Anluan

Pronounced on-lin, "great hound"

Anluan was found as an adolescent by the pack's founder, Kratos. Kratos was not known as a kind leader, as far as he saw it he did what he had to to keep a healthy and strong pack. He had little compassion for the weak. While exploring his territory he came across Anluan; the pup was quick to defend himself and Kratos was caught off guard by his strength. Of course he was still stronger than the young, underfed, and abandoned pup but his strength and tenacity impressed Kratos. Kratos always thought one of his own pups would take over after him, but in his old age he had not found himself impressed by any of them.

Kratos showing up back at the dens with a strange pup surprised his whole pack. It was not characteristic of him to take a stranger, none-the-less one that was uninvited in his territory, into his care.

Anluan, a hungry and lost pup could not afford not to follow Kratos back to the heart of his territory. He had been chased from his birth pack for reason's he would never know, and he had spent months wandering, barely surviving on his own. He was terrified of this powerful pack leader he had come across, but Kratos was his only hope for survival. While Kratos wasn't so inviting or emotionally available, Anluan found himself welcome by some of the kinder wolves in the pack. They were considered outsiders to the pack mostly, the last to get a pick from each hunt, but their kindness helped him adjust to his new pack.

Over his first months there, as he gained his strength, he noticed Kratos's growing interest in him. He had heard whispers of the leader's growing weakness in his old age, and how he had not yet announced who would take over after him, but he never imagined the leader would choose him. He had noticed, however, that Kratos was present during nearly all of his training. Kratos showed the most interest in him, often chatting with his trainer's right after one of his sessions; quiet enough that he could not hear, but he could not miss the long glances they cast him.

Kratos started spending more and more time near him, even with him. While he was never particularly affectionate, Anluan grew to look forward to Kratos's teachings. He would take the young wolf on scouts with him, showing him every nook and cranny of the territory. Kratos would often get them into fights with the local animals, encouraging Anluan more and more to lead in the fights.

Eventually the old wolf slowed to almost a standstill. Instead of taking Anluan with him, he would send the younger wolf to scout on his own. After weeks of this, Kratos had barely left his den. The pack healer, Shay, had been spending nearly every waking hour with him. Kratos's mate, Meabh, invited Anluan to their den. With a creaking and weak voice, Kratos told him he would be taking his place as the new leader of the Misty Lake Wolves.

Anluan wasn't sure how to take this. He quietly thanked Kratos for his guidance and for honoring him with this position. He slunk out, feeling wholey unprepared for his new position. He still felt like an outsider, not often talking to the "wolves on the inside", the ones closest to Kratos. He knew Kratos's time would be up soon, and briefly he considered running from this responsibility.

The word spread in whispers, Kratos was not one to make announcements to the whole pack so much as he'd tell his closest relatives and let the news spread. Anluan noticed more looks from each of his packmates. Angry glares from Kratos's own children. Curious eyes of wolves who had barely seemed to notice him. More importantly, he noticed the look of pride in the wolves he had grown close to. A few of them congratulated him, telling them they knew he had something special for Kratos to have taken him in like he did.

Nervous as he was for his new life path, Anluan committed himself to fostering a kinder pack, to uniting the wolves seen as outsider with the inner pack. He would do what he could to ensure each wolf was happy and fed, and a pup never abandoned the way he was. He would bring about a new era for the wolves of the Misty Lake Path.

(Forgive my weirdly paced writing, I am getting back into storybuilding for the first time in years and years!)