Falls of the Hinterlands At ease

He had passed the falls so many times during the day. Truly, too many to count as he made his rounds around the Sun Mote Copse. Each time, the falling water struck him as nothing to write home about, but now, after night had fallen over the wilds, something had changed. There was something about the way the moonlight reflected against the water -- how it appeared to glow as it ran over the flat rocks. It was beautiful.

Ar-Khalba couldn't help himself after seeing the waterfall in its full nocturnal beauty. His paws carried him forward and soon he found himself wading into the water. Chest deep, he stared upward with his mouth agape. The mist that rose from the water crashing into the pool before him enveloped him. The moonlight caught in the mist, giving it an ethereal glow.

In the dead of night is when the monsters come out to play. The earthy toned beast rose from his den for the night to roam the night yet again. His dark silhouette barely visible in the darkness, only his ruby eyes glinting from the bright of mother moon reflecting off his occulars shone from time to time in the dark woods. 

A figure stood out at the foot of a waterfall, the scent of a loner wafting in the air before being dipped in the water to drown out the scent. He stood silently waiting to be noticed, waiting to see the reaction of the one wadding in the water. Would he react like the rest?

The approach of a stranger went unknoticed -- his scent was masked by the rising mist and the sound that the made as he neared was overpowered by the rushing of the falls. Blissfully unaware, Ar-Khalba was too overcome with awe to direct his attention elsewhere. Though an unknown threat lurked under the cover of darkness, Khalba waded forward with an ignorant smile. He placed his head beneath the falls and let the water roll off of him.

By the time he drew away, Khalba was soaked to the core. He shook himself to lose the excess water that clung to his pelt, but it was to no avail. The mist rising around him kept him thoroughly damp. It was then that he turned his head, catching sight of a pair of crimson eyes that glowed in the moonlight. He tensed.

An unease settled over him and the man couldn't help but feel like prey.

He watched for a while, waiting patiently for the time he would be noticed. How blisfully unaware this man was to the hunter near by. The creature's belly rumbled, but not of hunger. He was growing excited to see the reaction, or to see how blind these wolves were in these lands. 

The swim had come to and end and after a brief attempt at drying themselves off, they spotted him. Saliva pooling on his tongue within the cave of his mouth, he smiled. I can smell your distress. Learn to mask it before you excite the wrong beast. He spoke in a chilling calm. A lone wolf should never be as relaxed as you were, life is hard for one without a pack. Be thankful I didn't join you in the waters when I had the chance.

There was a voice in the darkness. The owner of those menacing ruby eyes opened his mouth and Khalba could see teeth. Long and pearly white. His hackles lifted instinctually and a growl rumbled in the back of his throat. Though Khalba kept himself at his peak physical condition, he was small and agile -- in no way was he built for a fight.

"I am not alone," he replied, voice unshaken. The sisters and the rest of the Malkaria remained nearby -- and though he wished to not trouble them with something as trivial as this, if things got hairy he could always call. There was also Molech. He had his God's protection. "This is sacred ground -- turn away and the eye of Molech will not be upon you."