Steady paws, silence. It was cloudy today, and the sun was setting in the horizon, casting bright warm orange, red and yellow rays over the meadow. This was the first time Raziel had been to a 'pretty' place, for he had lived his whole life in harsh, rocky mountains where there was snow year round and rocks. Even on his travels, he was usually fighting and avoiding, hunting, not time to appreciate a view. But now he could, he was free for now. Even on the edge of full winter, this place was still gleaming, it was warm colored now, when snow came, it would be topped with snow and ice, the pure whiteness.
"You see, big brother, snow is only white because its forgotten what color its supposed to be." he remembered Anselm talking to him in his solemn quiet, heavy accented tone and gazing up at him with those wide soft pine green eyes, gray surrounding his irises. His dark coat clinging to him like rags, Raziel kept him company that night and stood watch while his brother slept. Thinking of it now, hurt him badly. Like most Angelus Mortis wolves, he cared for his family deeply and would die before he let any harm come to them if he could help it. He was identical to his younger brother Shadow in so many ways.
Raziel moved to the center of Wapun Meadow without realizing he was moving at all. A creek, half frozen but not fully iced over, lay in the middle of the meadow. The agouti Roman trudged towards the edge and lapped up some water. Suddenly absorbed in a melancholy mood at the thought of Anselm. Raz worried most about him for he was frail and small, Azrael was strong and a good fighter, if he hadn't left yet, he would be the heir to Aequor Ignis. But Anselm, the hardened heart of the warrior softened at the thought of his brother.
The ashen Angelus Mortis had sworn to protect all his relatives, expecially the young, if he'd known Hadrian's kids were here and he was forbidden to see them, Raziel would make sure they were taken care off and that none of the kids knew their father was a bad wolf. He'll tell them stories of Rome and its beautiful regions. Teach them about the gods and his home, and perhaps one day they would go back and see the great Empire.
