Galdar let out a sigh of relief as he reached the base of the Kinath where his whole adventure began only a short month and a half ago. It seemed like a lifetime ago to Galdar, as he slipped into a daydream of his travels through Anikira.
When Galdar started out leaving Kiddo, Wisp, and Hadrian behind on better terms than when he washed up on the beach. He headed south, which was the only foreseeable way out of the Oriens. Following Endyt Beach a ways before venturing deeper into I'queyer to hunt down some small game to eat before starting the long trek of exploring the island. Galdar started across the Chamoru Plains, not bothering the herds of bison, elk, and deer he saw. His main prey as he cross the vast plains was the ground squirrels that inhabited most of the plains in vast towns. He would wait just within dash range of the burrow, until one popped its inquisitive head up. Then he would snatch it up take it away from the town to eat it.
Galdar did the same routine at different ground squirrel towns as he traveled for a week across the plains. Upon reaching the Aughgar River, Galdar drank heartily to quench his thirst. While he was there he managed to catch a decent sized fish for him to eat. After eating his fill of the fish he found a nice quiet retreat in a dip in the plains as it came down to the river, where he rested for the rest of the day and the night. Then he began traveling north-east, walking towards the middle of the Kinath mountains. Continuing his diet of ground squirrels along the way. As Galdar neared the mountains he noticed a different smell, one that he had never smelled before. It was water but it was mixed with something, minerals maybe? At any rate he stayed near the Kinath's feet.
Sensing that it was best to move swiftly through this territory Galdar stayed right at the Kinath's feet through the lands of Kamari. Making it through the pass between the Kinath and Kalus's Point it took Galdar three days to be through the Kamari. He became very uneasy while passing by Kalus's Point, he could faintly see some rubble that appeared to once be human structure. Though it looked to be old he wanted nothing more to do with humans so he hurried past it. Upon entering Tiayr he felt as though he could explore more without having to worry about a pack nipping at his heals.
Following the Kinath's feet to the coast, Galdar found it to be very different than the south-eastern coast had been. The sands replaced with sheer cliffs that dove into the ocean. Following Zozyr's Glory north-west Galdar stumbled upon Rarizu Overhang, quite literally he was chasing a rabbit and it ducked into a bush. Thinking he had caught he quarry he charged into the bush, and stumbled into the cavern of Rarizu Overhang. He was too lost in the amazement of the cave that he either did not seem to notice, or did not care that the rabbit got away. Following the cave into its depths he found his way to where the cave suddenly dropped into the ocean. The mist caused by the sea crashing against the cliffs trickled into his nose. Galdar reminisced about when Evuwisp and himself had washed up onto the beach of the Oriens.
Galdar did not get the sudden urge to jump that some may have gotten. He turned back and found his way through the twists and turns leading him out of Rarizu Overhang. He continued to follow the cliffs rather than walk over the rolling Nyjoro Hills. Galdar ran into the Nytyte river, where he drank his fill and hunted for fish. Once he had caught a few small fish to fill his belly, he headed back to Rarizu Overhang to spend the night out of the elements. The next morning he went directly west, almost falling into the Nytyte River he followed it to its source the Ia'gha Lake. He circumnavigated the lake, and followed the Nytyte River north. Galdar came out in the Shydar of Caurus, looking across the vast meadow he saw not much other than snow. He was fine with this, as he preferred the colder weather to the heat of the south.
Deciding not to pursue a trek into the snowy meadow, he followed the feet of the Nyjoro Hills. A winter storm caught him off guard, it came up very readily. The blue northern forced Galdar to take refuge in the Niall Caverns. He went just deep enough into the caverns to be out of the storms fierce winds and stinging sleet, but he went no further as the cavern he was in had collapsed at some point closing the rest of the cavern off. After a day or so the storm blew its self out, and Galdar returned to his journey. He set out in a south-easterly direction, catching rabbits when he was hungry enough to hunt them. Passing by Ia'gha Lake again, he traveled across the plains of Tiayr towards the Kinath mountains again.
Finding safety at the feet of the mountains he rested a few days before he decided to make the trek back to the Oriens. For he would not leave Wisp for any longer than he had to now. Galdar's only desire was to go back to the comfort he felt with Wisp, Hadrian, and Kiddo in hopes that Kiddo would allow him to join his pack. He at a lean meal of rabbit the morning he was ready to make the hasty crossing of Kamari again. He stayed at the foot hills of the Kinath hurrying his way past Kalus's Point, and Galdar was very brisk in going through Kamari. He shortened his journey across by half a day, entering I'queyer with a sigh of relief that he had not been caught in the controlling packs territory again.
Heading back into the Chamoru Plains he went back to his strategy for hunting ground squirrels as he traveled back to Endyt beach. Upon reaching the beach almost 5 days after entering I'queyer he took a needed rest in the soft warm sands. The next day he was on the move at dawn, headed back the way he had left the Oriens.
Snapping out of his daydream Galdar took in a deep breath, and let out a long happy howl. To let Kiddo, Hadrian, and Wisp know he was back. He shook the dirt from his fur, and walked over to the grass that was growing at the base of the Kinath's foot hills. He laid down in wait for Kiddo, and maybe if Hadrian was close enough he would beat Kiddo to Galdar again.
