- Phoenix

3/8/25
Phoenix wandered through the rugged mountain terrain, his paws pressing into the damp earth as the crisp scent of pine and frost filled the air. The sun had just begun its descent, casting long shadows across the jagged cliffs, when a low growl sliced through the silence. Before he could react, a blur of fangs and fur lunged from the underbrush—wolves from a rival pack.

He fought with everything he had, his body twisting and striking with desperate precision, but he was outnumbered. Claws raked his flank, teeth sank into his shoulder, and soon, the world blurred in a haze of pain and exhaustion. Just as darkness threatened to claim him, the attackers retreated, leaving him broken and bleeding on the cold earth.

It was then that Akira found him. The alpha of a nearby pack, she stood tall beneath the silver moon, her eyes sharp with intelligence and something unexpected—compassion. She could have left him to fate, but instead, she stepped forward, nudging him gently before beckoning him to follow. Weak and wary, Phoenix resisted at first, distrust flickering in his golden eyes. But Akira was patient, tending to his wounds, offering food, warmth, and quiet strength.

Days passed, then weeks, and as his body mended, so did something deeper—his trust. He saw the unity within Akira's pack, the bond that held them together like the roots of an ancient tree. And so, when she once again asked him to stay, this time, Phoenix gave his answer without hesitation.

He would be one of them.