we must accept finite disappointment,

karpos slayer

but never lose infinite hope...

The boy had been trying to remain focused with the hopes that no one would notice the very obvious scar across his eye but he had been failing at it and he probably had lost an aunt in the process. That particular day he had found himself wandering about the meadow with his mind on a distant place. He wanted to be alone and he wanted to see no one. There was a scent, Silver’s scent. It stung his heart because he had done the same to her, giving her a scar right across her muzzle. He felt guilty above everything else to know that he had been such a whiny brat the past twelve months. Had he ruined everything that was good in his life? Probably…

He also caught the scent of his ‘Aunt Nari’ whom he was not sure he could trust. His aunt had told Silver about his father’s betrayal and he wasn’t sure what her take on it was. The fact was that if his aunt Nari had the same views as Silver, then could they truly get along? He owed his father’s actions his life. If his father had never run off then he would have never been born. Perhaps that would have been better. No, he couldn’t start looking at life like one complete failure. He hadn’t failed at everything. He had been told that he would be a capable guardian by Sir Mapplethorpe and although the man now hated him, he would still remember what Hollowheart Keep had done for him.

Then there was Nova, who seemed like the only wolf in the world (other than Adsi) that he actually got along with. All of Willow Ridge would hate him and perhaps their allies too. Hollowheart Keep wanted his head on a spike and there were a few assorted wolves that held a particular dislike for him. It didn’t matter, none of it mattered, because he would rise up stronger than his father had and he would do so by leaving Cut Rock River on peaceful terms (hopefully) to raise his destiny should the time come where he could form a pack in his own image. He was ambitious and nothing could stop him from getting what he set his heart to.

He looked at the borders as he debated calling for his aunt to get what she thought of it. But if he called… then perhaps Silver would answer his call instead and perhaps she would finish the job. As it was his left eye had a limited vision. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t as it had been before the fight. Above all, it stung almost every day as it scarred over. He’d finally picked a name for the place of their fight, a name for him and only him to remember, Scarred Sycamore Butte. Well, actually he was between two names. Scarred Sycamore Butte and Burnt Sycamore Butte.

He was already planning things down the road but he forgot one important detail. A lot could change in a few years or even one.

we must accept finite disappointment,

karpos slayer

but never lose infinite hope...

He hadn't been paying attention to other scents wafting through the air and so he had not caught the scent of his 'aunt' until she spoke and his mind snapped back into the reality of things. He turned and backed away, the scar across his eyes present when he wished it not to be. He gulped a bit as she seemed to greet him kindly and it stung at his heart. Was it more pity for being the son of a 'traitor'? He spoke with no emotions present in his tone. "Yes it is me." He held a cautious look in his eyes because he did not know what to expect from her. He sighed slightly as he sat down on his haunches. He hadn't really been in the mood for confrontation lately, at least not peacefully.

His mind rushed with different scenarios as he looked at her, showing her the proper respects by tucking his tail lower than her's and whatnot. "How are you Aunt Nari?" He asked with little emotion in his voice. He expected her to go off in a rant about how his father was evil or something despite her behavior that she was displaying. He just didn't know and it bothered him because it was making him uneasy for no apparent reason. He toyed with the idea of just walking away but decided against it. He realized that with his scar he almost looked exactly like his father. The difference was his father's coat was lighter than his and his father had a small scar next to the one he had on his eye when Karpos only had one.

we must accept finite disappointment,

karpos slayer

but never lose infinite hope...

She simply demanded that he greet her like real family would and it made him smile a little bit. He didn't know what she thought of his father, but she didn't seem to reflect any ill will onto Karpos and for that he was grateful. She approached and licked his face in greeting and he smiled a little bit, licking her nose. She stood back to give him space and talked about how life wasn't going too well for her lately. He completely understood where she was coming from. She was trying to forget it all too and he frowned a bit with those words. "I know exactly what you mean Aunt Nari. Life hasn't been treating me too well either though it's mostly my fault." He sighed as he looked at his paws.

"I don't know, things just got real bad after everyone disappeared from Pitch Pine Trail. I came back from an adventure one day and the only wolf I could find was Capella. She helped me to a pack in the mountains. I knew a princess from there and she helped me in but I didn't see any of my family until winter's end almost. What's worse is this princess ended up just using me for a game. She got me kicked out of a pack I was thriving in because she didn't like something I had said. I did find them all again though... all except Ana who was like my mum after my real mum disappeared after my birth. She raised me and she disappeared on the mountains looking for me. It's my fault that she might be dead." He admitted to his aunt with sadness hanging in his eyes. The Trail was his home and would always be his place. While he would probably never live there again, it was a part of him that he could never forget.