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.