly steadily as it came back down from its racing pace. With a smirk he silently congratulated himself, sure that some sort of adventure or excitement would soon find him.

sorry ‘tis short Silver! Bah!

Hello Pripyat.Caught. Apprehended. Stopped. His quick pace slowed as the distance between him and his captor closed and blue eyes met the golden ones. "Oh…" The disappointment in his voice was hard to hide. A moment ago he had been in full flight from home and now he was motionless before the Fuerre of his pack. Xeris. The tall white female had always been kind to him, he liked her well, and suddenly he regretted his lack of refinement, embarrassedly he dropped his eyes and dipped his muzzle. "Hello Xeris," Willfully he banished the disappointment from his voice and easily replaced it with genuine warmth, although it was a bit hesitant. Would she ask him to return to the ranch with her? He hoped not, his adventure had hardly gotten off the ground.

"I’m just explorin’. It’s okay." And wasn’t it? Neither Jefferson nor Geneva had told him to stay in the ranch all day, they had only warned him not to wander too far. And what exactly was too far anyway? Even if this was further than he had ever gone before, he was brave and strong and could easily find his way home. Pripyat was sure of that. Cunningly he smiled then, his boyish charms shinning and his curious eyes lit up. "What are you doing out here? Huh?" His tail thumped behind him, gleefully awaiting a response from the adult who certainly had no requirement to answer him but would humor him just the same.