Noctisardor Bypass I would any day die for you.

For @Shadow if you have time... :)

The night was young, but had crept in sooner than she'd been anticipating. Autumn was just around the corner, and the crispness of the early morning each day suggested that the cold season would soon sweep across the land with its frosty breath. Soon, daylight would be scarce. Truthfully, Paarthurnax was nervous. She'd survived through a Northern Winter once before, but it had been difficult and unpleasant. She hoped that the approaching one would be kinder to her, now that she had the security of a steady pack.

She looked around the dim forest, cocked a tall red lobe in the direction of a hooting owl that called out from somewhere above, and pressed onward through the proud evergreens in the direction of the creek to quench her thirst.

I'm assuming its night, if it isn't I can correct it. :)

Truthfully he liked winter, having grown up on the mountains where it snowed constantly although sunlight also warmed some of the peaks. But he was worried about Paarthurnax's well-being for she had to coat of a summer wolf, having lived in the deserts and although he knew the pelts of wolves naturally grew longer in wintertime, he knew it was probably going to be harder for her, for all summer wolves. And he sensed the cold season coming soon, each morning the air was colder and daylight was shorter.

He usually celebrated when winter came but this year, he was worried about the whole pack's well-being for not all were used to winter. It was dark in the forest but he easily navigated his way through, ready to curl up beside his wife but a scent distracted him. It was her scent and she was going in the direction of the creek. Curious, he moved forward and called out softly "Paar?"

When a familiar voice rose nearby, Paarthurnax paused mid-stride. She looked around her, well aware of who the tone belonged to, and chuffed softly to alert the sterling leader to her location. Her copper gaze scanned the shadows for any sign off her mate, but when he did not appear at once, she veered in the direction his call had come from.

"My love," the crimson beauty smiled gleefully as she fixed her eyes on the handsome form of Shadow, and quickened her stride to close the distance between them. She thrust her muzzle beneath his chin and buried her snout among the pale fur of his throat, purling affectionately as she huddled against his warmth.

"My love," a bright smile graced his silver features as she moved towards him and buried her snout in the pale fur by his throat. He touched his nose affectionately to her crown, resisting the urge to pull her closer to him. "Hello Paar," he murmured softly, finally curling himself around his coniunx. Between his duties as the Praetor and patrolling, he hadn't had much time with her and although they now slept together, he always had to complete his duties before relaxing and on most days he didn't relax at all. "I'm sorry, I've been busy." he apologized, hoping that she knew what he meant.

He kissed her gently, "Did you miss me, my queen?" he said in a teasing tone relishing the little time he could be with her again for he knew, when Apollo came to drag the sun across the sky, he had to perform his duties again. Bright silver eyes sought out her vibrant copper ones, still wondering how had he ever managed to find her. Smart, beautiful, gentle, everything that he thought he could only make in his dreams but he had found her in real life and somehow managed to make her, his.

They were will passing ships, most days. When it came time for one to rest, the other often was needed elsewhere. Paarthurnax was okay with distance between them; she yearned to be close to Shadow throughout the "honeymoon phase" of their relationship, but she also required time to herself to do her own thing. With the pack so new, there was much to do to keep intruders from seeking claim to their prey or land, and when they were better established Paarthurnax knew she'd have all the time in the world to be with her mate.

He apologised, but she disregarded it. Such things were not needed when someone was not at fault, and she delivered to his chest a playful, scolding nip. The ashen leader enveloped her with his warmth, wrapping his strong neck about her own, and spoke to her with a teasing tone. "Queen", Shadow called her, and she grinned mischievously as she pulled back to seek his cool grey eyes.

"One day I will be," was her promise, both to him and to herself, "and of course I missed you. I always do."

"One day I will be," he smiled at that, "and of course I missed you. I always do." He concealed the flash of surprise that went through him at that statement. He hadn't really thought that she would miss him too. The silver Praetor nuzzled her gently, "You have no idea how much I missed you." he paused and began showering her with kisses again before continuing. "Everyday I can't seem to ever find time, always showered with duties. Jupiter, I just wanted to be with you." he laughed. "But I suppose that won't happen for sometime," He raised a light colored paw and gently traced it down her spine.

"You have been busy haven't you?" he said with a slight tilt of his head as he lowered his head to kiss her chest. "We've all been busy around the pack, if only we could have one free day undisturbed." a faint smirk crossed his lips as he looked deep into her copper eyes. The glint in his eye had dimmed so much that it didn't even look like it had ever existed.

