She had grown tired, but before rest was to come, Desdemona desired to take a night with the moon. High in the sky, and bright as ever, she watched it with a tranquility. Silent, with only the owls calling in the distance, and the crickets chirping between the calls.
She was sleepy.
The moon glittered overhead and cast a cool glow on the mountain. Atlas roamed from his den and out into the night, embraced by the sound of crickets chirping and the wind brushing across their claim. His golden gaze sought a point in the distance, and he began a slow walk toward it.
Not long into his trek did the dark shade catch a glimpse of a familiar shape – one he had not seen in a short time. The young Ostrega changed course toward the she-wolf. Once he had drawn near, he issued a chuff to announce himself. “Desdemona, it’s been a while,” Atlas greeted once he had drawn nearer.
More awake with alert now that another entered the area, her eyes wandering toward the fellow who announced himself. Desdemona dipped her head in a greeting to the Ostrega, "It has," she hasn't seen many in quite a few moons once she had adapted to the night-watch. Though coming back to the day, was a challenge. Her schedule was getting back to normal.
"How have you been Atlas?" She asked.
Her gaze wandered to him and the shade slowed his approach. When the space between them had been closed, he stood a few feet from where she was. It was a natural respectful distance. The dark wolf had not been sure if he'd interrupted her rest. The ruddy she-wolf was quick to ask how he was, and Atlas settled in a bit.
"Well enough. Doing what I can to stay busy. And you?"
"I recently shifted back to the day, from doing night-guard watch." All of it of course, was voluntary. She never really mentioned doing so, and simply started switching her schedule to guard at the day, to night. Though doing so had limited her social abilities, and kept Desdemona a bit isolated from communication. Feeling that, she started going back toward the morning once more.
She had a desire to improve herself; be not what she was, a soldier with only orders to take.
"It is taking time to get used to," the woman admitted, "but I believe the schedule is on track again." Hinting a bit at her tired state, despite it being night. She was finally aligned.
A curious spark entered the gold of his eyes. The dark yearling turned his gaze to the she-wolf with a respectful regard. It was good to know that there were others in their ranks who would adjust to keep the borders of the mountain secure. Knowing that Desdemona had shifted her way of living to provide protection at night was promising. Though he was young, he found that it should have warranted some form of thanks. The shade was much too stiff to offer it himself, though.
“It’s good to know that we have such dedicated members. Sometimes patrolling the claim is a daunting task, I feel…” but the dark young wolf’s words trailed off from this point, and he furrowed his brow with moderate regret in having shared this much with her. It wasn’t suitable for the Ostrega to admit that guarding their home was difficult.
“But tell me, did you find anything of interest in your nightly watch?”
"It is my duty to do so." If Desdemona had to admit, she didn't share much negative, or positive notes onto the subject, because she always felt it was her duty to do. Her whole life resolved around protection, and coming to the wilds gained a new scope on life itself. Alya gave her a chance to be less, stiff, and robotic, as a soldier she was born to be, but it still was difficult. Emotions, were difficult.
Protecting Moonspear was a way to show her gratitude. She didn't comment much on his look of regret, feeling of understanding that it is not a life for everyone.
Then the panther-like wolf shook her head, "there are not many visitors who venture during the night. It is mostly silent, with owls and the stars as company." Which itself was nice, the complete silence and feeling like one was together with the mountain itself.. However, Desdemona thought she was becoming too much of a hermit.
"Have you found anything?"
Duty… it seemed that the wolves of Moonspear were quite dedicated to the concept. Atlas had not happened across many who had shied away from the hard work that was required to keep their pack in order and strong. Desdemona seemed to have taken it upon herself to go beyond even that. Assigning herself to the night watch was commendable. With the vicious summer heat, the dark yearling wasn’t altogether surprised that she would favor the evening hours.
As she explained what most nights consisted of, Atlas found the dark and dreamy images that filled his mind enjoyable. The peace of the darkness was difficult to beat with any other earthly experience. The world felt much vaster than it did when the sun shone overhead and blanketed their world in shimmering golden light. The shadow glanced toward Desdemona with a simple smile. “You know, your evening work seems to be much more interesting than anything I’ve come across these last few months,” he remarked to her.
“Perhaps I will take a night guard, myself.”
"Has it been that dull for you?" She suppose she hasn't seen Atlas in quite some time, nor' many in a while. As she now adjusted back to the day-time, wolves were more easily seen, however majority of life has maintained the same as it seemed, "Antares told me there was a cougar attack a while ago." She definitely wasn't apart of the daily newsfeed being away into the nights, but now it was nice to catch-up more.
