Elk

A former scout of Rime Pack. As the eldest, Elk was a dutiful, competent wolf. He was also wise, and would often give advice to the other wolves, including Polar. Once a wandering wolf, he was welcomed by Polar when she watched him struggle to catch an elk and offered a rabbit to him, instead. Elk expressed his gratitude through loyalty.

Elk was found dead exploring the desert. It was assumed that he fell to his death, as he was lying beside a very tall cliff with his bones broken. But in his autopsy, the herbalist noted slight claw marks and bites. Elk had to have been attacked before falling, although it's not clear just what, or who, had ambushed him.

In the Realm of Passage, he is represented by an elk bull. Through signs, this elk helped to oust Thermal and Turf as his murderers, who had pushed him over the cliff on that fateful day in order for Thermal gain power by taking his scout position. It also led Polar and her allies back to territory so that they could confront Thermal and her gang, and revived Polar after she had taken a fall and was close to death while giving birth to her pups. After fulfilling his wishes, the passage faded away, and Elk lives on in the memory of his packmates.

Elk's passage has returned to inform Polar that finding her Moonspeaker will be key to stopping the Wolf of Flame and Frost, Thermal's own passage. All evidence points to Ravine needing to accept the role. Eventually, it was discovered that Elk's passage had reached the Sleeplands, a new, permanent land for the wolves of Rime to pass on to. From now, they will communicate with Ravine, the Moonspeaker of Rime.