Redhawk Caldera two years past

Ever since the terrible moment of embarrassment Eljay had stayed to himself mostly, ashamed and tied up inside. He didn't understand any of it and he didn't want anyone to be mad at him or to hate him, but felt they must. Many times he had stood on the breaches of Redhawk Caldera and had considered what he should do — had known that he should leave so he could stop being a bother, but he never could. He was too afraid, too much of a coward, to do such things, he had found.

The only thing that had really changed now, the thing he had realised now, was Lagan — who was better than him in every way. Eljay++. The only thing he'd ever had was looking after the pups, but now that Lagan was pretty much all grown up, he wasn't really needed for that anymore either and he realised with a start that he had been taking distance almost as if he was already preparing to retire, as if he'd given over the reins to Lagan already, subconsciously.

He'd spent the night hunting and eating alone, whispered a soft-spoken "happy birthday, me," to himself while he wondered if his parents were even thinking of him. They were probably too busy with the pack, with the pups, with the newcomers, with everything. They didn't have time to spend on their immature two-year-old son.

He'd watched the sun rise as beautiful colours splashed the lands and finally he decided that he would stop being so selfish. With heavy paws Eljay walked to the borders of the Caldera. His eyes were moist and shiny as he looked back and whispered, "bye mommy and daddy and pups," and choked back a sob. He wasn't sure how he was even going to manage out in the world — he wasn't sure if he was going to manage. But he was growing weary of being bothersome and if the best thing he could do was to get out of everyone's hair, then that's what he should do.

With a sad shudder and panic making his breathing short and painful he lingered only a moment longer, unsure if he should inform anyone. Then, with a sad frown, he decided he didn't know how to tell them and he surely didn't want to worry them further, and that perhaps it was best he disappear so as to not to worry them. He could just fade away, and that would be that. It was like he was never really there.

So now that the decision was made he stepped over the Caldera's border towards Lake Rodney, and towards the outside world he had never known, and he broke into a trot, faster and faster, even though he had no idea where he was going.