A warm front swept through the landscape, causing a thick fog to blanket the earth; despite the heat, Winter lingered.
With limited visibility from his perch, he opted to survey the neighboring territory on foot. With his plan decided upon, Osiris had asked
@Atlas to accompany him to Firefly Glen.
"I doubt that we'll run into anybody down here," he admitted as they exited Moonsper's claim,
"But it will be nice to spend some time here. Perhaps Grandfather will send some fireflies to greet us."
The fog surrounded them like a cool cloak, shrouding the earth in a dismal grey and providing them with constant cover.
The two boys were a startling contrast from each other. One, a shadow with sunlight eyes – the other, a golden-touched stone with eyes that seemed to shimmer like the distant northern lights.
As they passed beneath the stark boughs of the trees, Atlas turned his attention upward and followed the line of forestry that led to the glen. It was a common place to see fireflies. Osiris’ hopes were not misplaced in that. The shade turned to his sibling with a stern expression, but his head nodded somberly, and his eyes seemed to glitter with a faraway look. “I am sure he looks at us with pride,” the dark man offered, his young voice taking a gruff baritone.
The shade could not help but to feel as though he had been cheated. All that time had passed, and he had never had the chance to know his grandfather. Such fondness often fell with the words that were spoken regarding the late Charon. What would he think of his kin’s kin…
"Yes," Osiris agreed without skipping a beat, "I am confident that he does, too." Hydra's brood had all excelled in their training; there was no reason for Charon to feel anything but pride in his grandchildren.
Amongst the abundance of scents was one which caused him to reflect on his experiences. When his considering resulted in a blank, Osiris turned to Atlas. "Do you smell that?" he asked; a fox was nearby, lurking. "It... smells sort of like another wolf—but it's different, somehow..." Orisis' posture had stiffened noticeably, as though he was expecting the unidentified individual to appear at any moment.
There was nothing to be said for Osiris’ confidence. It was a trait that his brother possessed that set him leagues apart from others. That self-assured manner had always proven to be something of a challenge to battle, but the shade did not believe that his sibling was any worse for it. One day, he believed that his emerald-eyed kin would do remarkable things.
The dark wolf paused, lowering his crown toward the earth to drink in its scent.
Osiris was right – there was a peculiar aroma near them. Atlas lifted his head and turned sharply toward the thicker part of the glen. “Coyote perhaps,” he remarked in a dull rumble. Realizing just how quickly his littermate had picked up on that shift in scent, the shade turned to him and regarded the other boy with an intent stare.
“Your senses are keen, Osiris.”
Osiris smiled, humbled by Atlas' compliment. "And you are much more knowledgable than I," he drawled, considering the animal that his brother had mentioned. The more that he examined the smell, the more that it made sense to him.
"We should warn mother," Osiris remarked then, his attention sharply scrutinizing the tangle of foliage. "This coyote is bold, and that does not bode well with me."
The compliment had taken him aback. Of course, the shade did not allow this to reflect on his features. He thought it remarkable that his brother would compliment his mind – for a boy who was so fervently devoted to the physical aspects of things, it seemed odd. Atlas lowered his dark head a bit, turning his gaze away from the emerald eyes of his littermate. It suited him more not to acknowledge the remark made; Osiris would understand.
“Why don’t we hunt for it? Extinguish the threat ourselves,” the shade inquired thoughtfully. Both boys had grown into prime physical beings. Their puppy limbs had lengthened and thickened. They were no longer stumbling teens in search of the last spurt of growth that would turn them into adults. Both of the Ostrega children were almost there. Surely, tracking down a stray coyote and killing it would not put them in much danger.
Atlas' lack of response did not bother Osiris; many of their exchanges ended as this one had. Instead of lingering on the subject, the brothers moved on to address the matter of the fox coyote.
Osiris considered Atlas' suggestion, drawing his tongue across his lips. "You're right," he drawled. "It will be two against one—it won't have a chance." Osiris fell silent as a plan of action formulated in his mind. "We'll move around the underbrush from opposite sides—but I'll need you to keep yourself hidden. Once we locate it, I will drive it in your direction, and you kill it." Although he wanted nothing more to eliminate the pest, Osiris knew that Atlas was stronger and that he was the one that was better suited for the job.
"Does that sound good to you?" he prompted.
The coyote’s fang was just as sharp as their own, but this did little to dissuade Atlas from pursuing the animal.
Osiris was prompt to think of an action plan. The shade regarded his sibling with an even stare, not revealing any of the emotions that fluttered in the depths of his belly. When the emerald-eyed boy had shared his attack, Atlas nodded his head slowly and his dark lips turned downward into a thoughtful frown. The plan seemed relatively foolproof; Osiris’ hunting capabilities were more than enough to frighten the animal from its hiding place and into the open.
“I think it’s a fitting plan. Let’s kill a coyote,” the shade affirmed with a dark smile.
"Good," Osiris replied with a grin, "Let's go."
Following the scent-trail while round the hedges from the left, their plan was set into motion. The fox coyote's remains were fresh and easily accessible, all of which made Osiris' job all easier. Their target lingered in the plains beyond the greenery, grooming itself while lounging in the sunshine; it was vulnerable and unspecting—perfect game for the two inexperienced hunters. Slowing as the animal came into view, Osiris hesitated as he observed it from afar. It was much different than any of the coyotes he had ever seen—and far more visually appealing—and he found himself sidetracked by his curiosity.
After pausing briefly to gawk, Osiris glanced in the direction of where Atlas hid. When he was able to confirm that his brother was in place, Osiris readied himself. A fire burned within his belly, kindled with excitement and the teeniest sense of nervousness; this would be their first hunt without supervision, and he was aware of the dangers that these conditions provided. But despite his inner anxieties, Osiris was also confident in their ability to accomplish their shared goal.
Launching himself into motion with a ferocious snarl, Osiris drove forward to herd their prey towards Atlas.
The tactical approach that they had planned meant that their odds of success would be much greater than if they were to plod after the sly creature on their own. The dark Ostrega was not worried about the capabilities of his kin. He knew Osiris well enough to know that his brother would back down from no challenge – nothing would defeat the iron will that existed within him. It was a frightening thing to behold, and something that Atlas never wished to test.
When Osiris had frightened the creature from its hiding place, the coyote raced toward where the shade waited with glistening fangs. It’s pointed muzzle lifted high into the air as Atlas sunk his ivory teeth into the exposed flesh of its throat. With a sickening squelch and a violent shake of his head, the creature convulsed once and then rested quietly.
Atlas dropped the body in the dirt and waited for the glimmering and hungry emerald gaze of his brother to appear so that they could celebrate their victory.
Osiris had stilled his charge once Atlas had revealed himself, watching in awe as his brother ended the creature's life with a snap of his jaws; victory was theirs. The brothers celebrated accordingly—feasting on the remains of their game, seeing no need to waste meat, until they had their fill.
Once satiated, Atlas and Osiris resumed their patrol. Once their shift concluded, Osiris beelined for
@Hydra to report on both their success and findings. It had been a productive day.