Born to a matriarchal pack, Talion's mother intended that he face the same fate as his brothers before him: death. In a rare turn of events it was announced by the Siren Queen that the sea willed this boy to live, despite his dam's objection. He was reared solely by the High Priestesses alongside his twin sisters and the daughters of other Nereides, though was separated from them upon weaning and placed in the care of his father and the other males.

Previously a shy and gentle child, the harshness of his mother hardened him considerably. In the beginning he acknowledged that he was inferior to all of his female pack mates, choosing to maintain an "out of sight, out of mind" approach, and often struggled in silence with his mother's rejection. Despite living in his sisters' shadows, Talion became a naturally proud boy who continuously sought to prove himself and longed to be accepted as an equal. Born of a Nereides female and believing himself to be a child of the sea, he eventually rebelled with a keen interest in learning the ways of the Nereides and their lore in a desperate attempt to gain their approval, but the Priestesses were quick to snub this behaviour.

Abandoning his thirst for knowledge, Talion focused instead on his intended purpose: becoming an elite guard. He was excelling in his training when the pack's Siren Queen passed away suddenly during a hunting accident, leaving the position open for his mother to claim. Sao banished her unwanted son, casting him out into life as a loner, and Talion lingered near the territory borders for weeks with the hope that he might re-integrate. His mother eventually wounded him and Talion made his way South where he came upon the Teekon, where he decided to settle to wait out the approaching Winter months.

He settled briefly among the wolves of Moonspear, though worried that he didn't quite fit in there and disappeared during the cold season.