"It is a beautiful view, but lonely," Desdemona confessed.
Dull felt like a poor word to describe the lull in activity that had swept across the mountain. Atlas’ features furrowed into a thoughtful expression as he made himself comfortable beside the dark-cloaked woman. At the mention of the cougar attack, the shadow cast her an intense look. The young wolf appeared much more frightful with his furrowed brow and deep frown. The attack from the wild cat had put a peculiar fear on the mountain.
“After the cougar, it felt like we were all just waiting for whatever would come for us next,” he admitted to her, shrugging his shoulder stiffly. There was a part of him that was still waiting for the next attack on their wellbeing. With the rain, he had wondered if they would face dangers in the bodies of water below their claim.
Desdemona moved a bit to let the yearling stay beside her, accepting his company. He reminded her of Hydra, in the way they both produced a noble persona, but he was broader, and instead of the midnight blue, a golden glisten from his gaze. She could already tell as he grew, the feircer he would look.
From what she understood about Ostrega's, while they enjoyed the peace, it seemed they were.. Impatient, but in the way they had a thirst for action. Especially from the younger generation, as it seemed they wanted to uphold their own legacies, just as the Queen has done, "Have you thought of scouting outside the spear?"
She would never ask if he desired to leave Moonspear, as she would never do so either- though scouting, was another thing. Remain loyal to the mountain, but see what was out there. An experience, to the outside world, something she has already done.
As her question was asked, the dark young wolf felt a sense of dawning and sadness overtake him. The sharp gold of his vision locked onto her features with a stare beyond his years. It was something that lingered in his mind constantly, but he wasn't sure how to convey such a thing without sounding pathetically naive and desperate.
"I have thought about it many times," he said, chuckling. "I've gotten used to the mountain. I know it well. Out there," he stopped with a quick frown and then shook his head softly. Out there was a world that he knew nothing about and the burning thirst he felt to explore it was not something he could convey with words.
"I fear if I leave, Moonspear would suffer."
Atlas knew how that would sound. He didn't believe that he carried the weight of protecting the pack entirely. He could only think of the cougar that had attacked their home. How not being there to defend it had simmered inside him like a fire. What if it were to happen again? What if his family was harmed?
"You cannot prevent everything-" Desdemona looked at Atlas, before her gaze drifted to the sky. He reminded her how she previously was at the black forest, thinking her role could prevent her siblings destruction. A hope to a better life, but striving toward that, she didn't realize her entire family had disappeared along the way. She still wonders, what the two are doing.
"But it's fine to stay here, especially if you are happy." She had no intention leaving, as her life was now pleasant within the mountains. She wouldn't want to waste such comfort, and the trust she gave to Hydra. Though Desdemona will admit, she has had trouble settling routes here, believing she had no one to call a 'friend,' much less a famiy.
Atlas knew both sentiments that she had shared. It was evident in his expression. The shade pulled his gaze away from the earthy female and breathed a deep sigh. "Hmm... the mountain seems to be the only place I can fulfill my duty," the young Ostrega remarked with a ghost of a smile on the edge of his dark lips. If he did not feel so tied to Moonspear and his role within the pack, he might have been more willing to turn from it and venture into that great unknown. Part of that felt bitter. He did not wish to be latched to the mountains that way. Atlas knew he could prove himself to be worth a place in their ranks, but how well could he maintain such a thing?
"Winter is around the corner. Soon we will have to travel outside of the pack to get food, " he stated with a small shrug. He hoped he could convince his brother to join him in a few hunts. With Osiris, they were bound to find something that would fill their caches for a time. Summer would still bless them with prey for a while yet.
"It's up to you what you feel that is. My life has always been a guard, and it is what I continue doing here." She felt every wolf had their own duties, but not everyone could find it so. She always knew hers since birth, which was to serve and to obey. Like a droid, robotic in motions, but she was improved in many ways. Before, Desdemona would've kissed Atlas's feet, and pledged to him as 'my liege,' for simply being related to the Alpha. Though now, more tame, but still as loyal.
"The winter feels more pleasant compared to the summer heat." She noted, nodding to so. With winter coming they would have to catch outside of the mountain, usually at the glen. It also was far more pleasant for the mountain wolves, as many carried dark pelts, and the summer was simply exhausting.
"Hmm...," he mused quietly.
The wind toyed with the fur behind his ears. Atlas might have climbed headstrong into his first year, but he still was uncertain of his purpose. Nothing yet had really sparked him with interest. Hunting and patrolling were simply a part of pack life - all of them were expected to do it. Beyond the basics, Atlas did not know what drew his attention. He also was not certain if that would change in the upcoming years. He wouldn't share it, but he had grown rather uncertain of himself.
