When Xanthe was born, the forest was in turmoil. Renegades had taken over Wildfire, and were trying their best to spread throughout the four territories. A storm, though no wolf in the forest could know this, was on the horizon. And it would only get worse before it got better.
But Xanthe remembered none of that.
When she and her sister were very young, their parents - the alpha and alphess of Oceanid - left the forest with them. They traveled a few days before settling in a spot outside of the Dragoness' lands. Xanthe would never know the reason, nor would she know her parents former lives. Her father left when she and her sister were still young, only two moons in age, so she didn't remember him very well either. It was her mother, Kinarai, who raised the two of them. Teaching them how to respect those in authority, and how to gain respect if it was them in authority. How to lead with words, instead of teeth, though Xanthe never understood why they were taught such things. When she reached six moons, they were taught how to hunt, though her mother was aging and gave directions more so than she did any demonstrations.
It went like that for some time, and with Kinarai's age slowly creeping up on her it was soon Xanthe and her sister that did the hunting. Eventually, when Xanthe was close to reaching her fourth season, Kinarai died during the night. The old wolfess was the only thing that held the pack of three together, for Xanthe and her sister had never been too friendly. The two young wolves went their separate ways, her sister choosing to go off alone and Xanthe longing to find somewhere to join a pack. The only question left was where?
Since she was young Xanthe had had small clippets of memory that would come to her fleetingly. Memories of a forest that she thought she'd once seen. It was these memories that drove her desire to find a home, a permanent one. So she chose a direction and started her journey, traveling for only a few days worth of time before she came across a clearing that immediately felt safe to her. A few more paces down the path brought her face to face with a large white Dragoness.
"Child," It spoke, "I wondered if I would ever see you enter this place again." and Xanthe was too stunned to speak in reply, the Dragoness went on. "You are always welcome to return to your home in Oceanid, but follow your heart to your destined pack." She lifted her head and indicated a path, bringing Xanthe look over her shoulder. "My forest is through there, you are welcome, child" she looked to the young wolf again, catching Xanthe's gaze as the she-wolf looked back, holding her caught in the blind sight.
"I have missed seeing those colors," The Dragoness spoke, letting her gaze fall along the stripes running down Xanthe's side, "How interesting that you should return, in the midst of what's to come." She held the wolf's gaze for a moment more before letting her head lower to the ground, closing her eyes to fall into sleep once more.
The words confused Xanthe, and she opened her mouth to call, "Wait!" to the Dragoness, "What do you mean, return? What is this place?" but the great beast spoke no more, her chest rising and falling in the slow rhythm of sleep. Mind buzzing with curiosity, Xanthe turned to look once more to the path, letting her paws carry her forward through the tunnel. She had been welcomed, after all. Perhaps she'd finally found a home.