He had been by himself for a few weeks now and had been mostly alone, it seemed like outside of packs there were next to no wolves within this place at all. Despite his intention to leave and learn everything he could about his mother, as if putting all of her pieces back together could somehow bring her back, all he had learned was that he was hungry. Without a pack to feed him Draven had to rely on his own hunting skills which as a pup within a pack had been almost impressive but on his own was lacking.

That was why had had been staying so long in such a dreadful place. It was ominous and the cautious boy felt on edge at all times, he had hardly slept since he had arrived yet he couldn't bring himself to leave. Wandering east trying desperately to kind @Karina and her pack who had known his mother so well he had easily become lost.  Entering into the woods had been his first mistake, the trees were twisted and somehow inexplicitly more dead than the other winter dead trees. It felt as if eyes watched the pups every movements even in the middle of the day and the black fur stood at all times on edge as if it had been frozen into that position.

All he had wanted was to get out as soon as he got in deep enough that he couldn't see the exit but it seemed impossible. It had been days of constant wandering and circles as exhaustion crept in before Draven had found this place, somehow so much worse than the rest. Despite the unusual warm weather the last few days his soul felt cold in this portion of the woods, it was haunting. But he couldn't leave.

The bones that had stuck haphazardly through the snow and melting ice were full of precious marrow which was the only nourishment Draven was able to easily reach. The place stunk to high heaven and the stench had seeped into his pelt but his nose was adjusting. This was not the only reason he stayed. It was the haunting, it seemed sinister and threatening but the very presence of spirits rooted him to the place. Was this where his mother's soul had gone? It couldn't be, she had been so warm not cold like this but the very possibility was enough for the pup.

The morning was just beginning, sun finished rising but still rather low in the sky, casting long shadows through the gnarled trees. Overnight the temperature had dipped and the melting ice had frozen solid. Tripping and slipping over the uneven slick ground Draven tugged desperately at a bone which was frozen into the ground. Grunting in exertion the black paws slipped beneath him and the boy face planted into the hard ground. Licking his lips the pup tasted blood from the impact and a sense of dread filled him, what kind of creatures would the scent of blood in a place like this attract?