I had wanted to jump in here so badly with Kae, but I have to post with new guy here first. :3



    The large wolf lumbered easily over the mountain, intent on heading further south. He had come from the north and he knew all about what was up there—blank nothingness. There were very few who could survive the harsh northlands like where he came from, almost on top of the world. It was a sort of place where the snow never completely melted, and until Charon had left his home, he hadn't known regular land without snow had existed. It was hard to think that was only five months ago, but the young wolf had set out with a purpose in mind. His family had become suffocating by the time he hit his second year, their closeness being the very thing that had driven the pallid canine from their midst in the first place.



    The canine's long gait generally carried him swiftly, though Charon was quite content to pace himself. He had learned in the months of travel that the swifter pace covered ground fast, but it was too tiring to keep up in his preferred form. His family remained in Secui form most of the time, the bulk of that body keeping them warmer than their smaller Lupus and humanoid Optime forms. The extra fur certainly helped. It was unbearably hot for the young wolf here, and he panted heavily despite his slow pace. Wide blue eyes peered around curiously, eager to take in the whole wide world. He had just passed through the former burned territories, though naturally he had no knowledge of their prior significance, and they were as behind and in the past as his family.



    It hardly hurt to think of them; the only one he even remotely missed was his mother. His father had been a jovial sort, yes, but he was extremely strict, and any minor violation of the familial code, a blend of Christian religious teachings and his grandfather's nature-based beliefs, generally resulted in physical punishment. Char was quite happy to have abandoned the religious upbringing his parents had tried so hard to instill in him; he had since discovered the mighty pleasure of alcohol, a substance he'd tasted only as the bitter communal wine his family had poured down his throat almost since birth. Even now, he shivered as he thought of the sour taste, forced down his throat each week.



    The wolf lifted his head, and smelled the air. It was strange, but he swore there were lots of old canine scents here, like many, many wolves had passed through here. He wrinkled his nose, and wondered whether he'd stumbled on a pack cluster. Travelers very rarely came to their tiny town; they had little to trade and even less to spare. Most of the weary who came into the midst of the Amrithai family were very, very lost and in need of sustenance, but at least they'd brought with them knowledge. It was that very thing which had helped spark Charon into leaving his family in the first place, the stories those rare lost souls brought with them devoured by the insatiable wolf.



    He carried on in the same fashion as always, and stopped short as he saw another canine meandering through the hills, heading away from him. Immediate excitedness brewed in Charon's chest, and he began running almost immediately, his tail already swinging behind him. It had been some days since he'd last seen another living soul, and he was quite starved for company. As he came closer, the silver wolf called out, his deep, rumbly voice clear and loud over the still air of the hills. "Hey!" There was clear excitement and friendliness in his features as he approached the unfamiliar canine, eager to find out if this really was a pack. Had he stumbled on civilization at last?

It's okay! Char talks way, way too much. XD



    The gray canine eagerly looked over his new companion. He was paler white than Charon, without the darker gray and black hints throughout his coat. Lannen was a purer white, and his eyes were a deep, golden brown sort of color. The big white tail wagged eagerly, and Char inhaled the other wolf's scent, smelling even more canines on the stranger's fur. The smells were faint, but they sure were there, and as Charon listened to the wolf's unenthusiastic introduction, he felt his excitement building. A long, pink tongue lolled out of the Secui's grinning mouth, and his twinkling blue eyes gazed on Lannen, already liking the wolf despite his less-than eager introduction.



    "I'm Charon! It's great to meet you, I've been wandering for way too long and I haven't seen anybody else in a long while," he said, drawing out and emphasizing the word "long." Though his voice was deep and rumbly, his words were bright and upbeat, the happiness showing through despite his deep, baritone voice. The canine's grin did not fade, and his tail was still persistently wagging behind him. He'd noticed the other wolf was less than delighted to see he was no longer isolated, but Charon was past caring. He was so starved for social attention and speech. Besides, maybe he could cheer Lannen up.



    For the moment, though, Char was far too excited about having discovered this place, his pearly canines showed off by his broad grin. "What's this place? Is it like, a pack?" he asked, showing his inexperience. He had never even so much as smelled pack borders, and it was highly unlikely he'd recognize them even if he stumbled right across them. Charon had assumed this mountain belonged to the pack and he was already amongst their midst; it would below his mind if Lannen told him that these were neutral lands and there were several packs in this particular place.