Five months ago, the young she-wolf had left her pack in search of a new life. Well, technically she hadn't left her pack. She never would have left them. She didn't have a choice, though. Humans had attacked them, destroyed their home. They had killed her parents, her partner, her siblings and the alpha of the pack without mercy. Not that she was surprised. She had been told tales of the cruelty of the two-legged creatures from the moment she was old enough to listen.
But, those five long months ago, she had been ready. She was still young and full of energy, even if the deaths of her loved ones had left her devastated.
Except then she had been caught off-guard by Winter. Then her one friend died. He had been injured in a hunt and froze to death after telling her to leave him behind. And now, five months later, Spring started breaking through. Five months and she'd finally found new land.
Of course, as any curious wolf would have, she set out to explore the area. There were less humans than in her homeland at least, and she'd grown in her time away from everything.
And now, at this very moment, Korynthe was walking again. The red rock under her was hot to her toes. The sun shone down on her in a way she wasn't used to, as she came from a beautiful forest. She had gone up against snowy tundras, large forests and wild rivers, but this was something else entirely. It had been a short while since she had seen water last, and she'd eaten not much time prior, yet she could tell she was tired.
That said, she couldn't just lay down and sleep. She hadn't heard of anyone dying because of heat, but she was sane enough to know that this was not a good resting place.
So yes, she was looking for shade. A place to lay down and plan out her next move. She had no one to watch her back, and who knew what dangers lay beyond? The young wolf had seen some humans, some larger animals, but the area was big. Maybe there were already packs present, ready to kill her for invading their territory as soon as they spotted her (although she really doubted anyone would want to lay claim on such a wasteland like this).
Her mind trailed back to how far she'd come. She had travelled this far, it would be a shame to die now. And the idea of dying here, alone, with no one to mourn her… It frightened her. She would just fade away like she'd never existed, in not a single wolf's memory. And the memory of her people would be lost too.
Enough with the crisis. She was not even three years old yet! She wouldn't die, not here, not now. Not today.
So Korynthe kept on walking. She was used to walking by now. One foot in front of the other, no need to rush; rushing would only hurt her by now.
She kept her senses sharp. She seemed to be alone now, but she could be wrong. This area was untouched by humans, but who knew what kind of wolves could be here?
Finally, she noticed a spot on the horizon. It was difficult to make out, the vague form almost blending in with the rocks of the seemingly endless wasteland, but it wasn't a rock. As she got closer, she noticed fur.
Her ears picked up on a few barks. It seemed to come from the figure before her. The figure - the wolf - then dropped at the ledge.
Korynthe wasn't sure if she could approach. She couldn't tell just from a few husky barks whether this wolf was friendly or not. In the past months she had come to assume the worst of the wolves she met, mostly out of self-defense. It could very well be a trap, to play on her need to help people. Something she had gotten from her partner, who had been adamant about helping other wolves.
Nonetheless, she needed to at least try. Just in case the wolf was friendly. So Korynthe stepped forward and sat at a safe distance from the ledge, unlike the wolf.
Heights had always been scary for her.
“Hello?” she tried, almost unsure if the wolf was even awake. They did lie there, unmoving. Maybe the wolf was dead?
No, they were breathing. Whoever they were.
Korynthe almost held her own breath, awaiting the wolf’s response.
Subject: . Woes in my Wake . 