recover from everything that had happened to him. He’d wandered about for many, many miles, sleeping under the stars or in abandoned dens he could find. But with every step he took, every mile that he went, he felt more and more like he was to blame for everything.

“It’s all my fault… All my fault…” Rallan whispered to himself, tears falling from his brown and gold eyes as he walked through the cooling October air, “If I had never been around there, then those three might still be alive… If I hadn’t gone for a walk that night months ago, Dad would still be alive and I wouldn’t be here…”

But was it all worth it? he asked himself in thought, Perhaps this was meant to happen… It’s my destiny… isn’t it? Isn’t it? Rallan slowly stopped crying, lifting his head slightly. He was still so confused inside but kept on walking through the forest. For five months, he had yet to come across another wolf. No one had been near him, making Rallan feel worse and better at the same time.

Now Rallan was in a different forest, one he hadn’t ever been to nor heard of before. One thing Rallan had learned was that months of travel had their perks of building up stamina and mapping out parts of the world. Now he was in a new forest, but something was different about this place. Though it was but October, snow already began falling and a thick blanket of the white powder coated the ground and trees. Icicles hung from the branches of the trees and the coolness of the air felt like it had been winter here for a couple months, at least.

“Where on Earth am I?” he asked himself, looking around, “It’s like I stepped forward in time…”

Rallan continued walking, then slipped a little on a sheet of ice. He fell face-first into the snow and got to his feet again, shaking his pelt off. He then heard someone in a nearby bush and glanced over at it. He stared suspiciously at it as he tilted his head to one side.

“Hello? Is somebody in there?” he called out, getting no response for a few moments, “Hello? Come out, whoever’s in there!”

Rallan took a couple steps forward and saw a white blur dash away and off to his right. He reacted a split-second later, pursuing the creature that had been spying on him. Well whoever it is, they’re pretty fast, I’ll give them that! he thought to himself as he kept on running. After a couple minutes of running, Rallan stopped, the tracks abruptly ending. He sniffed about and heard a noise off to his left. He glanced over and saw a pure white Arctic wolf staring at him from behind the trunk of a tree.

“Hey, it’s alright… I’m not gonna hurt you…” Rallan said softly, taking a few steps closer to the white wolf, “Don’t be afraid… I mean no harm… I just want to talk…”

“Who… Who are you?” the wolf asked in a soft voice, distinctly a female, piercing icy-blue eyes boring through his face as she scanned his features, “What are you doing here?”

“Just calm down… My name’s Rallan, and I’m just passing through…” Rallan replied calmly, “Come on out, I promise I won’t do anything to hurt you…”

The female looked like she was considering it until she glanced over Rallan’s shoulder. Rallan gave her a confused look, then glanced back just in time to notice a large white mass ram forcefully into him. Rallan fell to the ground and stared up into the golden eyes of yet another Arctic wolf. Two more surrounded him, one glancing to the female he’d been talking to as she walked up to them.

“Milady, is this brute pestering or threatening you in any way?” the one inquired in a serious tone, “If so, you know I have the power to order his execution right here and right now…”

“No Ocean… That won’t be necessary…” the female responded softly, “He and I were just talking… We just ran into one another now… Let’s bring him back to my father for questioning…”

“Understood, milady…” the one named Ocean replied, looking to the two others, “Well? You heard the Princess! Get the newcomer to his feet! We’re taking him back to our home!”

The two nodded and the one let Rallan up. He got to his paws and began to follow the rest of them through the cold lands. After many minutes of walking, the group came to a large cave entrance, two Arctic wolves standing sentinel at either side. They walked inside, the deep blue and cobalt colors of the ice cave’s walls shining in the fading sunlight. The further they walked in, the more guards Rallan noticed and took note of that.

After a couple more minutes, they came to a massive ice chamber, smaller caves and dens lining the walls. At the center, a large ice spire led up about thirty feet to yet another chamber at the back of the cave. Large luminous crystals hung from the ceiling, illuminating the whole cave and casting it into vibrant waves of multicolored lights. Rallan was led up the spiraling paths and up the spire, crossing the ice bridge into the back chamber.

Inside on an elevated ice perch was another Arctic wolf and several guards, his gaze falling upon the group as they walked inside. He smiled warmly at the female he’d been talking to before and jumped down from his perch, walking up to her and nuzzling her.

