Solas

Solas never thought he would end up with a pack, much less as a Leader. Since he was a pup he'd had a wanderer's spirit. He was content to live life as a lone wolf, going where he pleased when he pleased, seeking wisdom from other animals and learning from his own experiences. He's very wise for his age - wise enough to know that the excitable stranger named Lavellan would be trouble. He finds himself in her "territory" by accident. It's not her's yet, she explains, but it will be once she can get a pack started. He tries to wish her luck and be on his way but she won't leave him alone. By the time he shakes her off and nears the edge of the forest a massive blizzard is bearing down and he has no choice but to retreat to the shelter of the trees. When he appears at the mouth of her den grumbling and dripping from the heavy snowfall all she does is laugh at him and invite him inside to dry off.

He has no intention to stay. Solas is a lone wolf through and through and he's not going to give up his nomadic lifestyle just for a decent conversational partner. The only reason he continues to stay with her is because winter makes prey scarce and hunting in a pair makes things easier. As soon as the spring thaw comes he'll be on his way. It doesn't matter that Lavellan is charming, and clever, and surprisingly easy to talk to. He doesn't care that it's strangely freeing to be vulnerable with her. How beautiful he's realizing she is won't affect his decisions. The sound of her laughter doesn't make him feel like the only home he will ever want is at her side...

Solas has never been the most honest wolf, least of all with himself.

Spring comes and instead of moving on Solas assists Lavellan in marking out their new territory. A single winter is all it took for him to fall in love, to find his Heart, and it still surprises him. Lavellan doesn't force him to stay in the March all the time; He will always have an insatiable wanderlust and his Heart knows this. He may come and go as he pleases, continue his exploring of old places and seeking of new knowledge so long as he's not gone too long. This is more than agreeable and often Solas is just as eager to come home as he is to leave. It's strange to him, this sense of belonging, but he knows he wouldn't trade it for anything.

Wolves, Solas realizes, are never meant to be alone.

*****

Solas can often be seen accompanied by a raven, especially when away on scouting missions. This raven is Wisdom, and old and trusted friend of his. Much of what Solas knows about the world he learned from her. Even now as co-leader of a growing pack he values her advise and council, and she is glad to give it.