Moonspear for a single hour in the wide starlight

@Osiris maybe?

The dark figure stood at the edge of Moonspear with a stern countenance on his features. The burning of his yellow-eyed stare was trained on the goat that was seen high on the mountain’s peaks. It was far too dangerous a climb for any of them. The prey animal seemed to traverse it with little care or ease, yet somehow had made short work of the large gaps and uneasy ground.
 
After several long moments of watching, Atlas continued along his trained course. The edges of Moonspear had become the young man’s place of thought. He had found himself tracing the lines of it each day, marking where he could before moving on. The protection of the pack seemed to be something worth training in the forefront of his mind. So he lifted his leg and marked the nearest stone before stepping down a sharp slope and keeping his course.

Osiris was rounding Moonspear in the opposite direction, patrolling the territory that was untouched by Atlas. It was a quiet day, as it had been since the cougar-attack, and he was thankful for the peace. Osiris moved alongside the borders slowly, pausing ever-so-often to mark their claim before continuing along the trail. 

Osiris spotted his sibling from a distance, and it took him a moment to realize which black-furred brother was ahead. Although Atlas and Antares were similar in coloration and stature, the figure's stern, golden-stare indicated which sibling was ahead. 

"Atlas," Osiris called as his stroll rolled into an easy jog, moving to meet his sibling half-way.

’Atlas.’
 
The shadow stopped in his path and craned his head in the direction of the call. Some distance away, the familiar agouti form of Osiris was seen making an effort to close the gap between them. Atlas did not continue on his path so that his brother could catch up. When the other boy had neared him, the shade flicked his tail in a welcoming manner and dipped his head.
 
“Brother,” the dark wolf greeted with a smoky voice. “What have you been doing with your time?” the question followed easily, curiously. It was a genuine inquiry in regard to what had kept his sibling busy for a better part of the day. Atlas knew his kin well enough – the green-eyed wolf was dutiful to his pack and his family. Once Osiris was near enough to him, Atlas set their pace slowly so that he could converse with the other without having to pause to catch their breath.

"Patrolling," Osiris said in reply once he had bumped his muzzle against Atlas' chin. "I believe that you have been doing the same," he remarked after a beat with a knowing look in his eyes. Osiris had smelt his brother's markings on a handful of occasions; it always seemed as though always just missed each other. 

Then, curious, Osiris asked, "How is everything today?" So far, the day had been quiet, and he had very little to report.

It seemed as though they had similar thoughts when setting out for the day. It was nice to see that Osiris kept up on the borders. Atlas was always pleased to find where the green-eyed boy had marked his territory and then passed on. It was a reminder that they were strong in their numbers, and that his brother was a capable beast. If they set their minds to anything, they would dominate it.
 
’How is everything today?’
 
“Quiet,” the shade remarked in a rumbling tone. His golden gaze traveled to his sibling with a pensive expression on his dark features. “It makes me uneasy.” Osiris would either ease his troubled mind, or inquire about the reason why he felt out of place when their claim was safe and silent.

Osiris understood Atlas' unease. Moonspear always seemed to have something going on, and with nothing happening, they were like sitting ducks, waiting for the next big thing. 

"I understand," he acknowledged, drawing his tongue across his lips. "I'm trying to think of it as a chance to breathe, but I can't help but wonder what will happen next."

A knowing smile crossed the dark wolf’s features. Atlas cast a sidelong glance toward the green-eyed Ostrega at his side. There were times that the two brothers were more alike than he cared to admit. Though the shade was more aloof and distant than Osiris, they had a similar need to protect what their family had claimed. It was an easy trait to admire in the Moonspear boys.
 
“I know what you mean. I do not want for us to be caught with our guard down,” Atlas responded in a solemn tone. While their ranks were full of capable bodies, the dark Ostrega felt as though the weight was heavier on those who were kin to Hydra and Dirge. This was their claim, and none would threaten it.

Osiris shook his head. "I agree," he replied, "But I think that we are doing all we can at the moment." Osiris wasn't sure what else they could do to prepare better. 

"Should we continue along?" he asked. "It was quiet when I cleared the area, but another lap that way wouldn't hurt." Things could change with a blink of the eye; it was better to be overly prepared than under prepared.

The agouti boy was right. They were doing all that they could to keep their claim secure and guarded from outside threats. There couldn’t be much more that they could manage without uprooting their day to day lives. Atlas breathed a soft sigh to clear away his worry and nodded his head sagely to Osiris. The green-eyed figure had a very blunt way of helping the shade through his troubled thoughts. It reminded Atlas of their father.
 
“Yes, let’s do that. I had scented hare but lost the trail in that direction,” he motioned with a swing of his head, nodding his muzzle in the area that he believed the prey animal to have run. “Maybe we could catch a snack.” The gleam in his golden gaze was challenging, thrilled by the prospect of being joined on his patrol.

"Sounds like a plan," Osiris agreed with a sway of his tail; the rabbit would be a tasty snack for the both of them. 

