Thunder Dome umbra

after ascertaining the location of elysium, a mountain-based pack hidden among the fall willows, stigmata turned west and ascended the cold, dormant slopes of thunder dome. there was enough moisture on the air to guarantee a wet and foggy night, so he elected not to climb much higher than the threadbare forest that ran like a loose belt around the mountain's waist, knowing that there would be even less shelter to find further up.

he almost wasn't tired - traveling in the late orange glow of sunset - and there was an energy behind his prowl that assured anyone looking for trouble would find it with him. but apart from this reactive mien hovering around him like a cloud of bees, there was a lonely edge to his gait that seemed to weigh down what buoyancy he might've had otherwise. the warwolf found no joy in bachelorhood, and had no reason to pretend he felt differently.

he paused at a quiet overhang, and looked out over raven's watch. he could remember the landmark distinctly, but not with any fondness. waterfalls were terrible to live near - especially for creatures as reliant on hearing as wolves were. for this same reason he would never understand seawolves, who chose to live their lives with ears drowned out by the relentlessly sloshing orchestra that was the ocean. he turned away from the perch, thoughts embroiled in a taciturn daydream as physically he took up a  voltaic air of silence.

austere beneath bitter-warm blades of blinding autumnlight, stigmata kept his head low, his eyes narrowed, and he pressed onward.

@Arturo