Shadows. These were the life long companions of the nomad. Their opaque darkness offering the young man protection from the world around him. Camouflaging large robust frame from unwanted eyes when the scent of others became too close. Dorian Gray couldn't risk being seen. A ghost of the shadows he was to remain. Never seen. Never heard. Oh he couldn't only imagine the horrors that awaited him if another was to spot him. Lowly the sound of thunder rumbled in the distance announcing the oncoming approach of yet another spring storm. The loud booms covering any noise his large pads made against the mud slickened earth and debris riddled floor of the strange forest he now found himself traversing. Heavy clouds dreary in color that once brought light drops of rain in the form of a drizzle now assaulting the earth and its inhabitants with a pelting force. The poor Dorian Gray soaked to his very core.

Pausing to take a breather a quick shake was given to free his coat of the excess weight the rain had bestowed upon him. Ears in a flash facing forward then circling about to ensure he was alone in this dampened place. Only satisfied with his surveillance after allowing the single green optic nestled within his mask to absorb every mark on the trees. Every disturbance in the brush. One could never be too careful. Accepting that all was clear did he finally acknowledge the hunger and thirst that clawed at his innards, the throbbing that inflamed his pads and limbs from constant traveling. Lightly washed out face lowering to lap the pink of his tongue delicately at the surface of a pool of water that had collected at the base of a tree. The first proper drink in what felt like eons. Paranoia pushing the young one eyed lad on further and further. The risk of what could happen if he stopped too long enough to let his emotions win over rational thinking. He couldn't risk it.

A voice rings out. Sure enough the peaceful fantasy around the young Gray came tumbling down like shattered glass. The voice like a bullet that was shot right through the piece of art, forcing the panic stricken lad to hug the dirty ground with his body. His thoughts were so otiose in thinking he was Scott free of his pursuers. Surely he had to have known they would catch up to him eventually. Why didn't he cover his tracks better? Used more plant oils to mask his scent from the demons on his trail. It was too late now, though. Someone had found him. 'If I just stay hunkered down and don't make a noise, maybe...maybe I can crawl out of this situation alive. Yeah! That outta work.' Dorian rambled about his plan in his mind. Slowly inching forward on fear shaken limbs.  

Too busy with his eye trained on the direction the strange voice had come from there wasn't enough time for the light coated wolf to notice the twig approaching his awaiting claws. A loud snap resonating under the pressure of his paws as it broke the deceased plant life in two, freezing the young lad in his place. Eye widened a few degrees and heart thudding heavily in his chest loud enough to drown out the roar of the thunder, Dorian ceased all motions. Even his lungs only inhaling half way in fear that that too would blow his cover. "I won't hurt you if you don't hurt me." The stranger called out again. 'Of course you won't. That's what they always say before jumping for your throat.' He wheezed mentally. Body beginning to shiver from a combination of the chilled rain and fear cooling his blood. "I'm not coming out!" Dorian shouted. Unbeknownst until it was already out of his mouth that his words were not reverberated within the safety of his mental walls. Crap.