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 Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 4:48 pm
 The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange, pinks, and purples. A lovely sight to behold. For that small moment, the harsh sands of the desert were dyed the color of rare, glittering gems. It really was a paradise, if one knew just where to look. A warm breeze twisted around the rock structure he stood upon to watch the sunset, paws soaking up the heat of the day. Night was falling. With it, the heat of the day would be washed away and the warmth from the rocks would be much appreciated.
Deadly heat. Scorching sand. The desert was an unforgiving creature to those who did not understand it. But he was learning. And with his knowledge, he was teaching others. They were small in number, a little family that was willing to grow. Willing to cohabit with the hot desert.
Time hardened and strengthened their paws, making it possible to endure the hot sands. Learning to read the height of the sun taught the desert dwellers when not to traverse the terrain. It was no easy life out here. And yet... he loved it. They loved it.
Night Fell looked over his shoulder, down to the movement of the few wolves (and a couple other critters) below. His family. They were the most precious gem of this desert. And they had granted him the honor of leading them. Protecting them. Creating this small, strange, but entertaining family. Ah, family. The word made his lips turn up. He, who had been abandoned from the day he was born, raised by a loving clan of raccoons, now had his own family to care for.
"I know you're there, Thief. I can smell yer stink." The black and white marbled wolf let his eye fall on the shadowy figure that emerged. "Are you spying on me again?!" He flashed his white teeth at the figure.
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Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 4:48 pm
 A slinky laugh whispered along the wind, green eyes glittering with mischief. "My stench?! Brother, you have not bathed in weeks!" The raccoon laughed out loud this time, working his way up the rock structure to sit beside his wolf brother. "And y'know I never spy," He said with a sniff. "I merely observe intently." While they may not have been related by blood or even the same species, Soul Thief knew no other brother beyond the alpha. Who had been nothing but a wee pup when mother had found him and brought him to the clan.
Soul Thief contemplated the way the wolf was sitting here, gazing out at the setting sun. The desert was full of dazzling colors. Like a sea of gemstones just waiting for them to get their sly paws on!
"Something's bothering you, this twilight." He said nonchalantly, patting the leg that was closest to him. "And don't you dare try to deny it! I know you better than anyone else." Soul Thief paused. "Well, almost as well as Ma." This made him laugh. Their mother never missed anything.
Sighing, the raccoon leaned against Night Fell's leg, tail curling around his own feet. "But seriously, what's up, Fell?" There was a hint of concern in his voice.
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Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 4:49 pm
Night Fell snorted and pawed at the raccoon, playfully. "Y'mean besides the realization that we would fail a raid from our stink alone?" He flopped down - carefully - on the rock structure, feeling his muscles ease as his brother adjusted and continued to leaned against him. Touch was a comfort, even for such a silly creature as himself. "Right." He added, rolling his eyes. "The next time you accuse me of spyin', I'll remind you have that." The wolf teased before heaving a sigh.
Leave it to the only real brother he'd ever had to see right through him. Soul Thief was, quite possibly, the only one of this motley bunch of wolves - and critters - that knew just what type of wolf the alpha was. Silly and idiotic he might act, but Night Fell was a silent and observant hunter. And surprisingly skilled fighter, even half blind.
"I can't ever hide anything from ya, can I?" He murmured, letting his gaze fall back on the ever darkening landscape.
"My thoughts are 'bout home. Or rather, a home for us. This land be lethal, but also holds much potential." He spoke in a softer tone, meant only for the raccoons hearing alone. It was not often that Night Fell let his doubts out. "I can't help wonder if the others we've gathered would find th' desert as appealin' as we?" Night Fell's brow furrowed, his blue eye moving from the desert to glance at what he could see of his brother.
"Tell me, Thief. Puttin' our own feelin's aside... Would we be makin' a mistake ta take over territory here, s'far from the lush forests?" Far from the safety that was provided by the trees. The abundance of life that could be found there. Was it worth the risks? Could he ask that of those who looked to him as their leader?
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Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 4:49 pm
Such serious thoughts. It wasn't uncommon for his brother to share such doubts with him, but there were many this evening. Valid ones. They really hadn't expected to find so many who would follow them out to the desert land! What had started as a race to survive, turned in to curious purpose, and now morphed in to a solid idea.
Could they really maintain a pack out here? So far, they had been doing pretty well. But their numbers were beginning to grow.
