(1693 Words)
Zisa was not generally one for adventure, but every so often the desire to creep out and see the world when it was quiet and empty would overtake her. She liked it when it was quiet. She would go out into the woods just to be still and wach the moon creep over the sky and allow her mind to wander. In the dark, she would practice listening to the sounds of creatures in the night -- bugs, mice, bats -- and locate them, honing her senses. It was getting to be very difficult to sneak up on Zisa these days because of it, which is how she knew she was being followed this evening. Without giving any sign to her elder brother, she wove through trees and climbed her way atop a rock, seating herself almost primly upon it.
Nessus was the type to be in everyones buisness at all times. So when his sister snuck out from the den he had been quick to notice. His red ears perked and he cocked his head. He could almost sense sje knew he was there.but he refused to just announce himself just yet. His red orbs glittered.as he followed. He clung to the shadows hoping to.remain unseen. However if she spotted him all would not be lost. He grinned as he watched her sit up on a rock. Odd.. Escape only to dilly dally on a rock while you made yoirself a prime target. Sometimes he questioned his siblings intelligence. He grinned. His rump falling onto the grasses as he watched her. He was sure she could smell him by now. She was being cautious...why..
Her ears fanned out, listening to the sounds of the wood -- the quiet night-sounds. Her nostrils flared a little as they soaked in the smell of her surroundings. "I know you're there, Nessus," she said, calmly. "If you were planning to pounce on me, I'll still act suprised if you want."
He chuckled. She was smart, his sister. With a leap from the shadows he landed a few feet in front of her. Of course he was still beneath her as he wasnt going to attempt jumping the rock. "Ah but what fun is that I wonder?" he asked and grinned deviantly. He looked her over and realized he was getting.older just by watching his younger siblings grow. It made him feel old.. And then a bit bitter. "Now what is our dear baby sister doing out here?"
"Practicing," she said. She had never been much for the snappy comeback -- and, indeed, if her brother ordered her back to the den this instant she would come without hesitation. "Making my senses sharper. It's easier to train it at night, when there's less going on." She turned her eyes up to Nessus and grinned a little. "It's very hard to sneak up on me now, though."
He was proud that sje had been training. No one could hurt her if she was prepared. He oddly found himself protective.of her. With a nod he leapt onto the rock to sit next to his ebony colored sister. With a nudge he greeted her before pulling back. He wasnt the rype to bark orders. It wasnt his place. Though of he didnt like something it was usually known. "So dear sister. What is it you train while all on your own? You dont have any male callers do you?" he asked. Voice tinging on serious.
She shuffled sideways to give him some extra room and laughed a little. "No, no. Nothing like that." Well, there was Sudhir. But he was hardly a suitor -- for one, he was her cousin, or close enough to it. For another, she'd known him since she was a weanling, the idea of viewing him romantically was downright laughable. "Just honing my senses, mostly. Sometimes I practice running in the dark. It's harder than you'd think, actually." She looked up at the sky, where the moon hung bright and silver amongst the stars. "Well, it wouldn't be tonight, not when it's this bright. But when the moon's not out, it's hard. Anyway -- what are YOU doing out ehre, brother?"
When the tables got turned to him, he lifted his head and raised his nose in the air. Snorting he looked serious. He hated speaking of himself. He honestly felt that everyone should just know why he did t hings. After all he always had a reason. He looked at her like she would be stupid if he didnt know who she was and snorted again. "Maybe I was following my dear, obediant sister.. Trying to find why she had become so rebellious this night." He said, his voice level
Her brows raised. "Is that all?" Her tail gave a little thump. "You must be sleeping on the job, if this is the first time you noticed." She reclined her head again at the moon and closed her eyes, again moving her ears like a fan.
"Ive noticed you sneaking away. Some days I dont care. Today bordeom had me care. Sue me." He snorted, looking at her evenly. He watched her move, and then looked out from the rock. The scenery was rather moving and he saw maybe why she was as content on this rock as she seemed. "If mother or father find you missing, sister, hell will be paid. Are you not afraid for your hyde?" He asked curiously.
"Surely they'll understand if I'm doing it to better myself?" She asked, but the confidence oozed out of her words. She deflated a little. "I'll go back, if you think that's what they'd want. I don't want to make them angry." Especially not father. She wasn't precisely frightened of him...but she also was, and not just in the way that all little girls are in awe of their fathers. Most little girls' fathers could not kill them with a look.
"No." He said shortly, almost harshly when she deflated. No he wouldnt be what made her stop training. If their parents didnt see her potential, well that was there problem. He realized his tone and cleared his throat. "I mean.. Do what you need. I wont tell. Not my place, and all that." He said, as if it didnt matter to him, though it did. He wanted his family to grow strong. Some already had a few health conditions from their father. It was only right that they train well.
Her brows raised. She was a bit confused -- first as to why he was concerned, and then as to why he didn't stop her. She knew that the pack was a dangerous place to be, as the wolves often had ltitle regard for behavior...but she thought (foolishly, perhaps) that she would be safe from abuse. "There's something on your mind that you're not telling me," she said, finally. "What are you worrying about?"
Nessus shrugged. He really didnt worry about much, but he knew that she was just learning. If she was out to meet a boy, then he would demand she return. Absolutely demand! He looked at her curiously. "Why do you think Im worrying? Im not going to be the bearer of bad news. Im almost sure that we all have enough to worry about without me being the one to jump down your throat." He said.
She laughed. "You just sounded...I don't know." She shrugged. Perhaps she had misread him; that was not uncommon for her -- keen as her senses were, Zisa was not very good at subtlety or subtext or generally "reading" others. She also had very little sense of humor. "I don't mind," she added. "If you're protective of me. If you were worried about that."
He snorted, hiding the idea. Hed never admit to it. Ever. But he did feel protective of her. He stood, stretching out his paws and yawning. It was dark and he was tired, regardless of his sisters mission out into the dark. "Are you going to be joining me home? Or shall I sneak in and make sure no one knows anyone was even missing?" He asked with a smile.
"No, I'll come back with you," she said, rising up to her paws as well. She jumped down onto the ground and shook herself, giving a bit of a yawn. "It's late, anyway."
Nessus nodded, pushing her forward and then leaping from the rock. It was likely a good idea she return. He wasnt really -sure- he wouldnt be seen and he didnt want to lie and say he had no idea where she had run off to. "Alright, lets go." He said, and wandered into the darkness.
She trailed after him, a slight smile on her maw. She rather liked her older brother. Well, to be fair, she liked all of her family members. Her affection for them was probably a bit inapropriate for the pack, in truth, but she was loyal to both family and alpha: she had no intention of rising in ranks, no desire to be anything more than was expected of her. And she was very happy with that status quo. "How is YOUR training, anyway?" She asked, intensely curious as to how much harder life might be once she was a bit older and saddled with more responsibility.
Oh great here she was asking more questions. He hated divulging information about himself to anyone. He was a quiet, non divulging male. He sighed and shook his head. "My training goes as planned. Its a work in progress. Dont you have other things on your mind? I dont like sitting here talking about me." He said honestly, and continued forward
"Sorry," she demurred immediately. She should know by now no to probe, but she couldn't help it! The more silent he was, the more she wondered if there was something mysterious going on. Still, it was hardly her place to go around unearthing mysteries. She fell silent and padded after him, wondering now if she should stop these midnight training sessions after all...and if there really was anything lurking under her big brother's cool exterior.
