Snowforest Taiga you dangle on the leash of your own longing

It wasn't often that Ephraim strayed from the group, but today, he took the opportunity to range a little farther and explore on his own. They weren't going to be in this region forever. There was more to see than he would ever manage to before they left, but he wanted to map as much of it as he could in his head before they moved on. Though he wasn't a scout and didn't aspire to be, despite respecting Etoille greatly for his job, there was a tactical advantage in knowing one's surroundings. The more Ephraim saw, the more he would remember if ever he was back here, and the better situated he would be.

That was how he stumbled upon Currituck who, unbeknownst to either of them, had a life and heritage not unlike his own. The means of their separation from their real families was quite different but the end result was the same: hybrids living among the strong wolves who had taken them in and doing their best to fit in, even if they might always be a little different. Unlike Currituck, Ephraim was at ease with his situation and rarely thought about his true family, who were no more family to him than the rocks and sky. Then again, he hadn't just learned of them.

She was just a face on the taiga to him at present, though, so there was no commonality between them besides the fact they were both young and alone. That she was a similar age intrigued Ephraim, but being naturally shy and uncertain, he couldn't compel himself to approach her outright; instead he began a sort of sideways shuffle as though he meant to go around her, with his head slung low and his eyes dancing indirectly over her figure. But although his manner was nervous and flighty, his erect ears and slowly swaying tail betrayed his curiosity.