Albatross

"Agh! What? Who's there?"

As you walk through a sheet of leaves woven into dried mosses, a thin male with a mottled coat jolts up and whirls to face you. He stands in the center of the large, circular burrow, which is decorated with various scratches and colorful stains in the walls. The pungent smell of herbs hits you like a sudden gust of wind, threatening to take your breath away. Through the hanging bundles of herbs tied to the roots in the ceiling of the burrow, you notice that the chamber has hollows dug out along the sides. Bundles of herbs and crudely bound satchels of various colors are tucked within the hollows. As you take in the sights and smells of the herbalist's den, Albatross tilts his head and looks you up and down, scanning you for any sign of aggression or injury.

Albatross is the adopted son of Badger, one of the pack's most skilled chasers. While he was raised with the expectation that he would follow in his father's pawprints, reality has not been quite so kind to Albatross. He tired far more easily than the other chasers, and was frequently the cause of failure during hunts. Albatross took his duty as a chaser seriously, and trained more than his friends Grizzly and Bluejay thought healthy. But despite all of the determination and effort in the world, it seemed that he would never be able to match his father's speed or endurance.

Fate had other plans for him, as it turned out. Along with the pupsitter Pumpkin, Albatross was one of the more celebrated storytellers in the pack. Falcon, the herbalist, took interest in Albatross' dedication to the pack's history. After a few months of preparation, she offered him the chance to become her apprentice. He would train under her until it was time to take his place as the new herbalist -- and chief historian -- of the pack. Albatross was stunned by the offer, but accepted after giving it some consideration. He never thought himself a spiritual sort, unlike the mysterious Falcon. But, he was eager to do what he could to guide the pack and help it as a healer.