Jundo

You're making your way across a field of tall grasses and dense bush, doing your best to keep your bearings an an endless sea of brush. While the bright warm sun and clear skies were pleasant they weren't the best help.

You paused for a moment, and in that moment you thought you heard a rustling in the grass that wasn't just the wind. You only got a moment to react, however, before you were barreled over by an older wolf.

"Oh! So sorry, I didn't realize you were there! Hard to see much of anything in this part." They said, standing back up and shaking themself off. They give you a friendly once-over, checking for any injuries. "I didn't do any damage, did I?"

You shake your head, after taking a moment to check and make sure yourself. The only effect was the shock from being surprised.

"That's a relief! Sorry again about that, sometimes when I start going it's hard to get me to stop!" Their laugh was loud and cheerful, and you found yourself inclined to chuckle as well. "I need a moment to catch my breath, if you wouldn't mind walking together."

The both of you fall easily into step, padding along in the gentle breeze. "Name's Jundo, pleasure bumping into you."
"I assure you, I'm not usually so careless, but I had some downtime and, well, there's nothing going full throttle in an open field like this one. Wasn't expecting any obstacles, but that could've been better thought out on my part, I suppose." They chuckle and give you another apologetic smile.

"The way I see it, as long as I'm healthy and able to run, I'm going to run. Nothing like seeing what you can lose to make you appreciate what you've got, I suppose." Jundo's step slowed slightly, as they looked pensively down at the ground in front of them. When they looked back up at you, their demeanor had shifted to a slightly more somber tone.

"I wasn't always part of this territory, and it's a nice place here, really nice. But most of my life I had actually been with a different pack, a ways from here. It's. . . . they're not around anymore, at least as far as I'm aware. It all started when our healer died, without a suitable apprentice to step up and take their place. Their passing was sudden, we still don't know what happened for sure, but it meant the health of the pack relied on a child who couldn't even fend for themself yet. We should've known the end was coming long before it came, and some did. But I wasn't going to abandon the pack." They came to a full stop, looking out at the distant horizon. The grass had thinned out notably, and you could make out the distant shape of mountains and tree lines.

"So, I suppose all that to say, the sickness that began to sweep throughout the pack was almost inevitable. The poor apprentice died fairly early on, and then we were truly on our own. We weren't a very large or powerful pack to start with, so it didn't take long. Just a season. A single season, and the family and home I had known were gone." Jundo paused for a moment, their breathing heavy. After collecting themself, they began walking again and continued.

"I used to be a scout, so most of my time was spent on the edges of the territory, away from everyone else. That's what saved me, I suppose. I would spend my days trying to reach out to other packs, to try and find and convince a healer to help, but few were sympathetic. it was. . . it was raining, the day I came back to find I was the only one left who could still stand, run, eat. The alpha, they. . . . they told me to run. As far as I could. Torun and not stop. And so I ran. And I don't stop." Jundo said, a new air of resolve and determination settling on their shoulders.

"It's awful, and I grieve them every day, but I like to think I carry them with me, you know?" Jundo said, casting a glance back over at you. Their gaze, while you could see the pain of their loss, also showed their earnest hope and strength.

"I'm sorry to be such a downer, that was a lot, huh?" Jundo said, upon seeing the expression on your face. "I always get sentimental on my runs, I guess you just caught me at a bad time. The others in the pack will let you know I'm typically fairly fun to be around, promise!"

By now the two of you had fully cleared the field, and made it back to the woods. Jundo paused and looked back at the field, seeming to think something over.

"You know what, I'm gonna leave you on your own now. I wanna go for another sprint, I think." Jundo said.

"Hey, hopefully we run into each other again sometime! Not as literal next time, I hope. You should keep an eye peeled for the scouts, though, or if you see Sreva our healer, give her my regards!" Jundo said with a wink, before bounding off and away.