Noctisardor Bypass It's been a long day without you, my friend

No matter Fox's answer to her critical question, Wildfire decided she would try to curtail the wandering somewhat. She would never be able to completely curb her wandering ways, though she wanted to make sure she was striking a balance between supporting her pack and indulging her wanderlust. After all, she would become an adult soon and she would be responsible for contributing in a much more intensive way than was expected of her now. She wanted to start adulthood off on the right foot. As much as her parents speculated that she might leave the caldera one day, Wildfire had no plans to do so and she wanted to be a good subordinate.

When she finally let herself leave again, she was tempted to head to Nocturne Summit. Maybe she would run into Charon there and help him scope out a suitable new home. But Wildfire didn't want to be tempted by the possibility of joining his ranks, remote as it was. She decided to go in the opposite direction instead. She hadn't explored to the north or east since the day she'd met Kaskara. Surely there was much, much more to see in that direction.

The sun was just starting to set as she veered as far east as she dared, giving wide berth to a pack she didn't know but certainly smelled. Wildfire came to a river. She drank, then crossed at some shallows and continued due north. She knew Jade Fern Grove was around here somewhere and began to drift west without even realizing it. She found herself drawing up beneath a stone archway that vaguely reminded her of Granite Gate. Intrigued by what might lay beyond it, the juvenile scouted forth, passing into the bypass even as night fell all around her.

A strange scent drew her forward and Wildfire came to stand over the pale body of a small wolf. Wildfire was strongly reminded of Dove, though she could see that it had been a young male. She frowned sadly, then looked around herself, wondering what to do. Should she try to bury him? Or just leave him there? Did he have a family? Should she try calling for someone? Having never discovered a corpse before, she did not know the protocol. Unsure and indecisive, the young Outrider's amber eyes slowly returned to the forlorn, wasted-away body at her feet.