Paarthurnax noticed that her mate disregarded her comment regarding the title of "Queen", but did not dwell on it. It was important for her to be at the top of the hierarchy now that she and Shadow were a couple, so she could assert the building dominance she felt. Most vital of all was the need to protect her breeding rights, that she felt she could not defend if she were a metre subordinate. It was new to her, the gentle healer, to be filled with such desire for power. But she could be stubborn at times, and with her heart set of a leadership rank, would not give up without a fight.

Shadow showered her in affection as he usually did when they were alone together, and Paar purled lovingly toward him as she chased her troubled away. She closed her lovely eyes and leaned into her partner's kisses, presenting to him her throat where the skin was set aflame by his touch. "Well we're together now," the two-toned Lambda said softly, accompanied by a suggestive wink as he pulled back to seek her fiery gaze.

With that tempting sway of her fine hips she turned away from him and proceeded to continue her trail toward the creek, beckoning to Shadow to follow with a swish of her tail. When they moved into the clearing that broke through the woodland, Paarthurnax approached the water's edge and dropped her muzzle to lap at the cool surface. When her thirst was quenched, she sank to her belly on the grassy verge and looked out across the river, where a pale moon vast is reflection over the rippling current. "We could always make time just for us," Paarthurnax announced with a roll of her slim shoulder. "Date night, of some sort?" A day where they could give into their wish to be alone with each other. Where they go head into neutral territory without the worry that their pack may fall apart at the seams without their presence.

"Well we're together now," he flashed her a small smirk at her words and got gracefully up onto his paws as she began to make her way towards the creek. He sat down next to her when she finished drinking, leaned over to kiss her as she spoke "We could always make time just for us," he smiled. "Make time huh? I suppose we could, or I could just ask Saturn." he said lightly. "Date night, of some sort?" He laughed, a soft rumbling sound "That sounds good to me." he replied, grinning playfully, a mischievous glint evident in his bright silver eyes.

Lifting a paw, he ran it lightly down her spine before leaning down to nip affectionately at her scruff and stopping. Eyes gleaming brightly in the dark night, he lay down on his back and turned over to his wife and attempted to wrap his limbs around her and pull her on top of him. To be honest, he didn't actually know what he was doing and he liked it. Doing clueless stuff that he never planned to do.

Shadow could not keep his paws off her. He fawned over her, delivering gentle kisses and touches, and was even bold enough to plant a sharp nip on the tough hide of her nape. A playful grown rumbled in her chest, and she eyed him playfully as she swing her head around to black her teeth at the nearest silver forelimb.

She enjoyed his attention. She enjoyed being doted on at every waking moment in his presence, and had always craved to be in the spotlight even as a child. But as a female she'd never really been given the opportunity to shine. Boy children were always favoured over daughters where she came from, so she truly felt like a Queen in Shadow's eyes where she could never have been the main attraction in Samarkand.

He flopped to the ground beside her and hooked his strong forelimbs around her neck, and with a surprised yip she was yanked onto him. In a flurry of flailing limbs and happily waging tails the couple tumbled over and, disorientated, Paarthurnax scrambled to her paws and swung around to glower playfully at her mate. Striding forward with confidence, she batted his shoulder with a dainty paw and skipped aside in attempt to avoid retaliation.

He grinned up at her as she glowered playfully at him, he reached up and tried to bat at her when she moved forward but missed. "Damn," he muttered although a smirk appeared on his face, the mischievous glint still in his silver eyes as he lay on the ground, limbs falling limp to a side. A plan - which wasn't really a plan - formed in his head but he probably wasn't even going to use it. But it was better than nothing right?

The silver youth growled playfully as he rose gracefully onto his paws, a smile dancing on his lips, platinum eyes bright with laughter as he attempted to tackle her gently, forepaws raised in front of him ready to push her onto the ground, gently not wanting to hurt his mate in any way. Jupiter, she was beautiful. The faint moonlight illuminating her crimson fur, making it shine like fire and sand. He was blessed to have such a beautiful wife, both her personality and appearance.

Eyes glimmering with mischief, he placed a sultry kiss by her throat and withdrew, an amused smirk on his silver features.

