It was a miserable figure that appeared out of the mist, scraggly and skeletal, white and silver hairs matted together over jutting out bones. Drestig immediately breathed easier, eyes growing soft as they studied the young wolf. Whoever he was, it was clear he had been on his own for a while, clearly struggling as most loners were this time of year. When his eyes lifted and found the dark caller – or well, eye, one of them was motionless and milky, while the other had a rich, brown color and glowed with emotion – fear clearly flashed over him, body growing rigid and then curling in on itself. Drestig sighed at the sight, offering the stranger a gentle smile as he recoiled, trying to appear as non-threatening as he could. It seemed likely this guy's previous encounters with other wolves hadn't been friendly; Let's try t fix that, shall we?
In the moist, still air, the voice carried easily, silvered ears twitching and head titling at the odd phrasing. Perhaps the kid had grown a bit nutty out here all alone? Drestig shrugged his shoulders, deciding not to fault the boy for his quirkiness; Just yet… Instead he dipped his muzzle a little, hoping some courtesy of his own would inspire the stranger; "Name's Dres…" His voice faltered, whole body freezing in place while his nostrils flared, taking in the scent that had finally reached him through the stale fog. His breathing grew rapid, hackles rising as the stench reached deep into his brain, digging out memories he'd thought buried for good. Claws dug into the snow, a grimace of rage and pain twisting his face as images flashed before his eyes, bloody fur, his love in pieces, then faces, one hooded in brown, the other hideously pale, streaked with grey; It can't be! But his nose didn't lie, he would never forget the stench. He thought he'd gotten them, submitted them to the only fate murderers deserved, but here and now; I killed him! I tore out his throat! Could one of them really have escape?
All previous signs of friendliness were gone, every hair on the ebony man's body standing on end as his tail curved high above his back. His thoughts had slowed, as if moving through tar and all he could focus on was those ghastly images, the pure hatred burning in his veins. A vicious snarl lifted from bared teeth; "You..! Murderer!" And then he leaped forwards, snow flying from his paws as he hurled himself towards the ghost, determined this time to make sure it never returned to haunt him again.
Word count: 436Thoughts ”Speech”