He was like a shadow as he glided through the snow with perfect ease. He had been running like this for a while, always in a straight line like a speeding bullet away from Cut Rock River territory. As a loner he had done this thousands of times as a way to escape from reality, anger and hate and despair pounding in his heart as he went. Now his spirit was soaring high above with the circling hawks and falcons, exploring distant, unknown places with majestic eagles. Happiness lit his eye like the vibrant sun itself, and his tail was lifted high like a banner of joy streaming out behind him. His was a new life.

Since the dawn the black male had found himself to be utterly alone while he traveled these more distant territories. But no longer was he lonesome, for he knew that at any time he could turn around and return home to be greeted by the pack. So he kept on racing, snow spraying from his thundering black paws in all directions, coating his belly and sides with its icy grip. Hati didn't mind. Today everything was perfect, and even as new flakes began to drift down from the gray heavens his spirit could not be dampened. Rather he pranced, licking the snow from the sky and blinking it from his lash with a funny smirk. It became a dance; he no longer ran but instead spun about under the bare cherry trees like a playful child.

And then something made him stop, a strange prickling that ran down his spine. He wasn't alone. Hati stood with tensed muscles, low to the ground, slowly turning his head in a full circle before he spotted what he was looking for. It was a stunning black female who watched him, looking lost in the snow, lost in herself. He cocked his head slightly. What had this girl been through that could bring her to this point? Health was the furthest thing away from the description of her physical appearance. Hati wondered how long it had been since she had eaten, or been warm. Or happy. Even from here he could see the death in her eyes, the void. His heart went out to her and slowly he straightened, quietly waiting for her to make a move.

Would she just pass on? Leave him be? Somehow that sounded like the worst thing in the world to him. He had to find out about her. He desperately needed to.

It's me, Silver.

What? Why are you here? What has happened?

My home is gone and my mate left me.

Who has DONE this to you!? Your mate I shall rip apart! Seething.

I have nothing left but myself.

You have me.

Hati stared, jaw gaping, at the dark female. He had been so far away from here when they met, and now they were here, together again. But they had swapped positions; now he was filled with life and she was broken and hurt inside. He hated that he couldn't talk, couldn't lift her up, couldn't soothe her pain, couldn't tell her everything was going to be okay. He could do nothing but return her gentle nudge as she pressed against his cheek. As Silver pulled away he looked into her eyes, searching for an sign of life but they were dull and lifeless. His own filled with sorrow for the death she must have passed through.

He watched her struggle to keep a strong face on, and when he could not bear it any longer, reached forward and licked her face as if he could wipe off the ghost which had replaced her. She was so out of control, so lost. So gone. This was not the same wolf he had known at Clandestine Brook. She was just a reflection.

A reflection that he still cared for even after these months. She wasn't alone anymore. Hati pulled away to look at her again, putting on a small smile. Everything will work out, it said. It promised.

He was Silver's wall now. She had nothing else to lean against, no one to support her, and nothing to live for. As she pressed her face into his ebony fur and spoke in low, sad tones Hati couldn't help but smile again under her praise. He gently stroked the base of her ear with his quivering nose until she pulled away and put on a smile that couldn't hide her sorrow. So carefully he watched her, wishing he could help her in some way.

I've missed you too, Silver, more than you know. The intensity of his eye tried to convey this to her, but as always she would never know.

After she had finished whispering Hati found himself frowning. He knew what would have happened had no one found her in this state; she would have died of cold or hunger. He had to get her food and shelter as fast as possible.

With an inviting flick of his tail the Cut Rock River wolf bounded away through the snow, nose low to the earth hoping to scent some crazy bunny. The storm was picking up slightly, making it hard to see through the swiftly falling flakes, but that would never stop him. Perhaps it would be better to simply bring Silver back to to the territory and use food that had been cached?

The idea was immediately tossed aside. Unless she wanted to join Cut Rock River it would be foolish to bring a stranger onto the territory without permission from an alpha. So they were stuck on their own if they wanted food. And nothing was turning up.

Well plan number one had failed miserably. Hopefully Silver wouldn't mind starving. He grumbled to himself as he nosed about in the cold, wet snow and continued to find nothing. Not even a faint remnant or reminder that something alive had been here once upon a time. With an annoyed huff he finally gave up and turned to face the pretty black female who, at just that moment, stopped too. He perked his ears to let her know that he was listening, intently as always. What she said made his heart drop.

Not that she needed to know that.

It was apparent that Silver wanted to be alone, without him. She needed a pack, and made it obvious that she did not want to return home with Hati. It stung some, but he understood. Or at least tried to. With a small, encouraging smile he quietly agreed. But this was not an adventure for him to take part in. He indeed had a pack to go to, and it was a self-made responsibility to protect its borders, not romp about following his own wishes. Sadly he backed away, hoping she would understand. This was where they parted. He had done nothing, yet Silver seemed to have gained some heart, at least.

With a cocked head he waited for her to make a final decision, whether that be to change her mind and join him or turn around and search elsewhere for a place to reside for the winter. With the snow getting thicker and life harder it was unlikely they would see each other again until spring, or later, depending on circumstances. He only hoped that they would meet again.