Úlfr enjoyed his new found freedom. He intended to find Sparrow and join her pirate brigade at some point though he didn't really know where to look and now that he was out on his own he wanted to take some time to explore. He'd headed eastward, finding himself at the edge of a massive lake. Birds were singing, frogs croaking, despite autumn moving in the place seemed full of life. He bent his head to get a drink from the water, pausing when he thought he heard something. Úlfr looked up, gazing in particular to the woods near the lake. He knew autumn was an important time for bear's to make up any deficits in their diet and fatten up for winter. He really had no intention of becoming food. When he felt it was safe enough he bent his head and continued to drink.

Haiku was quiet these days, spending the majority of his time with his aging family. Grandmother Rhythm was by far the oldest wolf he had ever seen, she was so small and heavily marked with silver where she used to have a thick chocolate coat like he did. She couldn’t see him, nor had she ever been able to see him, but they shared a special bond. He learned a lot about their family’s history, the pack’s history, and even more the history within Boreas itself. She had been around for a very long time, and saw so much over the course of that life he couldn’t even imagine all of it.

His time with her matured him greatly, he had grown into his serious attitude. Much more like their father than any of his other siblings. Haiku was nearing his second birthday and however close he remained to Abaven the boy still felt his paws restless beneath him. He retained some of his adolescent awkwardness, his huge paws not quite matching the rest of his big frame. Still, he towered over many of the adults within Abaven, especially his mother but it had been that way for more than a year.

Ivory splashed form carried him northward, the winter was coming with a vengeance and he felt the chill already. The boy was more than grateful for his thick coat. Prose the white raven flew in the air above him, her sharp eye finding the stranger up ahead long before Haiku could see through the foliage. He ducked from under the leaves with a polite smile on his face as blue and lavender eyes found the stranger as he took a drink.

”Hello,” he greeted with a nod of his head, a bit more ignorant to the threat of bears this time of year. Abaven didn’t have much excitement, and he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d scented a bear. Haiku wasn’t paying attention, but Prose was. He couldn’t even introduce himself before her alarm call filled the air and she raced back to him. ”Bear!” He interpreted as he lowered himself into a defensive stance, ready for the creature to follow him out of the forest.

Úlfr quenched his thirst, ears suddenly flicking back at the sound of someone approaching. Smaller than a bear but all the same his head jerked up as he turned to see another boy who greeted him. Úlfr was struck suddenly by the boy's beautiful eyes and the unique markings on his pelt. He was terribly handsome and for a moment Úlfr was struck dumb, unable to respond. He never got the chance for the other boy's bird suddenly shrieked a warning about a bear.

Hackles raised as Úlfr whipped around to face off against the bear, moving forward to pull alongside the other male. A moment later a large grizzly bear emerged from the forest. It moved in a steady lumbering pace at first but stopped in front of the young wolves, its nostrils flaring for a moment before it reared back on its hind legs and roared.

Haiku didn’t have time to notice the way the pale boy froze up when he greeted him. Quick as he had said hello Prose alerted them both to the threat. There wasn’t any thought to spare but the defence of their lives. It didn’t matter who or what he was, when the sign of a threat appeared the stranger was quick to leap to his side. Haiku spared the smaller yearling a quick grin as he bent his joints and lifted himself to his toes.

He expected ablack bear honestly, but Haiku didn’t lose his nerve as a massive grizzly appeared from the forest and challenged the pair of them. They didn’t have to kill the beast, but they needed to show it they wouldn’t be bossed around by some bear. Haiku raised his hackles and barked in return, hoping for a moment his show would be enough to convince it away. It was not.

The bear lowered itself to all fours and charged the two young wolves. Divide and conquer. It aimed to charge between them, so Haiku tried to stay aligned with the stranger and avoid those knife like claws at the same time. He didn’t want to go home bloodied. Or worse not at all. The bear came in swinging, and Haiku kept its attention, carefully dodging blows, the concentration obvious on his features as lose call followed close call.

Well, shit. Looks like he was going to have to deal with another bear fight. Úlfr prepared himself as the bear lowered back to all four legs and then charged. Haiku took on the creatures attention, drawing it towards him and as soon as the bear's backside was in view Úlfr charged. He dove in low, fangs seizing hold of the back of the bear's right knee. He bit down hard and pulled back, ripping flesh as the bear roared in pain. It twisted around with almost unbelievable speed. Úlfr quickly let go and ducked, feeling the breeze and movement of air as the bear's claws sailed over his head. Crap, crap, crap and crap. Why did this always seem to happen to him?

Haiku was trying very hard to keep the bear’s attention, and he was surprisingly light on his feet as he dodged blows and harried the massive creature, it still wasn’t nearly enough to keep it attention when the other boy dashed in. Haiku didn’t know what was grabbed but with a rageful roar the bear turned back on the pale young man. It moved so quickly the yearling Destruction’s jaw fell in surprise. He couldn’t let his mind wander though or they would both be dead. Haiku shook himself slightly and rejoined the fray, taking his turn to bite at the bear.

His aim was true and similarly he ripped at the creature’s thick hide, and this time it decided the two wolves were far too much effort to keep battling. With one more swipe, that only barely missed Haiku’s hip, the bear went barreling back in the direction it had come from, leaving the two boys alone.

Haiku was out of breath and feeling the sudden withdrawal of adrenaline as he looked back to his impromptu fighting partner with a nervous grin. He’d faced death and survived it. ”Thanks, I’m Haiku.” He spoke through heavy breaths as he sucked in oxygen. "Impressive work."

Úlfr stayed on his toes, moving along with the bear's movements to keep himself out of the line of attack as best he could. Thankfully the bear swiftly decided the young wolves were not worth the pain and hassle and it went running off into the woods. Úlfr let loose a deep sigh of relief before he resumed panting to gain back his breath. The boy introduced himself as Haiku. He smiled softly and nodded. "Thanks, you too. My name is Úlfr." After taking another moment to catch his breath he looked back in the direction he was heading, uncertain of what to say. "I uh… suppose I should keep traveling, but it was nice to meet you."