Zeal never met his birth pack - his first memories are of a band of renegades, more captors than family. He learned to fight among them, clawing his way up the ranks tooth and nail, but never finding a friend - such things did not exist, at least in that place. His ambitions earned him enemies, though, and the higher he climbed, the more he had.

Eventually, and probably inevitably, the proud young fighter went too far, and found himself exiled, beaten, and left for dead in the middle of nowhere.

This was a turning point in his fortunes, although he wouldn't have believed it at the time. He was discovered by a stranger who showed him kindness when he was most in need. At first he thought of this as a sign of weakness, even as he learned the kind stranger was co-leader of their pack, and he simply could not understand how they could live by a rule besides might-makes-right. As he stayed with them and recovered, Zeal became aware for the first time of a way of life outside of that he'd been raised with, and began to change his outlook. He took this act of kindness to heart, as a sign from fate, and sought to find out why he had been spared.

Grateful for having been given a second chance, but still only beginning to understand, and not really fitting in with the family that now sheltered him, Zeal resolved to travel on and meet other wolves.

After healing, he journeys toward the Teekon Wilds, having heard rumors of what they might hold.