Torch

I was never meant to be just another forgotten pup. Left behind at the enclave, surrounded by hundreds of others, I refused to believe that was the end of my story. Then they found me - Fantasma and Ash, the Alpha of the Dark Hours pack, and his mate. They saw something in me, something my birth pack was to blind to recognize. Now, I train every day, sharpening my skills, proving that I am more than just an abandoned pup. One day, I will lead this pack, and when that time comes, no one will ever doubt my place again

Spoiler
Agility 1 Hour, Stalking

I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement as Ash led me through the dense underbrush, the scent of prey thick in the air. Today's lesson was different. it wasn't just about moving quietly; it was about mastering every step, every place, and learning how to make no sound at al--no matter where I was.
"Watch your paws," Ash instructed, her eyes sharp as she looked over at me. "In any terrain, you need to know exactly where to place them. Soft ground, rocky paths, or even water--you need to move like you're part of the environment, not an intruder."
I focused on her words, stepping cautiously onto the dry leaves that crunched under my paws. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but I could feel the challenge pushing me forward. With each step, I began to place my paws with precision--finding the softest parts of the ground, the smoothest rocks, the quietest patches of dirt. even when we crossed over a stream, I adjusted, stepping lightly across the stones without a ripple of sound.
"Good," Ash murmured as i followed her through a patch of tall grass. I could hear her voice in the wind, but I didn't make a sound, focusing entirely on where I placed each paw. the grass barely rustled as I moved--only my heartbeat echoed in my ears.
We reached a muddy patch where the ground was soft and slick. My paws sunk slightly, but I made sure to find the most solid spots, stepping carefully as I moved forwards, barely making a sound.
When I finally caught up to Ash, she turned to me, her eyes gleaming with approval "Well done, Torch," she said, her tone warm with pride. "You've mastered the art of silence. you're learning to move through any terrain without alerting your prey. That's something few wolves ever truly grasp."
I felt a surge of pride at her praise. It was one thing to try to be silent--it was another to master it. I knew I wasn't just another pup anymore. I was getting closer to the wolf I was meant to be.

Agility 2 hours, Beginner Foraging

The scent of fresh earth and greenery filled my nose as I followed Heather through the underbrush. Foraging wasn't exactly the most exciting training, but if I was going to lead this pack one day, I had to know everything--even about plants.
Heather stopped beside a small cluster of leafy stems, her gaze calm but watchful. "These are yarrow leaves," she said, nudging them with her nose. "Good for stopping bleeding. But you have to recognize them properly--some plants look similar but can be dangerous."
I sniffed the leaves carefully, tilting my head. How was I supposed to tell them apart just by looking? I figured maybe tasting them would help. Hesitantly, I flicked out my tongue to get a small taste--
"Torch!" Heather's sharp bark mad me freeze. She stepped between me and the plant, her eyes narrowed in a stern glare. "Never put a plant in your mouth unless you know it's safe! Some aretoxic--they can make you sick or worse."
I swallowed hard, ears flattening. "I was just trying to recognize the tase..."
Heather sighed, though her expression softened. "I understand, but foraging isn't just about taste. It's about sight, smell, and knowing the difference between something that heals and something that harms. A single mistake can be deadly."
I nodded, feeling a little embarrassed but determined to get this right. "Okay, so... what should i look for?"
Heather's tail flicked as she sat down. her gaze expectant. "First lesson--learn to recognize plants before you even think about touching them."
This was going to be harder than I thought.

Wisdom 1 hour, Howling

The sky stretched wide above us, the air crisp with the promise of dusk. Today's lesson was different—less about stealth or survival, more about voice.
Speckle stood before us, her stance proud, her gaze sweeping over me and Koran. "A howl is more than just noise," she began. "It's a signal, a message, a way to connect. You must know when to howl and how to make your voice strong."
I puffed out my chest, already eager to try. How hard could it be?
Speckle lifted her muzzle first, sending a deep, powerful howl rolling through the trees. It echoed far beyond us, strong and steady. Koran and I exchanged glances. My turn.
I threw my head back and let out a howl—but it wobbled, cracking into something that barely resembled Speckle's. Koran snickered beside me, his own attempt sounding more like a whimper.
"Again," Speckle instructed.
I clenched my jaw, determination flaring in my chest. I would get this right. Taking a deep breath, I tried again, this time focusing on pushing the sound from my chest, letting it build before releasing it into the air.
The note was clear, ringing strong into the open sky.
Speckle gave an approving nod. "Better. That's the voice of a wolf who knows his place in the pack."
Something swelled in my chest—pride, triumph. I had done it. I was getting stronger, better. Without a second thought, I bounded away, paws barely touching the ground as I ran straight to my parents.
"Did you hear me?" I barked, tail wagging wildly. "Did you hear that? I'm practically an adult now!"
Ash chuckled, and my father's eyes gleamed with amusement, but I didn't care if they laughed. Today, I proved something. My voice was strong. And one day, it would be the voice of a leader.