He feigned defeat, remaining limp on his side following his failed attempt to swept at her, and she smirked her satisfied victory. Canting her muzzle proudly she looked down her snout at her mate, but was quickly swept off her paws once more. In an instant he was upon her, forcing her to the grass with a surprised yip, and she worked beneath his grasp until she was on her back and passing at Shadow's pale undersides. "You win!" Paarthurnax announced among laughter, her tail swishing cat-like at her rear.

She had always a social, playful creature. Paar enjoyed a good chase or wrestle with her pack mates, even if she always lost the latter due to her fine structure. She knew that Shadow was a proud and dignified wolf in the presence of their comrades, but was glad to know that he could let loose around her. With her, he could relax. He could be himself.

Shadow leaned down to plant upon her neck another kiss, and she smiled up at him when he withdrew to look at her. "Can you teach me," Paar started, "about your beliefs? Your gods and about your ancestors?" She didn't doubt that Shadow would no doubt wish to lay all this information out to the children they would rear in the future, and although she did not share any desire to follow his path, she did want her pups to know of their background. And she herself wanted to be involved in that.

He blinked down at her as she asked him to teach her about his beliefs, his gods and his ancestors. He wondered why she wanted to learn about his culture when she so firmly stuck with her own but he did like talking about his ancestors and the gods of Rome so he got off her and lay down beside her, his gaze on the star filled sky. "Why so much interest?" he asked first, nipping her ear affectionately before speaking again. "We have lots of gods in Rome but there are a few major ones, the ones that are the most popular." he paused. "Jupiter is the king of the gods, the god of the sky, light and thunder, the protector of Rome and its laws. Us, Romans mostly refer to him as Jupiter Optimus Maximus which means Jupiter the best and the greatest."

He gazed at her again, wondering if she still wanted to hear about the gods. It would take a lot of time to teach her about his culture. "Mars is the god of war, we call him Mars Ultor which means Mars the Avenger. He is one of the most popular gods in Rome and soldiers usually pray to him before going in battle, hoping he would guide them and give them strength. He was known to be the father of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome therefore some Romans call themselves the sons of Mars."

Silver eyes scanned her crimson form for a brief moment before wrapping his limbs around her and attempted to pull her body closer to his before he continued. "Vulcan was the brother of Mars. The god of fire and volcanoes. He was thrown down from Olympus by his mother Juno therefore one of his legs is shorter than the other."

Religion was something that often drove wolves apart. It has distanced her from some of her own siblings, Sahrotaar most of all, who held firmly to the beliefs of their Persian father. Paarthurnax instead clung to her mother's dragon lore, the tales she and some of her brothers had been named for, for Nita had presented them to her as just that: stories passed through generations of the Desono family. And although Nita had bore the surname of her sire, she still held that lore close to her heart just as Paarthurnax did. It was important to her to share it with her own pups, but wished to give them the opportunity to follow their own path. She would not allow any belief to be forced on her children; if they did not want to, they did not have to follow any religious teachings.

"Because we are far from the places of our birth," she said in response to Shadow's question regarding her interest, and pulled herself up to lay on her underbelly as he pressed himself snug against her side. "I want our sons and daughters to know where we came from, since it's unlikely that they'll ever experience what we did."

So he obliged, and shared with her the goods that he had devoted himself to following. Patiently she listened with russet ears high atop her lovely crown, her copper eyes lingering curiously on his handsome sterling features. "Are there no lady gods?" Paarthurnax asked, half jokingly, a mischievous grin on her face.

"I want our sons and daughters to know where we came from, since it's unlikely that they'll ever experienced what we did." His expression darkened for a moment but it cleared in a brief moment. He swore that he would never let his children experience what he had experienced in his childhood. Countless days of abuse, bloodshed and pain. That was not Rome as and he hoped his children would never know pain and bloodshed in their early months of life. He knew war was inevitable, something he had learnt from Mars but it could be delayed couldn't it?

"Are there no lady gods?", he frowned playfully, a smirk playing at his lips. "Those were only three gods, not all. If I were to tell you all of them, it would take months." he said. "Jupiter had a wife named Juno. Queen of the Gods, Protectress of Women, Mother of Mars, and wife of Jupiter. She was frequently called Juno Moneta, the one who warns. You know Juno was believed to watch over and guard the life of every woman from her birth to her death. He grinned and kissed his wife's forehead lovingly. "Venus is the goddess of love, beauty. She is married to Vulcan." he did not speak much about Venus because honestly, there wasn't much to say about her.

