He liked these fields, the clear view of grass, waving softly against the horizon, inviting to the large herds that passed through relic lore, as he had noticed by their droppings. Alas, as he had been openly confronted with just the other day, these lands were also used as hunting grounds by several nearby packs, he couldn't settle here. Still he lingered, enjoying peacefulness while he waited for Jessie to catch up so they could continue their search. Wandering aimlessly through the fields, weaving in and out between blackberry shrubs, the graying man slowly grew more white as the softly falling snow settled in his dark pelt. In the end he had enough of the flurries and started looking for shelter; That's another downside to this place… No woods to hide in, or find cover under. Finally he caught sight of a lone tree, towering atop a small slope, its bare branches thick and dense enough in the center of the crown, that it protected the ground below from most of the snow.

Drestig climbed the hill, a dark shadow against the snowy grass, strong legs easily scaling the small knoll, a mere molehill compared to the mountains he'd grown up in. Still, he didn't miss the steep inclines – he might have crossed the pass with little trouble just a few days prior, but he knew that age that was beginning to show in his fur would soon be felt in his bones as well, and so he would prefer to spend the rest of his days in a flatter land. This top was a simple ascend though, and he could soon sit himself down under the sheltering branches of his lone tree, gazing out over the surroundings. There was an eerie familiarity to this position, even if the tree at his back was not an oak, but the view was entirely different, and he couldn't help but feel easier at the change of scenery; No fog, no ghosts… This would not be his final destination, but it made him hopeful that he might find one, a home where he could focus on the present and future, rather than living in the past.

Word count: 363

Head turned to the west, the dark wolf watched the sun slowly slink closer to the horizon, the silver in his coat turned to bronze by its last rays. He felt so at peace sitting there, free of the daemons that had haunted him for so long and, at least in this moment, not thinking of the new ones he might have created when he left. A sudden call drew him out of his doze, head craning over one shoulder to look back at the origin of the sound. A grey-brown silhouette stood out clear against the snow in the middle-distance, ears clearly perked in his direction. The stranger was alone, though apparently not adverse to company, and while Drestig had been enjoying his moment of peace, he'd never been one for solitude either. Smiling to himself, he raised his own voice in reply, a short, barking note ringing through the air in his clear tenor. An invitation to join him.

The distance was too great for him to catch a scent, but whoever this wolf may be, he would happily share a spot under the tree. After all, the voice had been friendly enough, and why draw attention to oneself first if planning to attack? Besides, Drestig had never been the suspicious type, and he was confident in his ability to hold his own if a fight broke out. Whether the stranger was a loner or not, they were alone at the moment, and one on one he had no qualms. Shifting slightly to make room next to him, not intend on keeping his eyes from the sunset for longer than absolutely necessary, the colorless chap waited for his new companion to approach, ready with a greeting as soon as the distance was small enough that he needed not yell; "Good evening. Come to enjoy the view?"

Word count: 308

She was a spunky one, coming towards him with a spring in her step. And yes, female, he soon noticed, smiling at the look of joy on her young face. A yearling it appeared, still lagging a bit of muscle on, surprisingly long, cream-colored legs. She was pretty, in an unusual way, the tan and grey on her face marked by distinct, dark streaks running down each cheek. Her comment made him chuckle, nodding agreement, though his eyes were still on her face, studying her as she studied the sky. When she sat down next to him, their fur brushed lightly, wagging tails inadvertently sliding over one another, but he paid it little attention, turning his ember gaze to the similarly colored sun.

There was so much passion in her voice, it was almost comical, but Drestig found it endearing. Keeping his eyes ahead, slightly narrowed against the light, he replied in a smooth, low voice: "I was lucky enough to come across the hill at the right time, thought it was a nice place to rest." A soft smile on his lips, he turned again to look at the young woman, again sweeping his tail over hers as it continued to dart back and forth behind him. "It's important to stop and appreciate the beautiful things in life, now and again." His tone remained light, eyes filled with friendly warmth, though a small stab echoed through his heart as he watched the excitement on the yearling's face; She reminded him of @Sahalie.

Word count: 253