The raccoon toyed with his wolf brother's fur, flicking the scarf along his neck about. "Well, we could go travel more. And most likely die. Or get our furry butts bitten if we return to those lush forests. And probably die there too. Or stay here, and not die so quickly."
Shifting around so that he could see Fell's face, Thief put his paws on his brother's cheeks. "You ask such silly questions! The answer is right before you, brother mine." As he spoke, the raccoon pushed the wolf's head around until he was staring at movement from the pack below.
"Whatever may have been the more logical answer doesn't matter... we already got somethin' happening here. And they don't seem too upset t'me." He added, with a slight grin.
"And besides," Thief added with a sly look. "Death's Rattle hasn't died yet. And she's been out here longer'n us!"
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Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 5:31 pm
The wolf laughed, butting his head against Thief's. "Wha's the matter, lost your sense of adventure?!" He teased, but Fell took in to consideration everything his brother said. They had no home to return to. Their raccoon clan had kicked them out to mature and learn to live their own lives. They had been chased out of their next home for a botched raid. Now they faced the unforgiving land they currently resided in.
Unless they chose to live their lives differently. Change who they were at their core. Become two entirely different creatures. This thought just made Night Fell snort. His Ma would have smacked him upside the head for even considering such a course of action! Raider's they were and raider's they would remain.
Which left them only one real option. They could explore more of the desert land, which held no guarantee they would find another location such as this. But... this place wasn't so bad, was it? For the time being. Night Fell looked from Thief to the wolves moving about below.
"Silly questions, eh?" Maybe they were.
"Perhaps... this is meant t'be our home, brother. It needs some work. But, I think we could manage." And Thief was right. Those wolves who had already joined up at his offer of a home that would be a hidden gem, full of hard work and a sprinkle of fun weren't turning tail and fleeing yet. They seemed to enjoy the heat. Enjoy the way the desert changed and the challenges it presented.
"What about you, Thief? Would the desert be an okay home for yer delicate fur?" He gave his brother a couple seconds to respond before he licked a nice slobbery line right up his face.
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Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 5:31 pm
Thief gave an indignant snort. "There ain't nothin' wrong with my sense of adventure! I just have better survival instincts than you." He swatted at Fell's nose, avoiding the return snap of teeth easily enough. This was typical banter for them!
"Ooooh, careful, brother. You're startin' to sound like an actual, mature adult now!" Thief teased, curling in to Fell's side with a sigh of his own. The heat was rather nice, seeping in to muscles and aches and relaxing them. Yeah, he could definitely get used to this place.
Ears flickering towards the sound of Fell's voice, Thief considered the murmuring his brother made. And the question he asked. But before he could formulate his thoughts, a tongue was slapped right along his face. The raccoon made a startled noise, scrambling away from the wolf only to tun around and tackle him. Which resulted in Thief being pinned beneath Night Fell's front legs.
There were a few more minutes of struggle, biting, a curse word here and there, before the two were panting and laughing, slumped together once more.
"I like it here." The raccoon finally admitted, looking up towards the beginning of the blanket of stars that would watch them through the night. "Let's see what we can make of it. Maybe make mama proud?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 5:32 pm
The black and white marbled wolf laughed heartily. "Ya take that back, y'roasted bunch of fluff!"
The usual sibling banter and romping around did much to ease his mind. It was good to speak these things aloud. Or so he was always told. But it was rare that Night Fell would let his guard down low enough to do so. There were so few that he could accomplish this around. Besides, he did have an infamous reputation to uphold!
Quite comfortable now, with the sun having set and the last glow fading away, one could see the stars begin to emerge. They were the second main source of navigation for the desert dwellers. One had to learn to recognize the brightest star and certain clusters of stars that signified which direction you were heading.
"I like it here, too." He agreed, nuzzling the raccoon.
Night Fell nodded his head, a smile forming. Yes. Let them make their mother proud! They would build a pack. A clan of their own. Where one could be silly, and not have to fear what lurks in the shadows of the forest. Out here, the desert was fairly straightforward. Sly in the ways it changed the landscape, but one understood the rules well enough. Avoid the hottest part of the day. Shade was valuable. Water was priceless. Food wasn't as abundant, but it was there.
"Yes. Let's see what we can do with this desert terrain. And these mongrels that follow us."
(TWC: 1825)
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