How life had completely changed in these past five years of life. The Pilot of 2006 was completely different from the Pilot of 2010, and it was largely apparent to anyone who knew him. He had once been an eccentric, rambunctious spirit with a lot of heart before he had been broken and his mind had begun to spiral into a world of darkness that was almost unimaginable to a young Pilot. He had come to experience things he would have never thought possible, and his heart had been broken more than once. All in all, Pilot had lived a rather colorful life and there were still years ahead of him in which he was sure to face many more obstacles and unpredictable changes.
He had gone home to his real family, and had remained there for almost two years. There seemed to be nothing left for him in Nova Scotia, where he had learned to live like the true creature he was. His best friend had left him, his pack had dissolved when their territory had been burnt to nothing, his love had bore his children but not before leaving him abandoned, he had fallen victim to Stockholm syndrome in a need to just feel wanted by someone, and nothing had been the same. He had entertained thoughts of returning, but had never acted upon them. Long Lake was giving Pilot the chance he needed to heal: both mentally and physically.
Apollo had accompanied him, though he had flitted back and forth from Maine to Nova Scotia a couple of times. Pilot had started to keep less and less track of his son’s adventures, in focus of his own life. He had not taken another mate and spent much of his time focusing on his medical studies. He had greatly enhanced his knowledge in the area, and he even begun to pass it on to others in his family. Pilot fit in well amongst his birth pack, even if it still felt strange to know that he should have been here all along. Still, something in the back of his mind compelled him to return to the place he knew as home. Perhaps there he could find some of the old faces he once knew, and tie together some of the loose ends in his life. A few major loose ends had prevented him from healing completely, but Pilot was almost certain it would always remain like that.
He had ventured away from Long Lake for awhile, though with no real intentions of staying away for good. He brought with him the basic necessities he would need, and camped under the stars at night instead of the warmth of his den. He trailed north into Canada, feeling a strange sense of relief in the change of scenery. It didn’t matter that he had no destination in mind. He simply needed to get away for awhile. Each day was a step in the right direction in returning to a more acceptable state of mind. Pilot remembered that, as he lay by the fire he had constructed and let pale silver eyes study the array of stars overhead.