Kiddo was walking to the Kinath to see who was hanging around near the dens. If there wasn't anyone there, he would probably take a nap. Kiddo was surprised at how much sleep he had been taking recently. Being an alpha was exhausting and especially so when he had so much on his plate. Kiddo sighed to himself. It had been a day or two since he had been with Zena near the water. The experience there was nice. It did relax him quite a bit and he had been in a good mood recently. He didn't think about the possibility of pups even though it was in the mating season. It was later in the mating season and he just didn't think that there would be pups around any time soon.
Just then, he heard a howl from a wolf that he thought that he recognized just a little. There was a faint smell in the air of someone who he had met but he couldn't put a name on the wolf. It was a male for sure but it didn't sound like an alpha at all. It sounded like a wolf who had spent a lot of time alone. However, it was a happy howl and it wasn't threatening so, Kiddo decided that he would go and meet who it was. Besides, his curiosity about who it could be was nagging at him.
As the scent came closer, he recognized it more but a name still wasn't coming. Who on earth could that be? He wasn't remembering any male who would be coming around that he had met before but never joined. It puzzled the alpha but as soon as he arrived, he knew exactly who it was. It was that wolf that had washed up on the beach with Evuwisp. Galdar was his name, Kiddo thought. Greetings, Galdar. What brings you here? Kiddo asked him in a non-threatening manner. Kiddo's body language was tense but not stiff. His tail was raised and his head was held high but he wasn't being aggressive with the returning male. Kiddo had an idea that Galdar wanted to take Evuwisp and run which was not going to be the case. Evuwisp was his member and she was not leaving. If Galdar wanted to be around her, he would have to join. Besides, Evuwisp wouldn't want to leave. She was on her way to becoming a huntress. A respectable rank that she had wanted. Leaving would ruin her chances of ever becoming one.
Galdar caught the faint smell of Kiddo, and without any thought given to it his tail and ears took up a mind of their own. His tail lowered but would not stop wagging for anything, and his ears perked up listening for Kiddo. He thought back to when they had first met, and how Kiddo was very respectful. Galdar was happy that Kiddo was on his way. When he heard Kiddo, Galdar stood up though for the life of him he could not get his tail to quit wagging. As Kiddo appeared, Galdar bowed his head. His ears stayed up and forward towards Kiddo, and his tail though it stayed low still wagged. Hello Kiddo, I have been wandering all over the north eastern part of this island. No matter where I go I could not find a place as comfortable as your territory. I was hoping to talk to you about joining your pack.
Thinking back to when Wisp had joined, Galdar remembered that Kiddo had asked her what she was good at. He thought about what he could add to the pack. He did not particularly like to hunt animals other than fish. Also he was not particularly keen to fighting unless there was good need for it. He did have a knack for gathering things, so long as he was shown what to gather. Galdar's time around the human town had taught him that humans were always throwing out things of use. So he had learned what to gather around humans that would be of use to him, but he did not really know what was of use on this island.
He had not seen the same herbs that he would gather if he got cut up on the mainland, every plant was different here with the exception of grass. Unless you're looking for someone to fish I'm not really a hunter. I would prefer not to fight but if it is needed I can. Due to my past, I am a rather competent gatherer so long as I know what to gather. Galdar hoped that Kiddo would accept him into his pack. He mentally prayed to the god he followed, preying to be accepted into this pack.
Kiddo was surprised that Galdar seemed so happy to see him. The last time they had met, he had been all up in knots about Evuwisp possibly being harmed by either himself or Hadrian. It was a reasonable reason to be protective over her. He was a large wolf and Galdar hadn't ever seen Hadrian or himself. He still found it a bit odd that even though Galdar apparently didn't know Evuwisp too long before he had arrived and yet he still protected her. He was either a noble knight of sorts or just super paranoid and used Evuwisp as a reason to be uneasy. Either way, it seemed as though none of that behavior was going to be happening today.
Galdar said that he had been traveling around and he hadn't found a better place to live than this area. Kiddo wasn't sure if that was a compliment that his lands were comfortable or if it were an insult in saying that it was just more comfortable than all the others. Kiddo's quick to anger brain told him that it was the latter but after he stopped and thought for a moment and looked at Galdar's manner of being and his body language, he told himself that it was the former.
Kiddo made a face when Galdar said that he hunted fish. Fish wasn't really made for wolves. He had a fish once and it almost made him puke. The only one that ate fish here was Curse and he could hunt for himself just fine. Galdar also said that he wasn't much of a fighter. Well then what use are you? Kiddo asked himself. But on the other hand, at least he was honest. Galdar went on to say that he was a good gatherer. That could be useful. Hadrian had been running around a lot gathering herbs and keeping the stashes full and a gatherer may help him out. Well Galdar, I will accept you into my pack and talk to Hadrian about a gatherer position for you. If he should not need one or, if he deems you incompetent then you will be a subordinate until some situation arises that you would be useful in. Fair enough. Kiddo was more willing to accept Galdar into his pack because he had met him before and he was an honest wolf. He wasn't boastful or overly cocky. He was respectful but he had a spine. Kiddo had a feeling that Galdar would fit in nicely with the pack as long as he focused on his job and not on females. The dens are just up the mountain. It's a massive cave with everyone's scents in it. It shouldn't be too hard to find but if it is then just follow everyone else when it's time to bed down. The dens were actually a bit difficult to find but as long as he followed his nose or the whole pack just once, he would be able to find it a hundred times. It would be useful for you to acquaint yourself with the rest of the pack as well. With that, Kiddo gave a short nod and was on his way. He had some other things to do and couldn't spend all day chatting with Galdar.