Setting off in the direction where Atlas had motioned, Osiris set off with a leisurely pace. It was a beautiful day, and the borders were well-guarded. He saw no reason to rush right now; finding the prey animal would only be a bonus to an already good day. "How long ago did you see the rabbit?" Osiris asked, cupping his ears forward as he studied the sprawling territory in front of them.

“Just before running into you,” the dark wolf remarked with a subtle smirk at the edges of his lips. Atlas cast a glance toward his thick brother, waiting to see if this news would spark some new body language from the natural hunter. Osiris had always had a natural talent for tracking and chasing. Watching the agouti figure in the heat of the moment was a treat; he was never more focused then when in the pursuit of something that would fill their bellies.
 
With a smooth motion of his muzzle, the shade pointed in the direction he had scented their prize. “Lost it near the trees at the base of the mountain,” he offered. While he was not the sort to believe in fate, it seemed as though running into his brother had been fortuitous. If they could catch the trail of the rabbit, at least.

Osiris' search was refined with every detail that Atlas provided. "Let's make quick work of it," he responded, studying the wooded area that neighbored the borders. "I do not want to leave our patrol for too long," Moonspear's safety was a higher priority for Osiris; the caches were already well-stocked. 

Retaking the lead, Osiris carefully moved towards the forest. There was no need for him to beckon for Atlas—he knew that his brother would follow.

Dutiful as always, Atlas did not need to respond to the statement that was made by his brother. He knew where Osiris’ priorities were. It was no secret that the green-eyed Ostrega was dutiful to the mountain and to their kin. It seemed as though that fealty was so deeply apart of the other, the shade feared that he had fallen behind. Turning to where he had gestured, the dark beast made way toward the end of the rabbit trail. He did not speak as he picked up his speed and then halted them right where the scent ended.
 
Perhaps it was better for him to remain in the shadows.

Atlas and Osiris followed the scent-trail until it ended abruptly—somehow, the rabbit remained hidden. Observing their surroundings, he scrutinized the shadows before lowering his head to sniff at the ground. "Odd," he muttered. 

Then, while glancing towards Atlas, Osiris drawled, "I wonder if it has somehow masked its scent." It seemed very unlikely, but there was room for speculation.

The two brothers drew up to where the trail ended. Atlas regarded his sibling with an expression of perfect placidness. He did what he could to carry no expectations with him. Having already lost the scent of the rabbit meant that he did not have many hopes of finding it again. If anyone could, though… it would be his brother.
 
Atlas watched the agouti frame of the other boy sniff at the earth. He drew up to the side of Osiris and squinted into the trees that were nestled further outside of the pack claim. It was likely where the hare had wandered, he imagined. “Can they mask their own scent?” the shadow asked thoughtfully of his sibling.

Upon hearing Atlas' response, Osiris knew that he was wrong; it sounded even more farfetched when hearing his sibling say it. "I don't think so," he replied, shaking his head. "I don't think that they're smart enough to do that." Licking his chops, he reverted his attention to their surroundings; there was no need to dwell on his mistake. 

Although he was frustrated with the trail's outcome thus far, he wasn't ready to give up—Osiris was sure that Atlas was on the same page, too. Focusing on their surrounding scents, he sniffed the air and soon caught the faintest wisp of the hare's presence. Osiris turned towards the nearby foliage, studied the area, and found the animal creeping in the underbrush. He grew rigid suddenly and motioned towards their prey with a jab of his snout. There it is, he said without a word.

The query had sparked some form of rationalization in the agouti wolf. Osiris furrowed his brow and shook his head at the idea of prey masking their own scent. To the shade, it did not seem outstandingly strange that their targets might attempt to make themselves less noticeable. Certainly, it would benefit some of them to learn the ability to hide the aroma they gave off. Though, Atlas knew that it was difficult to trick the nose of a wolf.
 
More so to trick the nose of his brother…
 
Osiris pointed in the direction of their mark. Atlas smirked knowingly and moved to follow his sibling into the hunt. The other boy would take charge on their goal and the shadow would watch so that he could understand his sibling’s strengths with closer scrutiny.

Light-footed and brisk, Osiris lead the way through the woods. He kept low to the ground, concealing their figures in the midday shadows; they had the advantage of camouflage, and he intended to keep it. 

When they neared their prey, Osiris slowed. They needed to think of the best strategy for their hunt, and he was confident that Atlas would have some plan up his sleeve. He looked at his brother expectantly, silently insisting he speak on his judgment. 

In the sun-washed clearing, the rabbit continued to eat, unaware of the unseen threat.

Osiris led the two of them along the scent trail until they had come across the prey animal nibbling at leafy greens along the earth. The shade watched his brother close the space, keeping his eyes trained on the movements that were demonstrated. There was no doubt in his mind, Osiris was a marvelous hunter and he had learned well in his life. It would likely be his greatest strength for years to come, or so the dark wolf imagined. Surely, their parents would have looked at the young man’s skill with favorable eyes.
 
Without needing much warning, Osiris lunged for the rabbit and secured their goal. Atlas loped into the space where he was. The shade nodded his head with a ghost of a smile on his dark lips. “You might become our finest hunter, brother,” the shadow remarked with a chuckle. He believed it, too. Atlas was certain that he would never find another with such prey knowledge and skill.