i scream for you

As the rain pelted his face softly, Crete stood statue still in the rain, letting it dampen and the droplets saturate the silken tendrils of his fur, wincing slightly as drops collided with his leathery black nostrils, sending smaller droplets flying every which way some managing to fall close to his eyes as he continued to watch the clouds roil up above. The rain rolled down his fur like tears, but whose tears Crete had no idea, were they the product of some deity’s sorrow, a joining of the cold and heat, or interpretations of his own sorrow and turmoil? There had been thoughts in his childhood when Crete had thought that rain would wash away the burdens he carried upon his broad shoulders - not unlike Aether had been prone to doing in his life. In that respect the apple truly did not fall far from the tree. Crete had acknowledged that he was like Aether in many ways, but there were parts of him that resembled March Owl, too. Likely, it was the qualities of his mother than caused him to be discontented with Hawkeye’s rule; though it was like Aether to keep it locked tightly inside so it could eat at his insides until there was nothing left of him to consume.

There were soft footfalls heard in the distance, distinctive over the gentle pitter, patter of the rain as it splashed to the earth. Crete had intentionally made his den close to the borders - for two factors of it made it easy to traipse to and fro for herbs and medicinal plants that could not be found on the plateau, and he was protective by nature. As a bachelor it made him comfortable to be close to the borders in the off chance that he would be needed on a spur of the moment to aid in defending the pack. Crete, at first, dismissed the footfalls as belonging to a pack mate, until a soft breeze blew in his direction, carrying the other’s scent upon it, stronger than the crisp and freshness of the rain. Head lowered and snapped in her direction, sea green eyes taking in the familiar sight before him. Lips parted in a gasp of breath, unsure if he was seeing who he was seeing or if it was cruel joke of his imagination. Crete blinked, shifting his weight, and still Osprey was there. Osprey, Crete made quick work of the distance they had put between them, crossing out of Blacktail Deer Plateau borders fearlessly, mud squelching beneath his paws as he came to a stop before her and tentatively reached his muzzle towards her to press his nose to her cheek to prove that she was, indeed, real.

table by houkie