"Apollo is the god of healing, music, poetry, prophecy, eloquence and the sun. The Augurs of Rome usually take him as their patron as he is the god of poetry. Healers also take him as their patron as he is also the god of healing. He has a sister, Diana the goddess of the moon, wilderness, chastity and maidenhood. She was one of the goddess that swore to never marry.

She of course noticed that his expression faltered somewhat, and it took her a moment to wonder how her words might have affected him before recalling his unfortunate childhood. It was then that Paar thrust her tall ears back and she sought his gaze with silent apology evident in her own. She had not meant to remind him of it, and realised she could have worded her comment better. But Shadow pressed on with his teachings and, more than keen to leave the matter behind them, Paarthurnax settled again to listen.

He rhymed off a handful of requested female gods, as well as one he perhaps thought might appeal to her. Shadow spoke only briefly of Apollo, the god of healing and of the sun, and she eyed her partner curiously. "Apollo must smile upon me," she said, smiling brightly, "I don't do music, though. I bet I'd clear the den if I started singing. You'd be begging me to shut up!"

The sterling youth nuzzled her in forgiveness as she flattened her ears and gazed at him with apologetic eyes. It wasn't her fault and it was the past. It was hard for him to ever let go of the past but he was trying his best to live in the present, to forget his brother and sister, his siblings that he left behind in Noctem Vagus. But it still lingered like a disease in the back of his mind, begging to be seen and remembered, begging for him to feel the pain and regret of his actions. The sarcastic part of him wanted to poke his head into that part of his mind and say Thank you, my friend.

He laughed softly when she said Apollo was smiling down at her. "No doubt he is," he replied before laughing again. "I don't do music, though. I bet I'd clear the den if I started singing. You'd be begging me to shut up!" He smirked mischievously at her, "Oh really? I sincerely doubt that. Why don't you try singing now to prove me wrong because I think you're great at singing like you are at all things." The mischievous glint that usually occupied the god Mercury's eyes now dominated the death angel's one. The challenge hung in the air and the Roman gazed at his wife with expectant eyes.

She hasn't been expecting a "prove it" response, honestly, and when Shadow prompted her to sing for him, paar ducked her muzzle shyly. The skin of her fine cheeks burned beneath the silken white fur there, red hot with embarrassment. "I think I'll pass," the crimson beauty said softly, peeking up at her mate from behind her lovely lashes.

Her mother had despised singing as well, but Paarthurnax recalled her songs as a small child. Songs of her own mother's lore, of the dragons she'd adored since before she remembered. Nita Frostfur's voice had not been one for tunes, but Paar had loved it all the same. Perhaps she adopt a similar nature when it came time to mother a litter of her own, and sing to her pups the tales of Alduin and his dragon companion's. Songs reserved for them and them alone, as Nita had reserved hers for her own brood.

The crimson beauty sank against her husband, leaning against his strong side and baking in his warmth. Propping her muzzle on a powerful ashen shoulder she nibbled lovingly on the guard hairs there. "Shadow," she mustered then, well aware that what she prepared to say might dampen the mood, "I want to work towards a leadership position at your side. I want our children to be born to a Queen, not a subordinate."

Sorry if this seems distracted but I'm currently pissed at the police at my city.

He smiled at her when she refused the challenge, he didn't mind to be honest, for he knew that no matter how bad she sung he would always love the sound of it. The youthful Praetor wrapped his limbs around Paar as she leaned against him, relishing her warmth and knowing that nothing would ever touch her, he wouldn't let anyone, anything touch her as long as he was by her side. He prayed for the gods to watch over her at all times, nevermind himself, she needed more protection that he would need. He was a good fighter, thanks to his father, when he went into protective mode, bloodlust mode, corpses would be littered around the floor. You wouldn't want that to happen.

He was enjoying being by her side when she said his name and the next words "I want to work towards a leadership position at your side. I want our children to be born to a Queen, not a subordinate." he managed not to stiffen or freeze, not wanting the mood to be ruined, although it probably would soon. A soft sigh escaped the Roman as he gazed up at the star-filled sky, wondering how to answer her question. He was going to ask her to take up the leadership position beside him when things were better settled down and the wolves of Noctisardor Bypass knew her better and trusted her for he wasn't one to appoint his wife to Alphess beside him just because she was his wife. He needed to know they could lead well, guide well before appointing them to that position and he knew Paar was more than capable however he needed the wolves of the Bypass to know her better, to trust her before he could give her the position.

