Anemy had never imagined that this situation would actually happen. That one day the constellation she had been desperately looking for would just disappear. It was as if that collection of stars had never existed in the first place, that Anemy the brave hunter had been mindlessly chasing after an illusion of some sort. Impossible, was what she had thought when the idea first came to her during one of her mid-night naps. But the more she travelled, the more she searched the sky for her ticket back home... The more it became clear that she was probably right.Weeks, months, it felt like years now since she had last seen the enjoying sight of her home. She wouldn't admit it, for that would be a disgrace in Anemy's mind, but the coal-colored wild dog wished for nothing more than to return back to her pleasant family den where she along with her favourite brothers and sisters had been raised in. By now she was getting confident that the family had all returned and it was only stupid Anemy who was left to wander around in search of that idiotic constellation that had vanished under her nose.
Still, she became surprised again when her constellation came back one night, brightly shining as if nothing had changed at all. The entire cluster of vividly bright glowing dots had reformed themselves perfectly, not a single one missing from the shape that had formed. A breath of relief passed over her face, her dark blue eyes approving of the spectacle overhead. In conforming it was back all she needed to do was find how that had happened in the first place. She was certain after all that it's disappearance was a sign. A sign of what? Well, she didn't know, but never minding that fact, Anemy walked forward across the savannahs night with a proud gait. The wind had picked up been picking up and dying out all day and night, which made it difficult for Anemy to sleep soundly. Now that it was her goddess' domain though, running across the landscape was more reassuring then when she wandered under the watch of the deadly sun.
Tonight she more confident than she had been the last few nights. Even though she had entered and exited the heavy forestry that popped up wherever it felt like; Anemy could still see the moon and its stars when those stretches of grassland appeared. Granted none of those were her stars, but she was certain they would pop up again. Hopefully...
But while proudly walking across one of said many stretches, a moan of pain erupted throughout the air. It silenced all creatures, and fireflies who danced near a pond panicked and seemed to vanish. As all other animals ran to hide, even the prey Anemy had considered stalking, the pup herself did not. In fact, she seemed drawn to whatever was in pain. A curious sensation had sprung and overruled anything deemed logical that was formed in Anemy's conscience. "Hello?" She spoke, her voice travelling throughout the area, silencing whatever animal had yet to from the moaning of before. "Are you alright?" She began to trot towards the sound of pain, that were lessening the closer Anemy got to whatever it was.
Through the strands of tall marsh like grass was another creature much larger than Anemy. Her blackened fur was only slightly darker than the pup, but to contrast it out a quite noticeable unusual shade of green dominated the creatures, legs and ears. As she shifted through the grass the pup became very much aware that she was in presence of a lioness, and that said lioness was not even awake! Anemy stood slightly shocked for a moment, scanning the large cat for any signs of what could have caused her to be in and then resuming her position of staring at the beast in awe. Anemy had saved a lion before, when she was even more smaller than she was now. But she had thought that it was only a big creature because she herself was tiny; Anemy now thought otherwise. The pup opened her mouth to say something, but closed her maw when she couldn't come up with something decent. She didn't need to though, for the lioness opened one of her eyes after a few more minutes of dying out cries of distress. Anemy crouched as a reflex in the grass, staring at the other creature still, curiously noticing that her eyes also shared a greenish tint to them.
The lioness huffed out a yawn and rolled onto her back carelessly. "What an odd dream." She said in between her yawn, stretching out like the lazy cat she was. Anemy's interest was piqued and she stood to make herself known, as the lioness seemed to be unaware of her presence. "Excuse me." Anemy asked politely. Always be polite to strangers her father told her. "Are you alright? You were... Struggling earlier." Yeah, struggling was the word for it... Right.
The lioness blinked slowly. She hadn't the slightest clue what this puppy was talking about she was fine, only her tiredness got the better of her. Yes, oh so very tired. "Ah... It was a dream." She recalled all the events of it she could. "There was an emperor... Ah, yes..." Her voice trailed off as she shifted to a sitting position and seemed lost in her trail of thought. "Will you tell me about it? Your dream?" Anemy asked curiously. She was so very intrigued by this lazy, if not strangely comforting lioness. She had never seen such an odd beast before.
