In the heart of an ancient forest, where moonlight barely filters through tangled limbs and the air hums with old magic, lives a wolf pack. The Moonbound. Amongst the pack, is a wolf whose name stirs both awe and unease, Soot. His fur is darker than the forest’s deepest hour, black as scorched earth, and seems to absorb light like a void itself. His eyes, a gleaming gold, a defining trait of the alpha bloodline, burn with the memory something older even than the stars that watch over the night. They say to meet his gaze is to feel the weight of forgotten worlds.

His bloodline traces back to the First Howl, the moment when wolves tilted their voices to the moon and bound themselves to its silent power. Being the son of the alpha, Soot carries the weight of being Moonbound, a birthright rarely seen and deeply feared by those who don’t understand the old ways. Moonbound abilities were passed down through the generations, a gift granted to the First Wolf by Luna, the moon goddess. She bestowed upon him the ability to mold and move within shadows. Ensuring that the pack could sneak upon any prey with ease.

Soot was the only one of his siblings to have inherited this gift, making him the prime subject of training by his father. Constantly being sent on mundane hunting trips to practice, Soot found himself bored quite often.

“Soot.” His Fathers deep voice cut.

Killian, Soot’s younger brother bumped his shoulder and nodded towards their father.

“Pay attention mange-face.” He hissed.

“Yes Father?” He replied.

“Are you even listening?” His father said with an annoyed tilt of the head.

His younger brother glanced at him from the side, furrowing his brows, in that knowing way Soot was going to say something that was bound to get them into trouble.

“I just don’t see why we need to capture more hares. We have plenty.” He motioned over to the trap of live prey. A large, rounded wicker basket with thorns, cram packed with young hares. Each trying to wriggle their way out of the cage. If he didn’t know any better he would have felt bad for the poor creatures. But alas, the packs young need to train and doing so requires live bait. For some reason, Soot and his younger brother Killian, were the only ones sent on the task of capturing them. They already had brought back five today, which is plenty for the few pups tripping about the dens, but the Alpha felt otherwise. His father gave an exasperated sigh, Killian rolled his eyes, preparing for the impending punishment for insubordination. Soots acting out or questioning his fathers motives, earned Killian punishments too. Guilty by association. He assumed it was to teach his brother a lesson.

“Soot, you’re going to be Alpha one day. I just want to prepare you for it. I wish you didn’t think I’m doing all this, for no reason.”

His father looked at Soot's younger brother, “Killian, why don’t you go see if your mother needs any assistance.” His brother nodded and gave Soot a look seeming to say good luck before heading to the healer's dens. Once Killian was out of earshot, the Alpha turned his focus back to Soot.

“Walk with me.” Said the Alpha as he took a path that led out of the common area. Soot followed obediently. They walked in silence to the edge of the main dens that led to the hunting trails. When they approached the pineridge trail head, the border guards nodded to the alphas, stepping aside to let them leave.

“If anyone asks, I won’t be gone long.” His father said to the guards.

“Yes, sir.” The guards said in unison.

The pair set a slow pace up the ridge, making their way to Pine Point. A rock clearing that peered over the packs territory. When they reached the top, the forest was quiet in that in-between hour. When the sun had dipped low but the night had not claimed the sky yet. Long shadows stretched between the pines and the crickets were just starting to sing. Soot claimed a spot near the cliff's edge, dropping to the ground with a soft thud. His father stood a few paces away, watching. The silence was thick, neither knowing where to start. Soot spoke first.