Ouroboros Spine Heavy is the head

A heaviness had settled over Moonglow, greater than anything Stratos had ever felt. It crawled in like the shadows cast at night. Yet unlike shadows, these never lifted at dawn. They clung to the stones with the morning mist, singed the air with the midday heat, settled in the grasses with bug song at night.

He could not escape them. Not even the brightness of @Callyope’s smile had escaped them.

The heaviness seemed to outline his hunter friend too. Sunset burnt the edges of Rodyn like summer fire, like smoke that burned his eyes. He blinked away the tears that threatened him, and instead of sobbing, Stratos crouched, swished his tail, and sprung.

The hunter finds his prey! Stratos exclaimed. He had very little understanding of how to chase shadows away. He only knew how to be a kid - and even this seemed to be slipping. He put on a smile to hide the sadness in his eyes, aiming to tackle his friend.