We always go back to what we know

Gryphon had spent a great deal of time after he'd met up with Dragon that spring making his way slowly through Boreas, trying to seek out the rest of his family. They needed to be brought back together somehow, by someone, and it was certainly far past time for him to take up the mantle of responsibility he had always claimed. So far his half-siblings were proving elusive - other than Dragon, he had not found any of the immediate family, and he was getting worried. He felt bad that the rest of the pack had scattered as well, but frankly, they weren't his problem. The Ancoras were quite enough to worry about right now... if he piled more worries on that he'd break down either mentally or physically. Hell, he was surprised he didn't already have ulcers.

Wandering along the coastline in the south, something out in the water had attracted his attention. It was a big human structure, like the castle Dragon had housed them in. Could one of the Ancoras be living there, drawn by the familiarity to the castle they'd had to leave?

He hesitated for a long moment, debating with himself the likelihood of that versus not particularly wanting to get soaked with salt water. In the end, the possibility outweighed the discomfort, and with a sigh he waded in until had to start swimming, then struck out for the island with powerful strokes.

He hadn't quite made the island yet when he spotted a wolf struggling out of the water onto some old wrecked boat - the wreckage putting him in mind of the huge ship up north near where he'd grown up. There was something familiar about the partly-submerged wolf, so Gryphon changed course towards the wreckage. By that time he'd witnessed the wolf managed to drag themselves out of the water, and so didn't have to waste time figuring out the best place to do so. He went straight towards where he had seen them, and followed suit.

It was a bit easier for him, with his greater reach and strength, to pull himself onto the wreck. He pressed his hindpaws against the broken hull, hooked his forelegs onto the deck, and with a surge of synchronized effort heaved himself up.

He avoided the sodden heap of exhausted wolf by the simple expedient of stepping over her as he cleared the deck. Now that he was close the unusual color of her pelt, and her familiar features all stood out to him. "Iskra?" he questioned with some surprise. "What are you doing way out here?"