Stone Circle Ashes

Greyback, hearing the familiar tone of his son's call, returned his own with a booming echo—it pitched upwards; crescendoing, only to lower and follow flat. But despite this, his baritone never faded, it vibrated through the lands, spooking the animals around, and making his presence known far an wide. He was a protector through and through, and his call naturally fit into that role.

He made haste to meet his son, surprised to hear him towards the border. And as he followed the young boy's scent he grew curious as to why he was there. His mother had ordered everyone to keep within the circle, and even though Greyback did not adhere to her words, he expected his son to do the opposite. Clay had gone missing for not following those orders. Merrit too. Indra as well.

As he approached the border his stride steadied, his gate composed, and his posture tall. His ears stood erect, and behind him his tail lifted to signal his rank. He was no longer hurrying, but he walked with a presence that emanated a purpose.

The mammoth of a wolf stood beside his son, in front of the lady, and looked down upon her with an expression of stone, his eyes raking over her. His son barely came up to his shoulder, but this lady—this abnormally large female came to his chin. It surprised the Patriarch internally. So many wolves around Rising Sun were growing larger with the coming years, and there was no doubt in his mind that a rising threat also accompanied it. But that was a thought for another time. Another place.

"Where do you hail from, stranger?" He spoke, his voice heavy and loud into the stilled air.