After he ran for what felt like an eternity, Steele finally stopped running and flopped down on the ground. A light dust of snow spiraled from underneath him. He was almost instantly asleep, too exhausted to continue. When he woke up, darkness had fallen and snow was falling gently. Steele grunted and shook off his fur then looked around.
"Where am I?" Steele asked even though there wouldn't be an answer. He sighed and sat down under a tree for some partial cover from the light snowfall. None of his current surroundings looked like the other forest and due to the fresh snow, he couldn't pick up any strong scents around him aside from the pine trees. His stomach growled in protest and he realized how long it had been since his last meal. He stood up and began to walk through the snow, hoping to find something to eat.
After he walked around aimlessly for a while, he finally caught sight of something moving in the snow. He took a few tentative sniffs, but couldn't identify the scent. It did however succeed in making his mouth water. Whatever it was, it smelled like food. He began to trot forward, but paused when the creature lifted its head and looked directly at him. It was a snowshoe hare. Steele grinned and licked his lips then raced forward. The hare squeaked in panic and tried to run away, but was unable to do so thanks to its foot being stuck in a trap. Steele quickly killed the hare with a precise bite to the back of its neck. He smiled proudly but then he stopped the trap.
"It may have been trapped, but at least I can eat now," Steele grumbled. He sat down then leaned down to take a bite, but froze when he heard a twig snap nearby. The ruff of fur between his shoulder blades bristled and he looked up, icy blue eyes scanning the area.
"Who's there?" Steele questioned with a growl. When he didn't receive an answer, he grunted then leaned down and took a bite of the hare. As he chewed, he heard paw steps approaching. He growled loudly then lifted his head once again. Right in front of him was a pure white arctic fox. The fox grinned lightly and studied him with its green eyes.
"Nice meal you have there, wolf. Such a shame it is so small though," the fox stated. Steele bared his teeth. By the sound of the fox's voice, he realized it was a vixen. Nonetheless, he wasn't about to get his meal taken.
"I'm not a wolf, vixen. And yes, it is a small meal, but unless you plan on becoming the second course, you best be on your way now," Steele warned. The vixen laughed and seemed rather amused.
"Not a wolf, you say? You're larger than some of the wolves I have seen in my lifetime. I bet you could even win in a fight with the alpha male of the small pack up the mountain," the vixen said as she studied him. Steele grunted and kept his gaze on the vixen. He was interested in what he heard, but he still didn't feel he could trust the vixen. If what she said was true though, he might be able to find a place for himself out here since he no longer felt inclined to return to the human world.
"Just how many wolves are in this pack you speak of?" Steele asked curiously. The vixen laughed softly and sat down.
"What importance is that to you, dog?" the vixen asked teasingly, putting obvious emphasis on the last word. She stood up and flicked her tail then began to walk away. Steele bared his teeth and tore off one of the hare's legs then dropped it in front of him.
"You would be rewarded if you helped me," Steele said with a grin. As soon as he had said it, the vixen stopped in her tracks. She flicked her ears then turned and walked back to him. Her eyes drifted hungrily to the leg then back at him.
"The pack has only four members: the alpha male, two other young males and one female. They live up that mountain." The vixen pointed with her muzzle to the mountain in the distance. Steele nodded as he took in the information. He pushed the leg a little closer to the vixen, but kept it within his reach so she couldn't take it just yet.
"Can you take me there?" Steele asked tentatively. The vixen's eyes gleamed and she flicked her ears with obvious interest.
"You want me to take you there?" the vixen asked curiously. "If that is what you want, then I can do so," the vixen replied with a soft laugh before she looked down expectantly at the food. Steele grunted the pushed the leg right to the vixen's paws. She quickly began to eat and Steele also went back to his meal. When he had finished, he looked back up at the vixen.
"If we are going to be travelling together, I should at least know what to call you so I don't have to keep calling you vixen," Steele grumbled as the vixen finished off the leg. The vixen licked her lips then wrapped her tail around her paws.
"Likewise goes for me then. I have a right to know your name as well," the vixen replied. Steele nodded lightly in agreement.
"Fair enough. My name is Steele. Yours would be?" Steele looked at the vixen expectantly. She smiled then dipped her head.
"My name is Fayac. It's a pleasure to meet you, Steele. Thank you for the meal by the way," Fayac said softly. Steele nodded then stretched his limbs.
"Alright, let's get going," Steele said with a glance toward the mountain. Fayac's eyes gleamed and she grinned with amusement.
"You wish to go so soon?" Fayac asked curiously. Steele grunted in annoyance and began to walk in the direction of the mountain.
"If you are afraid, then don't come. I don't need help," Steele said with a low growl. Fayac raised a brow and trotted up to Steele's side.
"It's not that I'm afraid. I just assumed you would be. I can still smell human on you, so I already came to the conclusion that you haven't been away from home very long," Fayac stated. Steele stopped in his tracks and looked directly at Fayac. A fierce glare was across his face.
"So, this whole time you knew I wasn't a wolf?" Steele barked with bared teeth. Fayac grinned with a faint laugh and sat down. She flicked her tail before she folded it over her paws.