It wouldn't be long before he appointed her as a high rank but he knew, his instincts told him, the gods told him to wait. For her to earn the trust of her packmates, to patrol the borders and help the pack's wellbeing. It wasn't a matter of love but a matter of trust and hard-work. He loved her, he really did but as a Roman, he had to think about everything first not just love and sometimes he hated that. But he had sworn to Jupiter, to the gods to never be like his uncivilized father, but be a strong Roman, someone that would prove Rome strong.

Paar, he nuzzled her gently before speaking again. I promise our children will be born to a Queen, an Empress and not to a mere subordinate. You aren't a subordinate, you are my wife and that surpass any title in this world. and he smiled and gazed at her, the moonlight glowing into his silver eyes making them almost white. But I understand your need to be at the top and I will grant you that but I cannot do that right now. I'm sorry. he said regretfully.

Our packmates must trust you with their lives and believe in you, care for their well-being and your rise will not be opposed by them. You will rise, I believe in you and I know, the gods know that you will be Empress beside me and our children will be blessed by the gods. He gazed at her with apologetic silver eyes, a small part of him wondering if she would be angry, mad at him for not awarding her the position she wanted immediately. He hoped she wouldn't.

Everything OK?

She did not scowl or complain, or throw the tantrum of all tantrums as Shadow might have expected, but truthfully his words did irk her. Paar had said she desired to work toward the title, not have it handed to her on a golden plate. She might not be physically strong or a skilled warrior like he was, but she was intelligent beyond her years, patient and hard-working, gentle and kind and more than capable of forging her own path.

Shadow said he believed in her but frankly, she was not overly convinced. Paarthurnax felt that, in the eyes of men, she was this fragile and delicate little desert flower who needed protection and guidance. But she was more than that. She was a Frostfur. She was descended from a long line of strong leaders, wolves who shaped their own fate and rose to power of their own accord with the exception of her brother who inherited his crown. Paar was determined to do likewise, more so now that her mate saw fit to belittle her with words.

"I will earn my place," she said confidently, looking out across the water's surface as she did not find the strength to look upon her partner's features just yet. "But until then, I will be a subordinate. I won't be your equal until I'm leading these wolves at your side." Nothing would make that any different until she gained her rank, which she would do entirely by herself and without complaint. "I fear that someone else might see fit to rob me of the opportunity, considering it's vacant." Noctisardor Bypass was not Samarkand, yes, but traditionally the Alphess title was one that could be challenged for. The way of their species, the way their instincts were wired, could force any willing wolf to challenge the one above her in the hierarchy for their rank. The same went for food, for shelter, for breeding rights, for anything.

Not really qq.....

He knew she would earn her place, he never said she wouldn't but when she seemed to refuse to look at him, he knew that perhaps he had said the wrong things. But Roman pride would never let him apologize, he rarely did that, in fact if that happened it almost meant a miracle had descended upon their kind. Whenever he apologized, that meant he was truly sincere and had to swallow all his pride to do that, and he hated it. In fact he seemed to only have ever done that to those he cared about, his loved ones, friends and family. "But until then, I will be a subordinate. I won't be your equal until I'm leading these wolves at your side." Shadow knew, deep in his heart that no matter how much he considered her to be much more higher than her current rank, to be one of the goddesses, that in reality she was the highest of the low ranks and he knew she wouldn't be satisfied unless she was ruling as Empress beside him. A part of him yearned for that to happen, for someone to take half the burden of leadership off his shoulders but the proud Roman part of him refused to share, refused to let someone lead beside him, yes, he was selfish. And he knew it.

"I fear that someone else might see fit to rob me of the opportunity, considering it's vacant." Curiousity dominated his features as he sought to look at her again, so was that how it was like in her homeland? Usually it was the relatives, sons of the current Praetor that took over when he died but he knew that perhaps his sons would not be good leaders and he did not want Noctisardor Bypass to fall under weak leadership. However in Rome, Empresses were usually the wives of the Emperor, not wolves that chose and stole the rank. He wanted Betas now, not Alphas besides in his eyes, nobody except for Paar seemed to be able to handle the responsibility. In my homeland, only the wives of the Emperors were ever ruling beside them. Besides nobody I can see can lead better than you do, take the burden of leading and responsibility better than you do. And I trust you to never abandon this pack. Something, truthfully he doubted of some of the others. Such as Adair. But those like Farkas and Tiberius and Flash, he trusted them and saw potential in them to become Betas when the time came. He needed leaders to take over when he left for business or quests and more.

