Croi chose the hammer, in honour of his father, grandfather, and earlier generations, who had all been blacksmiths and forged his family into great warriors of high standing. Fate, however, had something else in store for him. For the first year, something within him kept him on the move, pushing him ever outwards until he found himself beyond the natural borders of the valley. Soon, he found himself the prey of a Dire Wolf, who began herding him towards her den. One day, in the midst of a blizzard, he came face to face with the wolf, and for hours they fought, until each knew the other better than themselves. When the blizzard ended, the wolf was dead, and Croi was near death. While lying on the ground, the spirit of the wolf came to him, called him brother, and led him to the cave. Several days later, Croi awoke, and found himself face to face with a pup, only a few weeks old. He stayed in the cave for several years, watching over the pup, whom he named Siocán, teaching her how to hunt and survive. During this time, the spirit often visited him, showing him the way of the shaman, the way of the wolf. Out of the pelt of the dire wolf, he made himself armor to protect himself, and out of the bones and sinew, he created his totem. 4 years later, the wolf came to him and told him it was time to return to his people, but that she would always be with him. As he left, he tried to get Siocán to remain behind, only to find her ahead of himself around every bend. As they traveled back, they came upon a hill giant, who attacked them. Croi and Siocán fought bravely, the giant fell over a cliff, but Croi was once again left at the brink of death. Siocán stayed by his side, keeping him warm, and once he was healthy enough to stand holding on to Siocán, Siocán placed him on his back and carried him back to his clan. He arrived in the middle of another great blizzard, half frozen, but still alive. When he was nursed back to health, he was named Croi Buile Geimhreadh, the Heart of Winter's Fury.
