Sea Lion Shores with arms wide open

Floki took a few tentative steps, waiting for Charon to respond or to emerge from the underbrush. The tip of his tail quivered nervously and his ears stood tall on his head, still a bit oversized in comparison to his skull. Soon enough, his gaze lit on Charon, and while the first emotion to rush through his body was relief, it was quickly replaced by shock and worry.

Charon moved stiffly, as though he was in pain, and Floki's eyes instantly strayed to the wounds on his shoulders. He whined and padded towards Charon, concern written across his expressive face. "What -- what happened?" he asked, nostrils flaring as he inhaled Charon's familiar and yet changed scent. He smelled of other wolves -- more accurately, one other wolf -- and the aroma of the sea had been replaced by something else that he couldn't quite put a paw on.