"Aside from the lack of prey, I am looking forward to the snow," he confided in her.
"I agree- perhaps we should go hunting before the season changing." Desdemona said, inviting him to a hunt. It's been some time since she has with anyone, perhaps now it was the chance. She was once a tired guard, ready for sleep, upon now seeing Atlas and talking, she was awake and charged.
Perhaps a good work-out could null her back to sleep.
The dark wolf regarded her with a small smile on his lips. His tail wavered lightly twice before settling again at his side. The invitation to hunt was one he was pleased with. It would do him good to hunt with some of the other members of Moonspear. Thus far, he had really only shared that time and space with his brother and his mother. Desdemona would be more than suitable, he imagined. "I think that would be a good idea," he agreed, wondering what beast they could track in the dark of night.
oof short
"I smelled some rabbits east of here, and a few wandering geese to the west- take your pick." She had smelled them so, but on the tipping point of a sleeping state, opted not to. Though now awake, and more hungry, Desdemona pointed out the options he could take.
It's fine. I live for lazy lit writing.
The options presented to him were both tempting in different ways. The rabbits would lead them on a quick but high-paced sprint. The geese would prove difficult with their ability to take flight and tendency to fight back. Atlas furrowed his brow in thought before looking to Desdemona and rising to his paws.
"The geese might be fun," he decided with a daring glance at his companion. If anything, they would likely have an interesting time. The dark yearling waited for his hunting partner to take the lead.
its such a mood
She nodded toward the preferenced pick, and followed west of the mountain. She wondered if they were simply a wandering flock, as Desdemona remembered that wasn't many rivers or streams in the mountain, much less a lake which is they preferred (so she thinks). Though they were quite delicious, she hasn't met many who didn't enjoy a nice goose for a lunch.
Taking the lead, she lurked low to the ground, her large ears perking high to the sound of their squaking, and nose pressed to find any scent of them. The trial was getting closer as the two went forward, and so the guard stopped. She flickered her nose in a direction where one could hear the rustle of wings and quacking of scwabbles; they had found them.
The she-wolf rose and turned toward her desired mark. Atlas followed as she led their way toward the prey that she had scented. He kept his gaze trained to her figure, waiting for signs that she would step into a low crouching prowl and draw them toward their prize. While he followed, the shade would turn his sights toward the rocky slope and the trees at their base. Moonspear stood as strong as ever.
When Desdemona’s frame grew stiff, Atlas turned to where she had pointed herself. He was quick to follow suit, dropping into a low crouch and moving away from her side so that he could circle around their targets. His golden gaze was latched onto her figure, waiting for the movement that would signal his turn. With two of them, their prey should be caught unaware.
The two dark warriors were at perfect positions, and took keen notice of Atlas's hunting frame. Hydra had taught them well, as she was one of the best warriors in the wilds, there was high expectations for her children. Her gaze wandered back to the geese, and an ear flickered. The signal was set-
Desdemona darted forward. She was a rather lithe wolf, and while priding as a guard, she dealt better with terms of speed and stamina, then of muscle and mass. Training had helped her tones well, but she was always more of a night prowler. Her mouth opened with a snarl as she latched her fangs onto it's flying leg.
The shade moved like a hunter who seemed knowledgeable beyond his years. If it had not been for the stern instruction from his mother, Atlas would not have possessed that range of power. He had learned well from some of the best hunters he’d ever witnessed. There were still many things to learn, as well. As the dark yearling watched Desdemona prepare for the fateful lunge, he moved to position himself so that he might be able to catch the bird, should it attempt to flee. When she dove toward it, her fangs snapped quickly and held fast to the squawking creature’s limb.
With his mark clear, Atlas darted to where the bird fought to free itself and sunk his fangs into the long neck of the thing. With a violent shake, the two wolves had a rather large specimen between their teeth. When the shade was certain that the animal was dead, he released his hold on it and turned to Desdemona with a proud glimmer in the lamplight yellow of his eyes.
"You are a good hunter." Desdemona complimented as Atlas made the finishing blow. There was marks near the leg, and a visible neck snap from the shaking he had caused, but they were successful overall. She offered him the first bite, "half for us, half for the cache."
As it was quite large the two would get a pleasant lunch, but she thought it was a waste to savor it themselves and mentioned to bring the rest back for anybody else. Perhaps any younger siblings he possesses as well, may want a taste. Geese tended to be quite a delicacy for some.