Moonspear born and raised under the rushing lights

@Osiris - set near sundown ^^

Maybe she should be in the dens, with it raining, but she liked watching the sky. It was darker than it usually would be at this time of day, due to the storms, and there were strikes of lightning streaking through the condensed clouds, followed by loud rumbling sounds of the sky growling. Mintaka imagined it as large, electric dragons locked in battle in the sky. And who could tell her otherwise? It wasn't like they could prove she was wrong. 

Ever since the rains had started, Mintaka had been veritably covered in mud. At least, her legs, chest, and belly. There had been no use in trying to clean up, and she bet that most of the others were muddy too, but it was harder to see on their darker fur than her light. At least, that was her theory. So, she spent her days playing, uncaring of the muddiness on her fur.

It was rare that she was quiet, but for now she was silent, staring at the big battle in the sky.

Thunder rumbled overhead, preceding the lighting that would follow. The rain was steady, and Osiris couldn't help but wonder when they'd get a break from it all. Even with the sunny day earlier in the week, water still pooled on the ground, and the mountain remained slick; the dangers of the unusual weather were all around them. 

Pelt slick with rain and mud, Osiris slowly made his way towards the rendezvous site. His late-afternoon patrol had been uneventful. Even though it was challenging to smell through the petrichor, all seemed to be in order. 

Clearing the last leg of his climb, Osiris caught site of Mintaka once the incline leveled. "Mintaka," he called as he approached his sister. "What are you doing out in this storm?" Stilling at her side, Osiris briefly surveyed their surroundings; who was watching her?

"There's stuff fighting in the clouds," she explained simply to her brother, taking her eyes momentarily from the lightning to look at Osiris. She wasn't far away from the den, so she didn't think she was doing anything wrong. In fact, she was actively trying not to do bad stuff these days. Stay nearby, don't wander.

She offered the older wolf a smile, tail wagging behind her. "Wanna watch with me?" she invited, scooting over just a bit so that Osiris had more room to lay down if he wanted to.

"Fighting, hm?" Osiris drawled, glancing at the stormclouds overhead. Although he knew that there was nothing in the clouds, he was intrigued by what his younger sister was imagining; he'd indulge her for now. Osiris figured that as long as he was around, Mintaka would be safe. 

Osiris sat where Mintaka had made room, smiling as he turned to her. "Thank you," he replied with a wag of his tail. Then, turning his attention back to the sky, Osiris prompted, "What have you seen?"

Mintaka nodded her head eagerly, pointing with her nose up toward the sky. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled and she hummed in response to the sky's noises, like she understood what it was saying. 

"Dragons," she stated solemnly, eyes closed. "They're hiding up in the clouds, but they make the bright flashes and the noises are their roars." It made so much sense, in her head. Surely Osiris would agree.

"Dragons," Mintaka revealed. They were a likely culprit at her age, but Osiris had long grown out of believing in mythical beasts. "Mmm," he acknowledged, keeping his eyes skyward. 

"What're they doing up there?" Osiris asked, wondering where Mintaka's imagination would take them next.

"They're fighting. Probably." That was the only explanation she could come up with. Over what, she wasn't sure. But she could probably think of something if she tried hard enough. "Over... territory, I think. Like wolves do, except they're much much louder." As evidenced by the roars that surrounded them, coming from the sky. 

She turned her attention to her brother. "Have you ever seen a dragon?"

Osiris kept his gaze skyward, watching as the fantastic beasts fought for claim over the airwaves. "They are quite loud," he agreed with a smile. "I couldn't imagine one of us ever making this much ruckus—even if we were defending the mountain." 

He shook his head in reply to her question. "I haven't," he said. "Is this your first time seeing one, too?"

"I could try!" she boasted, eager to prove herself, but it was pretty clear that the girl was more interested in the dragons in the air than actually roaring to protect the mountain. For now, anyway - maybe tomorrow she'd scream her head off. 

She nodded her head at his next question. "They're really cool," she murmured, for a rare moment content to sit in silence and watch the dragons with her brother. 

// fade?

Osiris grinned at Mintaka's enthusiasm. "I'm sure you will be able to," he encouraged, "Just make sure you try during the day—I'd hate for you to wake anybody up." He was reminded of Sialuk's daily ritual and how she had woken him up on multiple occasions. 

Content to settle down and watch the storm, Osiris agreed, "They are." They sat in silence for some time, watching the natural spectacle overhead. The storm was never strong enough to send them indoors, and they watched until the weather passed. Osiris led Mintaka to the family den and made sure that she got home safely.