Arrow Lake -- the run and go (joining SS!)

Many weeks had passed with no sign of his former pack mates. The burly wolf traveled far and wide, sometimes hot on a trail, but most of the time with no true sense of direction. The past few days brought the dawning realization that he would likely never see his family again. The recent famine was too much, and it was unlikely that any of them would return to the forest that now smelled of death and despair. So Renothe struck out on his own, intent on perhaps finding a new pack that might be willing to accept him.

The mountains were breathtaking; having spent his entire life within the dim embrace of a thick, lush forest, Renothe had never seen a mountain up close. Startling green eyes widened with wonder as he drew nearer, his senses overwhelmed by new sights and sounds. It wasn't long before the scent of others filtered through his nose, and he even came upon a pack's markings. Now both wary and eager, Renothe tracked a wide arc around the territory, heading for the place where the sun's light bounced off the surface of a lake. He snuffled along the shore, ensuring that this place did not fall within the pack's realm. The last thing he wanted was to be driven out for trespassing.

Once satisfied that he has breached no borders, the loner stood alongside the sandy shore, marveling in the feel of sand between his toes - yet another new experience. After a moment Renothe lifted his head high and tossed his muzzle toward the sky, letting loose three short, questioning howls. Am I welcome here? His ears pricked forward as his voice echoed across the mountain and gradually faded away. Would there be a response? Would it be a welcoming howl, or the snarls and yelps of angry, protective pack wolves? His tail lowered, wagging gently from side to side, his posture utterly open and relaxed with no hint of aggression.