Evander had a relatively normal upbringing, within a standard pack. The son of two members, a brother to three siblings. Nothing was all that extraordinary, but he was content. Around his 10 month mark, he had begun to prioritize his place in the pack, as an adult. Often venturing out to hunt, or mark the borders. His days were repetitive and ordinary.
At least, until one seemingly-unremarkable day…
It began to rain, as Ev was out on a hunt. The tumultuous downpour made the deer scatter, leaving him to only successfully find a hare. While making his way home, he found a lone woman. Her gaze was pleading, so without hesitation Vander left the hare for her. The pack was not struggling, and if it was to help someone in need, there was no debate. The interaction was minimal, and practically forgettable.
Every time he left to hunt, Evander would run into her. Small, simple pleasantries were exchanged: Hello, good day, goodbye. Nothing surpassing that extent. Weeks had passed, and she was always there. Waiting to greet him. Eventually a day came where he was heading home, and the woman called out “Goodbye, Evander.” A sudden chill rippled down him, he had never given her a name, had he?
After the interaction, Ev casually questioned his family and friends of the odd rogue that lurked beyond their border — but no one had seen her, as if a ghost. Which caused even more panic within the yearling, wondering how she knew his name. Evander began to focus on staying within the borders. A tactic to avoid seeing the strange woman. His paranoia began to gradually eat away at him, but he pressed on.
Every week or so, Evander would return to his lounging spot to find mint and pheasant — things he enjoyed and treasured. It was assumed, by him, to be left by his family. A gift to subdue his worries and display support. Slowly but surely, his nerves began to settle over time. Memories of the lone woman melted into the past, while he pushed to the future.
Evander had begun hunting again, and for a month, he never saw her. Until one fateful day, as the rain began to pour, she was there. Standing. Waiting. Smiling.
“I hope you’ve been enjoying the pheasant and mint, Evander?”
It was haunting. He felt sick and shaken. His legs trembled, as he stared wide-eyed. Her tone was obsessive and it did nothing but strike fear. She had been sneaking in, leaving him things, <I>watching</i> him. Evander gagged, his body racking as his stomach emptied at his feet. He couldn’t move, frozen in fear. She stepped closer, rubbing against him in a show of ownership. All he did was tremble pathetically. Gentle “I love you”s were sprinkled here and there from the woman.
Ev had nearly blacked out, but the other hunting party had found him. Chasing off the woman without question, and escorted him home. For days, he stayed within a den refusing to eat. He was crumbling, and in response his pack increased their patrols to guarantee the woman never came back.
Just as things began to look safe again, the worst had happened…
The pack was in chaos, a group patrolling had found Vander’s mother: lifeless, mangled, <I>eaten</i>. The sight of his mother, as well as being told she smelled of the woman, caused him to collapse. Ev was unconscious for days, and when he woke he was greeted with nothing but hatred from his family. It was <I>his fault</i> his mother had died. It was his fault they were not safe. It was his fault for “letting” this woman ruin his life.
His life became hell. He was hated. He was traumatized. He was lonely. He was afraid.
His living hell had only gotten worse, as he startled awake from his dreams to a sickening, unsettling feeling of being watched. She was there. Only feet away. Watching him. Evander froze, his heart pounding as he found himself unable to move or call out. Her coat was matted with blood, and it was unclear if it had been his sibling’s or fathers, all he knew was it had been an all too familiar smell. “They won’t keep us apart, anymore, Ev. I promise!” How frighteningly sweet she sounded, as if they were star crossed lovers and she had vanquished the obstacles that lay between them.
Without warning, teeth came at him. He was maimed in the night, and she left before others could return the favor.
Evander left his pack. Slinking off shamefully, selfishly. He never wanted to see her again, and he never found out whose blood littered her coat that night. The desperation for a fresh start, tainted by his newly founded traumas had led him into a new world.