Shadewood come in from the cold

The words came with an unfurling cloud of silver which sparkled in the cold air for a moment before dissipating. It felt as if every breath was hard fought for in these times of frozen forests and fields. Some part of Cailean told him that he should keep moving, keep those thick muscles rolling beneath his coarse pelt, but manners dictated that he not simply walk off on the she-wolf. Aside from that, she was the first who had deigned to speak to him in what felt like months of traipsing through a frozen wilderness.

Cailean had been a loner longer than he’d care to admit, but before that he had had a life and a pack. A family – though they had been ripped away from him. Perhaps it was the vain hope of reuniting with them that kept him moving, chasing shadows and dreams that would never satisfy him. It kept him sharp but it kept him alone.

He let out a hollow chuckle in response to her remark and offered a slow, deep nod of his head.

“Especially when you have no in to go to.” Cailean was without a den – without shelter of any sort, and it showed. Crystals of ice clung to his dove grey fur. Luckily his body was built to withstand a certain amount of cold and hardship, but he would have given anything for a warm spot to snooze in.

“Cailean,” he introduced himself after a moment, ears flicking back.