"Eh. Sure, why not?" She yawned again and gave a small cough before clearing her throat to speak. "There was an emperor..." "You said that already." Anemy rolled her eyes. Silly cat-beast forgetting all of a sudden. Was that what all lions were like? Anemy knew she looked strong, but lions hardly seemed to be worthy of taking large territories as they had if they were all like this stranger was.
Ru was not bothered by being interrupted, she did not even flinch or make an effort to glare, merely gazed at Anemy briefly with tired eyes before continuing. "The emperor... He ruled the sky. Or no, not the sky- the night sky." Ah, that sounded more accurate yes. "He was a brave and noble emperor of the wolf kind." Wolf kind, did that refer to her, Anemy thought briefly? She shook it away and continued to listen.
"He was the best of the best. The most elite of all the emperors there ever was. Very kind, and very patient he lived a long life of success. One day though, the emperor died. But the stars did not want him to completely disappear, instead they picked up his soul and lifted him into their embrace. Each and every night the Emperor walked along a path the stars made for him. It was destined to be so! That way the emperor could gaze down at his subjects as they danced under the moon. One night though he noticed his people rarely left their lands; and the Emperor felt that he could retire happily without worry. This way he could rest in peace knowing all his friends, family and descendants would be safe. But!
One day a wolf had ventured out from the pack. She left with purpose, seeking to find a certain star... Or constel- Consta-"
Was she struggling? Anemy watched as the lioness fought to pronounce the word "Constellation" and piped up so that she could keep telling her story. "Constellation."
"Ah... Yes, thank you. 'Constellation'...
Anyways, this constellation she was looking for... The poor wolf couldn't find it. I have no idea what this constellation is but- "Ahem." Anemy feigned a cough. The lioness kept getting distracted and it was starting to irritate her.
"Sorry" Ru'yah apologized, and then continued going on her tale.
"The Emperor had been sleeping for so long that he didn't notice the poor girl wandering around in circles aimlessly. Not at first at least. When he finally did notice, and struck out to walk along his shining path he realized the stars had been asleep too. No longer did they glisten and sparkle the whole night after he pranced on them; nor did they even remain glinting for more than a few seconds when he did.
Poor fellow didn't know what to do. He ran around madly, trying to get the girl wolf's attention. 'Hey, over here!' and 'Look at me! Look at me!' were phrases he shouted repeatedly. For weeks he tried to nab her interest and for weeks more she wandered just as lost- if not more lost than before.
He needed to ensure she found her way home; the question still remained, how? Well, his prays were answered when one star, no a- a- comet, it waved overhead. The comet lit up all the stars the Emperor fought to wake up, and just for that night they did. The girl did not pay attention that night though. And for a whole two weeks the Emperor went back to his routine of trying to get her attention. Then, after those two weeks, the Comet came back. Again, it soared over the skies, lighting the path the Emperor dared to walk again and again." Ru'yah smiled kindly at Anemy, who was lost desperately in the tale. "W-why'd you stop?" She stood up when Ru'yah did not answer. "How does it end?!"
"I don't know, little wolf." This time it was her who stood, and appeared massively taller than poor little Anemy. Gulp! "I guess you'll have to find out for yourself, won't you?" The lioness turned and stared into the distance. Hmm, where to eat food first? She had seen a marsh a ways away, maybe she'd go there.
Anemy on the other hand looked back up at the sky, gazing desperately to try and find the path Ru had spoken of. She had almost given up, even said softly to herself "Please Mr. Emperor, I want to go home too." In an attempt to persuade the stars to answer her. Suddenly, the sky lit up. It was brief- almost gone before sky could see it, but a fiery comet surged overhead and from what Anemy could see the faint trial of glowing stars seemed to guide her eyes into the distance. She spun to face Ru'yah, thank her and happily point out her discovery; but the lioness was gone.
No point dwelling on it, Anemy reassured herself. She took a big breath in and breathed out in reassurance of her blind decision. It was time to move on, it was time to go home.
Word count: 1793