“Darling, where have you been?” he asked cheerfully, “I was beginning to worry about you!”

“Daddy! Not in front of our guest!” she replied, motioning to Rallan, “I found him- Well, more accurately, he found me out near the border… He doesn’t seem like a threat, but I thought you’d like to deem that yourself…” The wolf, apparently the Alpha, looked at Rallan and walked up to him, looking him over briefly.

“Well you don’t seem to be very hostile, which is always a good thing…” the Alpha stated, chuckling slightly and giving a quick glance back to the female, “I was wondering when my daughter would start bringing males home…” Her mouth dropped open as she stared at her father.

“Daddy! That’s not funny!” she snapped back, the Alpha chuckling again. He then focused his attention back onto Rallan.

“Well, you seem very well when it comes to physical fitness… You seem stable enough… What’s your name, son?” he asked calmly.

“Rallan, milord…” Rallan answered, bowing his head slightly to show his due respect to the Alpha before him. The Alpha noted his paid respects and smiled at Rallan.

“Well Rallan, you seem like a very respectful wolf… I’d be glad to let you stay as long as you’d like… so long as you don’t put any moves on my daughter…” he stated, then laughed good-naturedly, “I’m just kidding! But seriously, she’s single.”

“Daddy, please! Stop doing things like that! You know I hate it when you do that!” she said quickly, her cheek flushing a pink color.

“Yeah, I know!” he replied, then looked back at Rallan, “Please forgive my rudeness; my name’s Frost. I am the Alpha of the Icicle Pack. This is my daughter, Fantasy… And the one behind you is Ocean, my Beta…” Fantasy smiled slightly at him. Ocean merely bowed his head slightly.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all, and I thank you for your hospitality…” Rallan said gratefully, but his ears lowered against his skull as he thought back four months, “But I can’t accept your gracious offer…” Frost gave him a confused look.

“Why on Earth not, Rallan? You’re more than welcome here! What’s stopping you from accepting right off the bat?” Frost asked, tilting his head slightly.

“Because…” Rallan began, then froze. What do I say? That I’m a murderer? That I killed four wolves? he thought to himself. “Because it’s not right of me just to take such a generous offer, sir…” Frost grinned slightly and chuckled.

“Rallan let me tell you something… One thing I admire and hold in high-standards are morals and virtues… And you’ve just proven to me that you are virtuous to decline such an offer…” Frost stated calmly, “Which is why I now insist that you stay for a while… As my personal guest…”

Rallan was completely taken back by Frost’s offer. It was even greater than the previous one. He didn’t even know what to say, but for the sake of being polite, he nodded in acceptance.

“Thank you, Lord Frost… I accept your gracious offer…” Rallan said, bowing his head once again to the Alpha.

“I’m glad you accepted, Rallan…” Frost replied and smiled widely, “But please, you do not have to bow your head or call me ‘Lord’… You are a guest, and laws will apply, but you don’t have to be so formal toward me…”

“My apologies, Frost…” Rallan apologized quickly, “I was raised to respect every one of a higher status than I was… as well as giving due respect toward those who deserved it…” Frost smiled again and nodded his head in approval.

“You were raised very well, Rallan… Tell me, what pack do you hail from and who were your parents?” Frost inquired, tilting his head to one side slightly. Rallan took a deep breath before answering.

“I was born and raised in the Lylrite Pack… My parents were the Alphas of it and I was the eldest of a litter of five pups… My father trained me extensively since I was about six months old… My father was named Typhoon and my mother, Lily…” Rallan answered calmly, “I left when my father and brother were murdered…”

“Why did you leave Rallan? If you were the eldest, then you should have been the next rightful Alpha by blood, correct?” Frost asked, more confused than ever.

“There were… complications with the lineage of rulers…” Rallan explained, leaving out the fact he’d been exiled, “I left for the good of the pack… So I have no idea who’s leading the Lylrite Pack to this day…”

“Well, as I said before, you are now an honorary guest of the Icicle Pack! Please enjoy everything we may have to offer you… Ocean! Show him to his chambers… You know which one I’m referring to…” Frost declared, nodding to his Beta.

“Yes Lord Frost. Right away!” Ocean