Alto was born into a fairly low ranking band in his original pack, and spent most of his youth with them. As he grew closer to adulthood, he didn’t have much prospects, but eventually moved a step down to start a family in a different band. However, someone from one of the top ranked bands approached him and offered him a spot in their band. Tempted by the elevation of status, but ultimately unwilling to leave his current band, he refused.

This went over poorly with the member of the high rank, accustomed to getting what they want, and so they threatened to kill and eat Alto’s band if he did not go with them. This led to Alto relenting, and joining them, only for them to enact their threats regardless, establishing a trend of abuse. Now trapped in a situation he didn’t want to be part of, Alto was backed into a corner.

After much debate and internal struggle, Alto eventually worked up the nerve to flee his pack and try to make it one his own. They pursued, though Alto managed to stay just ahead of them for quite some time.Eventually, the number of pursuers dwindled as they grew bored of the chase, and decided to just let him die on his own. A few dedicated members of his abusive band however, stayed in pursuit. This is when Alto and Mettzo first crossed paths. Alto had, unknowingly, came across what Mettzo had claimed as his territory. In a delirious state, starved and on the brink of death, Alto didn’t notice Mettzo’s markers. His pursuers did, and were hesitant to follow. They eventually decided to take the risk, much to their own misfortune.

Mettzo came across Alto’s scent first, and began tracking him down. (It wasn’t long before Mettzo and the pursuers crossed paths, though Mettzo knew the lay of his lands better, and was able to find them before they noticed him. He followed them to where they eventually found Alto, passed out and only a breath away from death. That was when Mettzo set upon them, and made short work of all of them. He contemplated killing Alto as well, before deciding to leave him to die on his own.

Through some defiance of nature, however, Alto didn’t die. He managed to crawl himself to relative safety, seeing that his abusers had been mysteriously killed, allowing himself some time to try and rest. He barely scraped together bits to live off of, though after a few days Mettzo reappeared to discover him still very much alive.

Alto was expecting death, but even Mettzo couldn’t explain why he instead helped him, giving him bits of food here and there to help him gather his strength and recover. There was very little exchanged between them besides food as Alto recovered, but slowly and surely Mettzo began coming a little closer, and lingering a little longer each time he checked in. They bumped into each other more and more often, as Mettzo’s territory wasn’t terribly large (for it had no reason to be) and that eventually led to where they are now.