Swiftcurrent Creek beckoning of the heart · claim thread

It had been weeks since he had seen any form of life, aside from the occasional rabbit that he spooked, or fish that he grabbed from the lake. Wolves knew better than to wander on their own for long, and Njal should have realized this earlier in his life. He had been alone for many days - many weeks, months, he couldn't tell precisely how long. There had been a few quiet meetings between solo creatures; Njal staking out forgotten carcasses, only to meet other scavengers; a chance meeting with individuals stalking their own borders, which was driven away from quickly; nothing that kept his interest for long. He eventually took to living by a lake he had discovered. Unknown to him, Duck Lake was frequented by the wolves of the Teekon Wilds. It was here, with his teeth sinking deep in to the flesh of a wriggling fish, that he first heard the call. It was a distant sort of sound but unmistakeably wolf; it was the call of a single creature, laying claim to an area not too far from his position. Njal's tongue slicked across his lips. He tasted the sharp flavor of fish, and contemplated his next action in silence. Sit and eat, or leave and potentially find... Something more?

He was on his feet and prowling in the next few moments. His strides quick, but lacking a lot of oomph he had carried with himself, months ago. He was not as strong now, as he was with Kindred. The man's body had lost some fat and muscle since living off of the land, on his own. He had a hungry look in his eyes as he moved, picking up speed when his body reached for the plains. If he did this, he would be settling in to a pack and serving them, instead of himself. It was not a hard choice for somemone who was hungry and lonely - but it was still difficult for Njal, with his habit of falling to his wanderlust. The stranger's voice was still in the air as he made his way; he hadn't thought long at all, it would seem, before his body rose up to follow. Perhaps he was desperate.

He found the river, and followed it. When his body began to grow tired - his tongue falling out from between his teeth to suck in air - he realized he had been in an all-out run across the plains. He slowed when the scent of multiple strangers met his nose, and steadied himself in to a more compliant quick-step. Njal came upon the gathering just as another voice joined in, and he caught sight of a ruddy red individual who was harmonizing with the first voice.

His first thought was of Proudheart, but that was banished swiftly, as his instincts overtook him. Njal raised his head next and added his deep-sounding call to the fray, hoping in the back of his mind, that he wasn't invading upon the privacy of a family that did not want him.