Shadow buried his muzzle into her fur and nibbled upon it lovingly, hoping she wouldn't shy away or hate him in anyway because he couldn't stand it if she hated him although he doubted that. After all, why would she hate him? Males were really clueless sometimes.

Paarthurnax' heart was heavy, and although she tried to hide her frustration, it marred her lovely features. And so in attempt to hide her emotions, the crimson wolfess continued to gaze ahead as silence lingered between she and her sterling mate. What he said surprised her, however, and the irritation on her face melted away to reveal her curiosity, and Paar turned her head to raise her fiery gaze and meet the steely eyes of her partner. Did he mean that the Alphess position was safe, until she was fit enough to rise and claim it herself? And what if he did not deem her suitable, and cast her aside in favour of a prettier, stronger bride? Blinking with uncertainty, she responded: "only a wife of a Shah could lead at his side, too."

It was then that her expression dipped, clouded by something subtly solemn. "But my father had many partners. It was the responsibility of the females to fight among themselves to be Shabanu" Shadow had promised her that he would pursue no other females, but truthfully she was afraid that he might be easily swayed by those who might seek to tempt him. She had grown up around men whose purpose was to collect a harem and although it was wrong of her, Paarthurnax was worries that all males had a similar frame of mind.

As though sensing her discomfort, the since brute leaned in close to touch his muzzle to the fine ivory fur of her neck. Paarthurnax closed her eyes then, letting her concerns seep away as she focused on the affectionate gesture, and purled softly as he nibbled at a few stay stands of alabaster. "Forgive my determination, my love. I am a dreamer, and I want to be someone that my children can look up to."

"But my father had many partners. It was the responsibility of the females to fight among themselves to be Shabanu" Platinum eyes gazed up at the sky, remembering his own father. "My father had many unofficial partners, those he took to only mate and have puppies with, those he raped for pleasure when the female was in heat. The only official mate he ever had was my mother. But he never wanted anyone to rule beside him anyways, so technically there was never a position for a female to rule beside my father." he concluded with a brief roll of his shoulders.

He was glad though, to see she did not shy away from his touch. That probably meant he hadn't done anything really that terrible. "Forgive my determination, my love. I am a dreamer, and I want to be someone that my children can look up to." apologized his wife. The Praetor licked her not lovingly before lifting his head and replying, his gaze warm. "I will not forgive because there is nothing to forgive. I love you for who you are and your determination is one of the best aspects. Your goal is not a dream, Paar, it will happen and our children will love and admire you." he murmured, curling his body around her, relishing her warmth against him.

Tomorrow was another day of constant patrolling, watching and the completion of his duties and only at night would he be able to be with his wife again.

Finish with your next post? I'd love another thread if you fancy one. :)

She had many things to do before she could rise in the ranks to claim her crown. The title of healer called to her, and Paar knew it that putting her skills to good use would better establish herself among the wolves of Noctisardor. She considered summoning her comrades together for a lesson in her trade, so that they could know the basics of taking care of their own wounds and preventing infection. She'd bring it up with Shadow at a later date, but now was not the time. Content to let her woes slink away into the shadow of her mind, the crimson Frostfur let her body sink against the supportive frame of her mate.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, finding relaxation in his warm scent. His words have her new strength and with a bashful smile, Paarthurnax flicked her salmon tongue from between her teeth to smooth a rift of silver fur directly beside her muzzle. She said no more, but instead baked in the moment of quiet with her husband, happy simply to be with him despite her inner turmoil.

Sure, I''ll archive this then start :)

The silence wrapped itself around the two wolves and he sighed softly, relaxing against his wife as he closed his eyes. There was much to think about now, and much to do tomorrow but this was not the time to mess his brain up with those thoughts of duty. As if he didn't have enough trouble trying to keep the Bypass in order, disciplined and ready for anything. Get them stocked up for winter, find the dens, ugh, he had a headache just thinking about it.

Somnus, Morpheus, welcome me into your realm, please. he thought silently as he drifted off. Both Morpheus and Somnus heeding his prayers as deep sleep enfolded his body and pleasant dreams seeped into his mind.