Wisdom 2 Hour, Prey tracking

I lowered my nose to the ground, inhaling deeply. The scent of prey was sharp, fresh—something small, maybe a rabbit. Excitement buzzed in my paws. This is it. I've got this.
Greg watched with that ever-present smirk of his as Koran and I trailed after the scent. It led forward, weaving through the underbrush. Easy. I stepped carefully, ears pricked, following the trail exactly—until I caught the same scent again, but in the wrong direction.
I froze, nose twitching. That wasn't right. My first trail led there, but now it was here too. And—wait—over there as well? My tail flicked in frustration. How could the same prey be in so many places at once?
Greg chuckled, stepping past me with an air of amusement. "Figured it out yet?"
Koran glanced at me, her ears twitching. "It's a test," she muttered, realization dawning in her eyes.
Of course. This wasn't a normal tracking lesson—it was one of those tricky ones. My ears flattened for a second, but I refused to let Greg's smug expression get to me. If he wanted to test me, fine. I'd prove I was smart enough to handle it.
I took a deep breath and refocused. Instead of chasing every trace of scent, I thought about it. Some trails were stronger, fresher. Others were faint, likely older. I backtracked, sorting through the overlapping trails until one clear path remained.
"This way," I said confidently, stepping forward.
Greg hummed in approval, following behind. "Not bad, Torch. Took you a moment, but you figured it out. Real tracking isn't just about scent—it's about knowing what the scent means."
I lifted my head high, pride swelling in my chest. I knew that. …Okay, maybe I hadn't at first, but I learned fast. Next time, Greg wouldn't catch me off guard so easily.

Wisdom 3 Hours, Recognizing Danger

Heather's gaze was sharp as she stood before Koran and me, a row of carefully chosen herbs laid out on a flat stone between us. "Today's lesson is about more than just memorizing plants," she said, her tone even but firm. "Recognizing Danger can mean the difference between life and death. A single mistake… and a sick wolf may never recover."
I straightened, the weight of her words pressing on my shoulders. I wouldn't make a mistake. Not today.
Heather flicked her tail toward the herbs. "Torch, show me which of these are safe… and which are deadly."
I lowered my muzzle, my nose hovering over the leaves. Some were familiar—yarrow, goldenrod, marigold. Safe. But others? Their shapes were twisted, their colors just slightly off. One in particular caught my attention—its sickly yellow-green stem and bitter scent made my fur bristle.
"This one," I said, tapping it with my paw, "is dangerous."
Heather's expression remained unreadable. "Are you sure?"
I hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Yes. I remember you mentioning it could cause sickness if eaten."
A small smile played at the edges of Heather's muzzle. "Good. That's water hemlock—one of the most poisonous plants you'll ever come across." She glanced at Koran. "Your turn."
As Koran stepped up, I exhaled, pride swelling in my chest. Learning to track and fight was important, but this? This was knowledge that could save lives. And I had proven I was capable of handling it.
Heather met my gaze as Koran made her choice. "You have a sharp mind, Torch," she said softly. "One day, that will serve you well."
I lifted my head higher, tail flicking. I was more than just a strong hunter-in-training. I was learning—and one day, when I led this pack, I would be ready.


Spoiler
Scar: Eye - Long[Left]
The wind cut through my fur, sharp as teeth, but I barely felt it. Sulo and I had been scouting for hours, and so far, it had been uneventful. Too uneventful. I was beginning to think this glacier wasn't as dangerous as everyone claimed.
Then, a scent hit my nose. Musky, wild, and unfamiliar.
I stopped, my ears pricking. "Smell that?" I asked, glancing at Sulo.
She gave a sharp nod. "Wolf. Not one of ours."
I grinned. Finally, some excitement.
Before I could so much as turn my head, a dark shape exploded from behind a snowbank. A deep snarl ripped through the frozen air as a lone wolf barreled into me, knocking me clean off my paws.
The impact stole my breath, but I recovered fast. Twisting, I snapped my teeth at his throat, but he was already one step ahead.
Pain flared across my face—claws raking from my brow down to my cheek. I snarled, blinking as blood blurred my vision.
The lone wolf loomed over me, his fangs bared, probably thinking he'd already won.
Idiot.
I lashed out with my hind legs, kicking him square in the chest. He let out a surprised yelp—clearly not expecting a real fight—and stumbled back just enough for Sulo to slam into him like a rockslide.
She didn't hesitate, teeth sinking into his shoulder. The wolf yowled, twisting in her grip, but she held firm. I pushed myself up, ignoring the sharp throb in my eye, and shook the blood from my fur.
The lone wolf hesitated now, panting hard, his gaze flicking between us. He thought we'd be easy prey. He thought I'd be some scared little pup.
He thought wrong.
I stepped forward, lifting my tail high despite the pain burning across my face. "What's wrong?" I sneered. "Not so tough anymore?"
The wolf took one last look at us before turning tail and bolting into the snowstorm. Coward.
Sulo turned to me, giving my face a once-over. "You're bleeding. Bad."
I shrugged, shaking out my fur. "It's just a scratch."
She huffed. "Right. A scratch that nearly took your eye out."
I smirked, ignoring the sting as I walked past her. "Guess I'll just have to look even cooler with a scar."
She let out a sigh but didn't argue. As we made our way back, the pain pulsed with every step, but I held my head high.
I had fought off a lone wolf and won.
And now, I had the scar to prove it.