Dawnlark Plains You'll never be what is in your heart

Tail wagging, Veteran submitted to the ritual sniffing and took a few sniffs himself. Smelled like Speckletooth had also been hanging around the Taiga the last few days. 

You really wan' to hear me talk about the swamps?

"Sure do," Veteran assured him. And he even kind of meant it. Something about Speckletooth's genuine enthusiasm was endearing him to Veteran. Slowly but surely. 

The swamps are where wolves live. Shouldn' yew know that?

"I.. suppose I should," Veteran allowed, indulging his conversation partner. 

Speckletooth went on to confide in Veteran how strange he found the wolves of Teekon, and Veteran nodded sagely, holding inside his amusement at the sheer absurdity of Speckletooth insisting it was everyone else who was strange. 

After a short, contemplative moment, Veteran took a long breath in and spoke. 

"You sound like you're searching for like-minded wolves, Speckletooth. Somewhere to.. to well, belong." Perhaps Veteran was projecting a little bit, but he just had a feeling that Speckletooth was like him- that he wanted something more than the loner life.  

"..Can I ask you something personal? Did you belong, when you were in the swamp? Like.. did you fit in?" Veteran was dying to know if Speckletooth's oddness was because he was a swamp wolf, or if it was in addition to being a swamp wolf.