Malaise

Born to the now-dead scout Anopia and a wandering loner, Malaise and his brother Moonstruck were the only survivors of a mostly stillborn litter. Two delicate, shining white pups, identical in every way. Even though the pack tried their best, everyone could see that the two were likely not long for the world. This prompted their mother to make some difficult decisions. She poured all of her energy into making sure that Malaise, the healthier of the two, would survive. She was successful, but the horror of her choice would haunt her until her final days.

Malaise grew up cherished and doted on by his packmates, but always carried a touch of survivor’s guilt once he was old enough to realize what had ensured his survival. He threw himself into his mother’s trade at a young age, desperate to prove himself worthy of his brother’s sacrifice. He would frequently work himself to exhaustion and pass out on the edge of the Grinning Pack’s territory, only to be found and guided home by his understandably distraught mother.

It was after one such event that Malaise learned that Moonstruck was not quite as gone as everybody seemed to think.

Malaise’s lack of self-preservation and lethal work ethic landed him in a dangerous situation; he wandered too close to the den of a nursing mountain lion. She chased him for ages, and in his sleep-deprived, stumbling panic, he toppled into a rushing river bloated by spring runoff.

As he sank into the depths, too tired to swim to safety, the young scout found himself falling towards a pale blue glow. He resurfaced upside-down in a strange, glittering mirror of the world he knew. This is where he met Moonstruck.

His brother had apparently developed quite the mischievous personality after his death, ducking and weaving out of sight as his exhausted sibling tried to give chase, responding to his increasingly desperate calls with echoing laughter. Malaise found himself herded to an empty mimicry of his pack’s camp, having traveled miles and miles in what seemed like mere minutes. Frightened and lonely, Malaise called out for his packmates, his mother, anyone… but there was no reply. Even his giggling brother seemed to have abandoned him.

There was a small pond near Fever’s den. As he searched frantically for any sign of life, he wandered a bit too close. Moonstruck chose this moment to reappear, giving him a playful shove that sent him tumbling into the water.

He resurfaced in the normal world, scaring the living daylights out of Fever, who had just wandered over for a drink. The sun was still high in the sky, and it seemed no time had passed since he had first been swallowed by the river.

Malaise was banned from scouting duties after that, especially after his ravings landed him in the herbalist’s den. The rest of the wolves didn’t quite know what to make of his story. The Grinning Pack is a superstitious lot, but the tale was a tad too strange for them. Anopia in particular refused to hear a word of it, but not for a lack of belief. The thought of her other son was too painful for her to bear, even for a moment.

It was a shock for everyone when an aging Fever named Malaise as her replacement. Sure, everyone was fond of the guy, but he had gained a reputation as the pack loon. None were more surprised than Malaise himself. Still, he threw himself into his training with the same vigor as before, and when it came time for Fever to pass, he was certain he would make a damn good leader.

Secretly, Malaise has maintained contact with his long-dead brother. His near-death experience taught him a new trick; if he dives into deep water, he can emerge in that glowing mirror of the physical world. There he chases Moonstruck through the glittering forests and valleys, emerging in exciting new places miles from home.

Malaise is probably the most well-traveled wolf the Grinning Pack has ever known, and he’s determined to keep smiles on their faces until the day he joins his brother and mentor for good.