Memento Mori

Living alone in the hostile mountains was not easy. However, he had long become accustomed to it. To this loneliness. He knew how to cope without anyone, especially when he had to leave his former pack due to conflicts within it.

He didn't belong there. And he didn't fit into any pack.

And there was nothing wrong with that.

However, it is not without reason that old wolves keep repeating from puppy to puppy that they are not meant to live alone. That it is certain death.

He wasn't sure about that. Well, he was still alive. His name was meant to be a warning to remember death, but whose death? His? Someone else?

There was one thing he was sure of - even though he was able to live alone, he felt more and more alone as he watched the moon rise in the sky again.

This hunt, however, was different. It wasn't successful, but not all of it had to be. However, the she-wolf who beat him in killing the hare did not run away from him with her prey.

She remained with the corpse and watched it calmly, with piercingly bright eyes in which a strange fire glowed.

He tensed, ready for the attack that never came. The she-wolf merely moved away from his would-be prey, licking her bloody muzzle.

"I guess it's yours", she broke the silence, with quiet amusement in her voice and obvious satisfaction that she was faster. He remained alert and did not approach the offered food.

"You were the first, so not anymore", he replied, although the sinking feeling in his stomach made him accept the gift. His slightly damaged pride held him in place hard enough.

"You look hungry. I guess it's not easy hunting alone."

"If you know where to hunt, it's not a problem."

"So you know these mountains well?"

"It is my home."

"So where's your herd?"

"He's not here."

The she-wolf looked at him more closely with her bright, fiery eyes, as if she wanted to see right through him. It was hard for him not to look away. There was a strange charisma and self-confidence radiating from her.

"And where is yours?", he asked, slowly becoming uncomfortable under the intense gaze.

"Far, far away", was the cryptic answer, but it didn't seem abandoned.

"So you're alone too?"

"Yes", she didn't look sad about it. On the contrary. Her cocky smile seemed to indicate satisfaction. "At least for now I'm still alone."

She approached him without any fear. Although she showed no aggression, he crouched slightly just in case, still ready for a surprise attack.

"Don't you miss them?"

"I miss them, but...", she looked at the snow-covered peaks, and the sun rays danced in her sparkling eyes. "There are adventures waiting for me here and many places to discover", she looked at him and he felt a shiver run down his spine.

He finally understood what he saw in her eyes.

Hunger.

"Would you like to join me and see what you can discover?", she asked and nudged the carcass of a hare that landed in front of him with her paw. As if she was giving him a welcome gift.

"To your herd?", he asked to be sure, slowly relaxing. He couldn't hide it - he was curious. No one had ever approached him with such a proposition. As if some fate had been weighing on him since birth. As if it were a bad omen.

The she-wolf clearly didn't see him that way.

"I don't have it yet, but I would be happy if you were the first member. Your experience would help me and other new wolves."

This was something new - creating a herd. He never thought about it because he didn't think he was suitable for it. But maybe... maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing? Maybe he could help other rejects like him?

Maybe this would make there fewer lone wolves?

Maybe he won't be lonely?

He watched this mysterious she-wolf intently, weighing all the pros and cons. But deep in his heart he knew what he wanted and now he could answer that desire.

He howled triumphantly because he had finally found his herd.

- the first member of Nawia and the first of scouts -
Memento Mori - remember death. His inglorious name was like a fate imposed by his mother, who was dying during childbirth. Did she do it out of hatred? Or maybe out of love, to protect him from being too attached to others? He wasn't sure about that. However, since he was a puppy, he has not felt or been accepted by other wolves from his pack. As if he was about to bring a bad omen to them. Although he put a lot of effort into working for the herd, the herd never appreciated his efforts and one day something inside him snapped. He left his native pack and lived alone for many moons, becoming accustomed to the difficult life of a lone wolf. There was a change when he met the mysterious newcomer with bright, fiery eyes. She suggested that she create a pack with him that would go on adventures, and although he was initially untrusting, with the subsequent arrival of the wolves, including his beloved Moondancer, he began to feel more and more at home. Like family. There is still loneliness in his soul, which he will carry for the rest of his life, but it allows him to better understand others and make them feel at home quickly. He enjoys great respect from other wolves and the trust of the leader Nawia, who saw his potential and willingly relies on his advice.

-> "You see Memento Mori carefully organising their belongings, paying little attention to anything else. They don't notice you until you are close enough to press your nose into their shoulder to get their attention."
-> "You find Memento Mori carefully inspecting every inch of their nest for bugs, failing to notice your presence."