Bear

First Impressions

It was Bear's second scouting mission alone. He had shed the lanky features of puppyhood so only his shiny unmarred pelt and youthful eyes give away his age. He had been told that there were no other packs in the direction he was told to travel, but they must have been wrong, or perhaps he had traveled to far, because the most beautiful wolf he had ever seen stood about 30 yards ahead of him.

The wolf's orange fur nearly glowed in the afternoon sun, highlighting their black patches. Bear stood in the shadows where his dark fur wouldn't stand out against the emerald greens of the field in front of him, but that was all for not when the wind shifted, blowing his sent towards the stranger.

The orange wolf whipped their head towards bear and started to move carefully towards him. Deep down bear knew he should leave, getting into a fight with an unknown pack would be the last thing he wanted, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the gorgeous stranger.

As he grew closer Bear could more accurately get a read on him. The wolf looked roughly his same age, with golden eyes and thinner fur then Bear's. He could tell that the wolf could smell him, but hadn't yet found where he was exactly, as he kept his ears pricked and his eyes darted across the hedgeline. Bear still had a chance to run. He stepped forward though, out of the hedgerow and into the view of the stranger. The stranger flinches and crouches into a defensive stance. Bear bows his head, crouching low and tucking his tail between his legs.

"And you are?" The stranger asks. His voice was beautiful, like cold water over riverstone.
"My..." he pauses, his words caught in his throat, "my name is Bear."
"What are you doing here Bear?" the stranger asks, their tone was authoritative, but not unkind.
"I- I was just passing through, I wasn't aware there was a pack here."
"Well I am here aren't I?"
"I apologize," Bear pauses. The wolf in front of him had calmed a bit but was still warry.
"May I ask you name?" The stranger squints, as if he was trying to read Bears intentions through pure suspicion alone.
"My name is Harlow." he finally states, bear relaxes slightly, his tail wagging slightly behind him.
"That is a beautiful name Harlow."