Shadow Mountain And when we're bored, we play in the woods

Rather than return to the valley and the pack to which he had pledged himself, Revui lingered on the mountain. He could not pull himself away from the fantasy that it was his home; for a little while, he could pretend as if he knew each contour of this mountain as if it were Moonspear, and imagine what it would be like to lord over such a place. Charon's daughters ruled there now and as proud as Revui was of his family, he was removed from them. This mountain was mighty in its own way and he felt powerful merely breathing the thin air upon it. It was better for him to burn through his excess energy here — although it left him ignorant to the dangers lurking within Ursus.

No, he was determined to conquer this mountain. He needed something to distract him from the endless routine he'd created for himself, something to shake things up. Harassing neighbours could only go so far. Plus, he was hungry for what felt like the first time in months. That powerful appetite Revui carried inside had somehow weakened after some time with the bear wolves; now, on his own and given time to figure some stuff out for himself, it had returned to him.

But he was not alone on the mountain.

He'd caught sight of something glimmering in sharp contrast to the murkwood that dominated the hillside. It was so brief that he didn't even think to stop, as if it were a mirage. It came again in his periphery and this time, the slow-brained Revui noticed the opposite: a lethargy to the shape, a sulkiness, as if they were prowling but without the heart to hunt. He began to mirror its movements. His strides were purposeful as he began his pursuit, arriving a few feet adjacent to the girl's haunches.

Revui could have announced himself. Instead he chose to do his introduction this way — trying to startle the stranger, merely to see what she would do.