June 20, 2023, 11:10 AM
They startled awake, heart pounding against their ribs as they sat up quickly and peered blearily at their surroundings. June sunshine streamed through the spruce boughs overhead, dappling the glade and making the nearby stream glitter. Masque swallowed at the sight of the water, scrambling onto all fours and trotting away from it as they tried to shake off the remnants of their nightmare.
A few minutes later, they had no choice but to double back and face the stream. Panting anxiously, Masquerade approached the water and dipped down to drink, the cool water soothing their stinging throat. They slipped their forepaws into the shallows, then eased their body down into the water to help with the aches and pains resulting from their fight with Atreus.
Had it really happened? Masque closed their eyes, though they refused to dwell on it. They soaked for sixty seconds, then rose and walked, dripping, back onto the bank. They didn’t bother shaking out their coat, instead trotting away from the creek again and trying to focus on their continued search.
They found their way to the far side of Fox’s Glade and tipped their ruddy snout into the wind, noticing clouds gathering overhead as the weather prepared to take a turn. They didn’t smell their mother, though there were a great many wolves’ scents on the strengthening breeze. It seemed unlikely that they would know anything, yet Masquerade would leave no stone unturned.
Unwilling to approach a strange pack’s borders, they paid their sore throat no mind and sent up a hoarse howl, requesting any information about a wolf by the name of Avicus. Masque knew their call must’ve touched many ears, yet there were no answers. There was only damning silence. It left Masquerade no choice but to keep moving.
A few minutes later, they had no choice but to double back and face the stream. Panting anxiously, Masquerade approached the water and dipped down to drink, the cool water soothing their stinging throat. They slipped their forepaws into the shallows, then eased their body down into the water to help with the aches and pains resulting from their fight with Atreus.
Had it really happened? Masque closed their eyes, though they refused to dwell on it. They soaked for sixty seconds, then rose and walked, dripping, back onto the bank. They didn’t bother shaking out their coat, instead trotting away from the creek again and trying to focus on their continued search.
They found their way to the far side of Fox’s Glade and tipped their ruddy snout into the wind, noticing clouds gathering overhead as the weather prepared to take a turn. They didn’t smell their mother, though there were a great many wolves’ scents on the strengthening breeze. It seemed unlikely that they would know anything, yet Masquerade would leave no stone unturned.
Unwilling to approach a strange pack’s borders, they paid their sore throat no mind and sent up a hoarse howl, requesting any information about a wolf by the name of Avicus. Masque knew their call must’ve touched many ears, yet there were no answers. There was only damning silence. It left Masquerade no choice but to keep moving.