Whitefish River Afraid of the Empty but Too Safe on the Shore

Another near moon had pasted of Howl searching the Wilds for his mate Star and their children. It had been almost half a year since he had seen them and still he searched. He had no hints, no clues, just the hope that they were at least still alive. He wanted to look more, ask around, but that couldn't be his life. He had a life here with his girls he had to return to. Part of him told himself that he had to give up this search. That by searching so aimlessly he was taking precious time away from the children he still had access to. Still, the hope that Star and his young were still out there cling to him... but its hold was growing weaker.

This stretch of searching was over and it was time for him to return home. He had taken the time to reacquaint his scent with the border so any new faces wouldn't be disturbed by his scent. Another bout of hydrotherapy is what he needed. To relax his traveled muscles and perhaps his uncertain mind. His last therapy session had taken place in the heart of the river with fish passing him by. This time though he would venture to a calmer area of the river, free of swimming and thrashing fish.

Instead of a fish, however, when he walked towards the pool a large splash disrupted its waters. He was first confused, unable to see what had thrown itself into the water from such a distance, but as he made his way to the shore he saw the head of a silver male above the water's surface. The male's face was new but Howl wasn't sure how new to the territory he was. "Quite the spot isn't it?" he said in a friendly tone.