Shadow Mountain sunflower still grows at night

@Chausiku

The mountain's face was lined in part with lush green foliage to entice passerbys. A weasel, small and barely noticeable, scurried through the brush. Sycamore watched from the base as he made his way up, mouth watering at the thought. Each step that he took was careful and precise so as to not disturb to fragile arrangement of stone.

I am, he thought to himself, I am, I am Shadow Man. The words, when spoken aloud, brought about a childlike giggle. I am Abraham. It was a more serious name, one that invoked a prideful stance and dominant curl of his tail. 

Halfway to the top, Sycamore fell silent, lest someone hear his musings.

Through solitude and starvation, Chausiku remained ever-diligent in the search for her comrades. She trotted across the mountainside at a steady speed. Having caught wind of a pack nearby, she was headed there to inquire about her missing packmates. Her ears perked, catching the utterings of a voice in the distance. She needn't alter her path to near the source, so she continued along it, honing in on the stranger's location.

He was a young man, shadowed from nose to tail tip. Not even his eyes broke the darkness of his form, which made her wonder if he were an apparition and not a wolf. But when she grew nearer, she could make out the details, revealing that he was a wolf just as she.

Hello, Chausiku greeted, slowing to a stop once she was a few feet away.

There was a sudden energy shift brought on by the stranger's abrupt greeting. The carefree stature of the roaming shadow faded to make way for the dominant stance of a recluse. His eyes narrowed, darkening as he stared at the girl standing down his snout. Hello, he replied after a moment's consideration. 

This iteration of his being would be stronger than the last. It will be like, the recluse thought, I'll be like him. Thoughts of the alabaster boy who Sycamore sought to imitate flowed through his mind.

He made his discomfort at her arrival clear from how his body coiled like a snake prepared to strike. Chausiku became concerned for her own safety even when he, after several tense moments, returned her greeting. She remained cautious, ready to bolt if he tried anything. While not trained in combat (where was Sauda when she needed her?), she would ruthlessly retaliate with teeth if he managed to catch up to her.

With that makeshift plan tucked away, she spoke again. I don't mean to bother, but I've become separated from my packmates. Do you think you may have seen them? She detected the faint pack-scent on his pelt, it matched that of the pack nearby. If he didn't have an answer, she could go back to his pack and ask them. She just hoped they weren't as suspicious as he was.

There was a grim stare plastered onto the shadow's face. His body stiffened, his tail finding a steady middle ground between tucked and erect. His ears twitched with feigned irritability, and a set of low, barely audible chuffs vibrated through his chest. It was all posturing, an effort to put on a show, but the stranger couldn't have known.

Packmates? the shadow asked, putting on an accent that not even he could place, How many? It occurred to him that the girl might have become uncomfortable, so in an effort to keep her from running away, the shadow expelled a deep breath and settled the hold on his brow. I may have, if you'll describe them.

His dominant display perplexed her more than anything, seeing no reason for him to try and assert dominance over a total stranger in such a neutral interaction. Regardless of his reasoning, she would not submit; Chausiku was now Maloka's High Priestess, and she deserved to be respected regardless of his ignorance. With cool confidence, her own tail raised to curve over her back — notably higher than his — and she stood tall with pride. Her eyes were calm golden pools, but within them was a resoluteness that couldn't be feigned.

She remained wary of this strange man and his unpredictable nature, prepared for him to snap and lunge at her at any moment. But he didn't... not yet, anyway. For now, he settled for answering her question. His accent was as unorthodox as he, but she simply assumed he was a foreigner. Maybe that would explain his demeanor, as well.

Three. One is my sister, Sauda; she looks like me, but her pelt is darker. Johari is an angular woman, tall with long ears and agouti fur. Her fangs stick out from under her lips. Tendaji is a stout cream young man with small ears and a light muzzle, She explained, trying to be concise as possible while listing each one's most notable features. Gods, she missed them...

The echoed display of dominance enticed Shadow. It was impressive and brought forth an inward smile, though his outer expression remained blank. Let's play along, he thought. The midnight gaze through which he stared tightened its focus. I..., Shadow sighed, It is possible, yes. 

A wry smile dressed his maw. There is another settlement, he said. His head turned halfway to point eastward, though one eye remained on the stranger. Look there, traveller. 

Shadow stretched downward and gave a wide yawn to communicate his disinterest in conflict. This act was ended with him sat on his haunches. I apologize, Shadow said, You worried me because you are close to my home.