"Of course I did, Steele. I'm not that oblivious. I know what wolves smell like. You however, do not smell like that," Fayac stated bluntly, a little grin still tugging at the sides of her maw. Steele grunted loudly in frustration.
"So that means that those wolves will know too," Steele said with a heaving sigh as he glanced up at the mountain. Fayac tilted her head. She could see some emotion behind Steele's eyes, but could not quite place it.
"I can help you. But first, I want to know why a dog would want to go live with wolves. Why not find your human?" Fayac asked softly with a slight tilt of her head. Steele's fur bristled and he turned his attention back to Fayac with another glare.
"My human sold me! That's why! I don't want to live with humans anymore!" Steele shouted angrily. Fayac whimpered and took a few paces back as if Steele's harsh tone had physically hurt her.
"I apologize. I did not know that this was your only option," Fayac whispered softly as she lowered her gaze to the ground. Steele sighed softly and began to walk again.
"Forget it. It's my problem, not yours," Steele said lowly, attempting to not shout again. Fayac looked up then ran ahead of Steele and blocked his path.
"I've decided to help you," Fayac said determinedly. Steele raised a brow incredulously at the vixen's sudden change in attitude.
"How do you intend to help me, exactly?" Steele asked with a tilt of his head. Fayac grinned and began to walk in a different direction.
"Follow me. We are going to a lake. First things first: We need to get the smell of human off you and make you seem more like a wolf instead of a runaway dog," Fayac said, increasing her pace without looking back to make sure Steele was following. Steele quickly pursued the vixen. Soon, the pair arrived at a small lake and Fayac slowed down before she stopped at the shore.
"Here we are. Now, jump in that lake and make sure your whole body goes underneath the surface," Fayac instructed with a gesture of her paw towards the water. Steele walked over to the water and tentatively placed a paw in. The temperature was cold enough to send chills along his spine. With an annoyed grunt, he stepped back and glanced at Fayac.
"It's freezing. That water will probably kill me," Steele said with a scowl. Fayac rolled her eyes and sighed softly.
"Honestly Steele, you sound like a pampered dog. If you are going to face wolves, you had better get in that water," Fayac said more assertively. Steele sighed lightly then backed up a few steps before he leapt into the water. After a short moment underwater, he swam back out and shook off his entire body. Fayac yelped as cold droplets of water landed on her and then shook off her body as well. Steele glanced over at her with a smirk then chuckled.
"Didn't I mention something about the water being cold?" Steele asked teasingly. Fayac once again rolled her eyes and smiled softly.
"Yeah yeah, you were right. Anyway, now that the human scent is gone, you need to smell more like the wilderness. Follow me," Fayac instructed before she took off once again. Steele nodded once and quickly followed. Soon, the two of them reached a clearing. Fallen branches and pine needles from the trees above covered the forest floor along with a light layer of snowfall.
"Alright, go roll around in the pine branches and snow. It will help you smell like you belong here," Fayac stated with a pointing gesture with her nose. Steele walked over to the branches and rolled around for a moment, trying to get the scent firmly mixed with his own. He shortly got up and returned to Fayac's side and sat down then raised his head proudly for the vixen's approval.
"Go ahead and take a sniff," Steele said with a confident smirk. Fayac laughed softly then leaned forward and took a whiff of Steele's fur. Not only had the smell of human been erased, but Steele also smelled as if he was another member of the forest population. She nodded her approval.
"Well done," Fayac said with a smile. Steele grinned and began to walk towards the direction of the mountain.
"I should be off them," Steele said with a new sense of determination in his voice. Fayac yipped in surprise then leapt in front of him and blocked his path.
"You want to go there today? Do you even know how to fight? Or hunt properly for that matter?" Fayac questioned worriedly. Steele raised a brow and scoffed.
"Yes, I want to go there today and I know I can fight," Steele answered bluntly. Fayac narrowed her eyes in slight irritation. She hadn't planned on Steele being so headstrong.
"Steele, even if you do beat the alpha, that won't be all you need to do. As an alpha, you would be a vital member with many roles: A leader, decision-maker, hunter, provider and protector. If you can't even hunt, they may not accept you, no matter how strong you are," Fayac explained with a more firm tone to get her point across. Steele flicked his ears back slightly and sighed then sat down, his gaze cast downward in disappointment. Fayac had a point and there was no denying it. Fayac whimpered softly and felt a little guilty for deflating Steele's ambition. She gently pressed Steele's side with her muzzle. When he directed his attention to her, she offered a soft smile.
"Don't worry. I can teach you the basic techniques on smaller animals and then you can apply the same tactics to larger animals," Fayac said cheerfully. Steele titled his head with interest and smiled. Though he was independent by nature, he couldn't help but appreciate Fayac's offer. Everyone from his old life was miles away and Fayac was the only company he had out here.
"That would be perfect. Thank you Fayac," Steele replied with a warmer smile. Fayac nodded once and pushed him playfully with a paw.
"It may take a few days, but I will do all I can to make you a great hunter," Fayac said with a smirk. Steele grinned widely and his eyes seemed to gleam with determination.
"Let's get started," Steele said with a firm nod.