Golden Glade A ghost resurfaced

He was laid on the dried foliage bed for some time, savoring a moment of placidity. His sole eye attempted to the leaves as they gently fall. How long as it been? Many moons. Far too many. Indeed, much had changed in the years since Amaguq had last been seen, slogging through the foul marshes with mud-covered paws and a wrinkled nose.
Oddly enough, he hadn't strayed far from where he was last seen. Having escaped the swamps’ treacherous embrace, he followed the rivers south, eventually entering a forest of cedar and fir. He decided to stay put for a while and has been prowling the patch of forest between Cedar Sweep and Golden Glade ever since, always on a never-ending quest to fill his stomach.

The beauty of Golden Glade at this time of year lives up to its name: bright orange maple leaves carpeted the woodland’s floor, swirling at the slightest breeze. The white bark trunks were left with bare branches reaching skywards, twisting and snapping with the wind. To the south, Nimbus Summit could be seen, imposing and majestic, its peak crowned with clouds.
But as beautiful as the place is, it is also fraught with danger. Amaguq has new scars adorning his lanky frame, but the most notorious were the result of the only time he had attempted to climb the mountain. As an explorer, he sought the view from the summit. But his goal soon shifted: Amaguq discovered a herd of mountain goats living on the steepest cliffs. The thought of hunting one of these herbivores was a wild reverie, regardless of how agile Amaguq remained at his age. An alternative soon presented itself: as he padded up the mountain, he found the remains of a carcass, parts of a goat scattered about. His nose immediately led him to the body remnants of the torn-out carcass, and the wolf eagerly approached to chew on the fleshy bones. He didn't get more than a taste before he heard a hellish growl. It came from a creature unlike any he had ever seen before: even in the distance, it displayed a large, muscular body supported by big paws baring sharp, curved claws; the strong neck held the round head low, its mesmerizing green eyes glaring at him with murderous intent. With a menacing expression, the beast hissed, blowing warm, foul breath as it displayed an impressive set of sharp fangs.
Amaguq growled back.

An exchange of threats followed, the two seemingly locked in a stalemate. But then, in a sudden burst of energy, the creature snapped out of its passive state, leapt effortlessly across the uneven terrain, and covered the distance between them at lightning speed! There was no time for thought: the terrain was not in the wolf's favour, and Amaguq had no choice but to flee. He ran downhill, the sound of his heart pounding against his eardrums. In his panic, the wolf slipped and fell.
When Amaguq's golden eye met the shadow of the strange animal again, it seemed satisfied as it peered down at Amaguq's fallen body from the top of a cliff.
Amaguq had fled the battle, but the strife was far from over. The whole experience had left him with a nasty scratch on the bridge of his nose, several bruises and a broken carpal bone in his right front leg. He had to limp back to the Glade on three legs.

For the next few months, he struggled to keep moving and endured excruciating pain. Rest was a luxury he couldn't afford. The bone eventually healed, leaving a calcified lump near his wrist that still hurts when he leans on it. After such an intimate encounter with death, he decided never to attempt the prowess again, leaving the summit as a mirage of a colossal guardian watching over the surrounding forests.

Meanwhile, in the woods, Amaguq still has plenty of neighbors to keep an eye out for: black bears prowl the place from time to time, sniffing for berries and beehives planted high in the trees; foxes yowl constantly around the place, badgers wander around to snack on mushrooms that sprout near the base of the trees; smaller mustelids can be spotted snaking about in search for hares and mice. On rare occasion, lynxes could also make a shy appearance from time to time, sometimes with tuffs of rabbit fur stuck to their whiskers. In short, competition is fierce in this heavenly grove. While there are squirrels hopping up and down the trees, and rabbits breeding like... well, rabbits, all the other creatures will be lurking by, waiting for an opportunity.

Amaguq had become strangely accustomed to his neighbors and their endeavors, as they struggle to take the test of survival that had been bestowed on them, and Amaguq himself, in return for the splendid scenery.
Another day in paradise... Amaguq thought wryly, as he stretched his body, heading for a random tree to pee. A badger passing in the distance stopped to stare at him shamelessly. Amaguq responded with an evil grin and arched his leg even higher.