Everything that drowns me makes me feel alive

Halgen had been becoming a bit bold since joining Magnolia Glen. His ambitions grew and a fire raged inside his heart. Part of him sought out the vengeance on his family that he thought they deserved. Part of him wanted to challenge through Magnolia Glen's ranks until he rose to the top or almost the top. Part of him wondered if coming out of his cage was a good idea at all. The last part of him drove his determination. He had been doing anything and everything he could to aid the pack he resided in throughout the winter. Food was his main concern. It was scarce and even when food was found it was scrawny. Barely any food left throughout the winter and with breeding season soon a desperate worry raged through him.


Hal scoffed at himself as he walked through the forest. What once would have been shrouded with red ferns and trees was covered with a powdery and light snow. His feet crunched into it as he continued to weave his way through. A small sigh as he pressed forward. A blizzard stung his face, harsh winds flew through his fur but he pressed on. He couldn't back down anymore. It had happened. He was finally learning about what his father thought. He was finally learning how to be the man his parents wanted him to be. He was coming out of his cage and he was doing just fine. A grin pressed on his muzzle as he knew what he was going to do next. He was going to challenge James.

Everything that drowns me makes me feel alive

Halgen turned to the scent of Magnolia Glen, a wolf younger than him and therefore below him in the rankings. He let his tail raise higher than the other man to assert his dominance as he was asked a question about being 'far from home'. They weren't too far from the Glen and Hal needed time to think. "It's called scouting." He told the man in a flat and dry tone. The fact that the yearling was bold enough to question him being out of the territory bothered him. Hal was just trying to stay busy. He was scouting for everything but all he managed to see was frozen fractals spiraling all around in the cold and harsh winter winds. The winter would kill. It had already claimed the life of the prince of the Glen.


The sooth of the winter danger had sunk in when Kyros died. The alphas had reacted badly when he had found them with their son on the hills. The sadness that had ripped through the pack in general was overwhelming and so he got away from it to scout to food. A small gulp as he looked up and tried to see the sky. He wished he could see the blue sky and he wished for the sun to shine down and warm his back once more. The winter wasn't done yet and so he had to look to the others in the pack for support as they looked to him at the same time. That was the way of the pack.

Everything that drowns me makes me feel alive

The cowardice man who was unusually bold and brave listened to the yearling speak. He apologized for coming off as a bit more dominant and stated he was just curious. Hal didn't really respond. His eyes narrowed as he looked around. He should really be getting going but the boy was still there. "Nice to meet you Caniri." He said simply as he looked off into the distance. A smile crossed him and he wondered if what this boy was made of. "Tell me. What role do you want when you're old enough to get it?" he asked because he still had no idea what he wanted to do. His dull amber orbs looked and examined the wolf that was seemingly built for guardianship with his size.


All wolves were different, Halgen had figured that out when he was much larger than his sister yet not a fighter. He supposed he might be a late budding because he seemed to be alright with fighting now. He was constantly changing from day to day, but he didn't really care. As long as his heart and soul was still intact then he would be just fine. He waited for the youth to answer his question and thought about where he would be scouting out. That wasn't good enough. He needed a reason to need to scout it out. For food? Possibly. Protection? Another good clause. He wanted something more from life. For the first time in his life, Halgen wanted to be a leader of something. Leader of an expedition somewhere? Not good enough. Leader of a hunting patrol? It would do. Leader of a pack? Perhaps that was his goal.

Everything that drowns me makes me feel alive

Halgen took a deep breathe as the curious yearling continued to ask him questions. His name? That wasn't too personal given that they were packmates."Halgen Dominique." He informed the yearling in a simple tone. His eyes held the calm gaze he had been sporting since the apology. He had so many stories he could tell this yearling about how curiosity killed the cat. One time he had heard of a wolf who had a certain ailurophilia, or liking of felines, which led to him being killed by a cougar. Such an off topic thought had reached his mind. "Your curiosity is probably one of your greatest abilities, but at the same time it can be dangerous. Have you ever heard the term 'curiosity killed the cat?'" He asked.


Another guardian to the pack. Halgen was not normally an irritable wolf who could not stand others being disrespectful and he had no idea why he felt the way he had now. The fact was that was how he had felt. He saw the potential in the boy and while Hal was not older than him by any means, he was indeed curious. "Tell me more about yourself Caniri. I like to know who my packmates are. When I fight off a stubborn and violent loner, I want to know who it is I'l protecting." He explained the the yearling as he gazed in his direction. A smile on his muzzle as he relaxed a bit. He briefly let his tongue slide over his muzzle before looking further.

Everything that drowns me makes me feel alive

What did he have planned? The other man brought up a good point as Hal racked his brain to figure out what he had planned. The man took a deep breathe before giving an answer. "I'm not too sure what I have planned for myself anymore. I want to be a Guardian who constantly patrols the borders, a hunter whom finds enough prey to feed the pack. A scout who can alert the pack of enemies. I can't do all three at the same time and I'm not positive which I would prefer to do more." He told the other wolf honestly as he took a deep breathe. He was quite uncomfortable with the current conversation for some reason and most of him just wanted to leave the yearling to find solace in being alone where he could think freely and aloud.


"This has been a nice conversation Caniri, but I think it would be best if the both of us get back to doing more productive things. Yes?" He asked as he waited for the other man to respond and then take his exit before Halgen would take his own. Halgen had a lot to think about but he managed to push it all to the back of his mind. Was the man {himself} hiding something? Halgen had no clear thoughts anymore. Often they were plagued with mystery and desire for something greater. Leading a pack? Sometimes he thought he could despite not having a leading bone in his body. He took a small step away from the man and tilted his head.