Sleepy Fox Hollow Sapling

the young ranger was at the neck of the beast. germanicus savaged its skull with hard bites, pushing his iron shoulder into the side of the animal.

he began to tear to and fro. crimson arced in winnowing droplets through the air. below the teeth of the wolves, the goat bleated, struggling. 

but the eagle was inexorable, cutting down and down for the spine.

Blood spattered from the goat as its calls grew more garbled, choked by blood and fear. Crowfeather did not dare to release his hold on the creature’s neck. He had clenched his jaw tightly against the struggling animal, the fresh fear of nearly having toppled from the shelf still hung fresh upon his limbs.

Germanicus was a beast, tearing at the goat until he had sprayed the stone with red and their prey had ceased to struggle. Crowfeather only released his hold when the weight of the goat’s limp body was too much to hold.

Breathing heavily, the dark wolf looked to Germanicus. Blood dribbled from his chin as he offered a relieved smile.

it was done. germanicus pulled the goat until it lay more settled on its side.

the eagle set back upon his haunches, letting out his breath in a satisfied sigh and returning the young wolf's expression. "good hunting. let us eat and rest."

with no further aplomb beyond a flickering in his yellowglass eyes, the centurion moved to start the gutting and carving of their triumph.

It had been brought down, and Crowfeather watched with softly heaving sides as Germanicus moved the prey onto its side. The shadow’s heart still raced with the rush of the hunt. He was not certain whether he was thrilled by the dangerous terrain or if it had crippled his ability to be useful.

You were amazing, Crowfeather breathed thoughtlessly to the older man.

To prevent himself from speaking further, the dark wolf lunged toward their catch and began to tear away at it. Perhaps it had been the difficulty of the hunt, but the meat tasted better than anything he’d ever had.

germanicus felt his mouth curve into an uncontrolled smile against the flesh of their kill.

eventually the man stood back and up, leaning against the ledge behind their outcropping. perhaps they might remain here some two days before moving onward.

the eagle settled upon his haunches. "i will take first watch." the yellow eyes were soft upon crowfeather.

For once, the dark wolf did not argue. He had filled his belly with good food and had climbed the mountain in pursuit of wild goat. There was satisfaction in the dark shape of his body. Crowfeather was content.

As he found a place that felt secure enough, the shadow moved to arrange himself in a comfortable position and rested his muzzle on his paws. The lantern glow of his eyes fell on Germanicus naturally, following the familiar lines of the man’s muzzle and the bright sheen of his yellow eyes. Even tinged in the blood of their prey, the silver eagle was a handsome shape.

I think I might like mountains, at least more than I had before, Crowfeather spoke conversationally, yawning at the end of his words.

"mountains offer something that no other terrain can give." germanicus watched the slim jaws part. and then he pulled his eyes away. 

the saints. satsu. this hunt. 

he was not tired but he was not awake. the eagle hung somewhere between. he leant his head back against the stone and listened for the shadow's breathing to slow into sleep.

Crowfeather nodded his head, eyes already closed. He had not really heard what Germanicus had said about mountain ranges, but he had enjoyed the rumbling sound of the man’s voice before slipping into sleep.

The dark wolf dreamed of a maze of caverns, each hallway spiraling downward into the dark. In his dreams, he chased the fleeing figure in front of him. Down, down, down they went into the darkness until he could not see anything around them. The scent of fear was strong down there. The earth felt as though it was closing in, suffocating him. Crowfeather continued down until sun woke him and he and Germanicus began another day.

The darkness hung about his mind. The smell of fear felt heavy in his nose. The tang of his dream lingered for quite some time.