Oh he was out there now, and about time too! The Fields had grown far beyond boring, especially since Reyes and Askan left. The sparrow-pup fantasized about following after them, joining whatever exciting adventures they might be having, but he was too much of a coward to actually do it. He couldn’t leave the pack, what about mum and dad, and @Sphinx, who’d been so hurt by the others leaving. She was still sad; She need cheering up! So that was his main motivation for sticking around, trying to make her forget with all the antics he could think of. Eventually he’d run out though, too uninspired by the same, boring surroundings. Then he’d slip away. Usually not far, and never for very long, but just enough to catch that taste of adventure.

Today he’d gone farther than before though, slipping from the dense woods south of Wild Rye Fields and into the narrow canyon crossing through the pass. Head perpetually turned upwards, gazing hungrily up the steeps slopes, towards the mountain sides, he walked alongside the water, the rush of the stream the only sound within the narrow walls, echoing through the tunnel and filling his ears. Ever so often, the youngster’s paws would slip on the uneven ground, forcing him to look down at his feet, grimacing every time an ankle was twisted on a rock, or root of one of the few trees, clinging on to the Palisade’s sides. But he persevered, to excited by all the newness around him.

He wasn’t sure exactly how long he’d been walking, or how far he’d gotten from home, when another shift of the earth beneath caused him to turn down his head, and he caught sight of a figure up ahead. An eager grin spread on Gale’s face as he looked towards the stranger, trying to smell the air and catch his scent, like he’d learned from the adults, but with little success. Undeterred though, the pup called out in a confident, chirpy voice, tail waving happily behind him; “Hi there!”

Word count: 342

He hadn’t met that many strangers in his short life, this was true, but Gale figured it wasn’t so different from meeting pack mates; They were kinda strangers once too..! Though he didn’t really remember that. Still, he saw no harm in being friendly, his mom had taught him good manners after all. The stranger didn’t seem all too happy though, at first not even reacting, like he hadn’t seen the pup even though he was looking right at him. The boy’s head tilted, one brow quirking slightly in a confounded imitation of his father. Tail still wagging, if a little slower than before.

The stranger in turn looked, though his gaze seemed to search beyond the gangly pup, further into the Palisade. But Gale knew there was nothing there, he’d just come that way after all. So instead he studied the other wolf, curiosity radiating of him, eyes wide and ears perked. The strange man’s eyes were green, darker than his own, but not as deep emerald as his mother’s - and it was a male, he was old enough to tell that much. The mixed brown pelt seemed a little dishevelled, about like his own after a good romp around the Field, and he was almost as scraggly looking too, but he was no pup; Why’s he so skinny? Griffin had been fortunate enough in life so far to never meet a starving wolf.

Finally the stranger spoke, his voice rather gruff, and Gale’s tail resumed its lively wave, unperturbed by the harsh attitude. The question made him glance around briefly; “Uh… Yeah,” he answered, pretty obviously. Apparently that was all the guy had to say, but he moved closer, steps agonizingly slow. Figuring then, that he would have to do the hard work, the pup announced: “I’m Gale… Uh, Griffin… Avalon. You live around here?” Maybe they were allies, like Risaela and her pack; Then we’re sorta friends already..!

Word count: 322