Meadowlark Prairie Codex

@Relmyna @Wintersbane

--------------------------------------------------

Over the course of the past few days, Bruges had pushed his way Northeast, cutting directly through the mountains as it would save him time. It was tiring, but he didn't allow himself to falter. Led by a course he knew he needed to follow like a locomotive locked onto a track, Bruges snaked his way through the mountains, choosing switchbacks so as to not wear himself out. He proceeded down the slope, through grasslands and eerie forests, stopping now and again to tail a wolf's path, hoping he might find one that would lead to a pack. In this area, though, there weren't many to follow. The abandoned Caldera was calm and quiet, and he knew to keep going past that landmark. But from there, he did not know where to go, but knew to simply keep going. He had nothing but a vague idea, but for being vague, his motivation was incredibly clear. 

The morning was chilly even after the sun had been in the sky for several hours, and the dried grasss of the plains too quite some time to lose their layer of frost. The fog didn't make things easier- it was harder to pinpoint a direction in the fog, and by noon, the sun was visible, but the blue sky was not. He moved through long strands of dry grass, until a sound caught his attention. Something was moving through the grasslands near him, so he hunkered down, flicking his ears this way and that until he could pinpoint its location, and locked onto its scent. It was a fox; not his first choice for a meal, but it would do. 

Foxes weren't easy to catch, but this one was more focused on the mouse's den it was digging in, trying to catch itself a small meal to stash away for harder times. Bruges, slight on his feet, approached until he was close enough to ambush. The fox made an ugly sound and bolted, but Bruges was a furious shadow of black that descended upon it before it could get far. He was surprised to see, when he let it fall to the ground, that the fox was actually much like him- cloaked in a beautiful coat of black, although silver-ticked, and had a beautiful white patch on its chest. He almost felt sorry for the creature- finding it more beautiful than he was perhaps willing to eat if he hadn't been a lone wolf. 

But then, he heard another sound and flinched; he became immediately aware that he was not alone, and had the creeping sensation of being watched crawl up his spine, causing his hackles to lift slightly. His gaze swept across the dry grasses, searching for the one who had startled him, quickening his heartbeat.

--------------------------------------------------