Hie elder parents' sleeping habits allowed Steel a significant amount of freedom. His siblings were rarely far off, and Sawtooth was a large pack, making it difficult to stay away from others. The young boy seemed to prefer solitude to the company of others, a quiet child who tended to speak little and observe often. Today, though, he was on a mission. He wanted food. He'd accompanied his sister Ara on a hunting trip already, but he was far too small -- and certainly too young -- to be of any use. It was frustrating to not be able to help, but he had done so without argument, simply watching as she caught and killed rodents and birds to bring back to their parents. Today, however, was a different story. He'd been roused from sleep as he felt the warmth rays of sun beaming into the den's entrance, tickling his nose and causing him to slowly become conscious. A silent yawn escaped his jaws as he pried himself from his mother's gentle grasp, hurrying out of the den as though his life depended on it. He knew his journey most certainly depended on not waking up his parents. As soon as he left the den, his hindquarters wiggled in excitement as his tail flung back and forth. Though he knew he might get scolded for wandering away without telling anyone, he wondered if he found some food for them all to share if he would be praised too? Curious crimson gaze darted about as he wandered, nose low to the ground as he sniffed every hole he found, wondering if he might happen upon a small rodent he could chase after.

Though Aslan had come to understand the borders now the boy also understood the fact that family lay on the other side of them and for that reason the chocolate boy simply couldn't help himself as he ventured out of Threar territory and into Sawtooth. Surely there was no harm in wanting to visit them? He had caught scents trailing back and forth between the two lands, amongst them his own mother's and so he was simply following the example that she had set for him. Perhaps not the strongest of arguments though it would have to do. Crossing over a different part of the borders he now found himself in a patch of land he didn't recognise. Though it had been part of Ludicael when Threar and Sawtooth were one pack, too young at the time Aslan hadn't explored beyond the falls. He certainly made up for that now though and would venture through the springs until he came across the form of another. This one was a pup, unfortunately not his cousin Arivae who he had hoped to see but another one unfamiliar to him. Aslan would not let this lack of recognition stop him however as he continued up to the smaller boy to greet him. "Hello."

Besides his sister's children, who were nearly the same age as him, Steel hadn't met any pups. His world was relatively small, consisting of little other than his parents and siblings and Novel and her children. He knew there were many others in Sawtooth that he would come to meet, but still his scope of acquaintances was quite small. There was a soft sound in the distance that his ears picked up quickly, and slowly he turned to search for the source of it. His attention had been fully on his goal for the day -- which was trying to catch something for his family to eat, on his own -- but his focus very quickly shifted to the boy in the distance. Vibrant crimson gaze would fixate on him, examining him unblinkingly as he tried to figure out who he was. It wasn't anyone he knew, but he stared anyway as though he might figure it out with time. The boy's nose wrinkled, testing his scent as the gentle breeze drew it towards him. "Who's you?" he would inquire sternly as the stranger crept nearer. His father had always been rather adamant about not talking to strangers when he was alone, and this boy was entirely unfamiliar to him.