Sleepy Fox Hollow Sapling

Please give Germanicus a chance to post first and then it is open to all.

Once they had finished eating and had discarded the remains of the fish adequately, Crowfeather and Germanicus moved away from the seclusion of their river hunting grounds and into the hollow, north of where they had rested.

Once they had found a reachable place, the dark wolf glanced to @Germanicus with a timid expression. He feared whatever trouble could arise, not knowing what would happen if he should release his voice into the wilds.

Crowfeather called for @Satsu in a high, sweet voice.

Satsu, it is Crowfeather. If you are near, please meet us in the hollow.

eventually they must cross this range to reach the snow once more. but the hollow unnerved germanicus, and the sunspire itself was unknowable.

he felt as though he had hurried crowfeather along. the eagle was silent as the boy sang, and yellow eyes searched for movement once the song had ended.

We can just- move this guy along. ^^;

The dark wolf waited.

Lantern gaze searched the trees and the mountains that towered beyond them. Worry trickled through his body as he wondered if the girl would ever appear, or if he had miscalculated her instruction. Worse than that, Crowfeather could not stop thinking of the danger that might have fallen on her with the Saints.

I do not know how long we should wait, Germanicus.

Crowfeather’s words hung sadly in the air. The shadow looked to the silver guard and his frame slunk slightly as he breathed out a sigh.

the shadow seemed dejected. germanicus looked toward the horizon. "if she is close, she has heard you. let us move on and see what hunting these mountains have."

it went without mention that they would need to keep a sharp eye trained for the saints.

the eagle moved off, slowing only until crowfeather came to his side before he restarted their gait.

Despite the nerves, Crowfeather was eased by Germanicus’ words. If the girl Satsu was near to the hollow, she would have heard his voice and she had told him she would meet him or send one of the other members of Akashingo to collect them. If no one arrived, they had not found the right place.

With a small glance toward the mountains, Crowfeather turned to return himself to the silver guard’s side, settling into the place where he had found a comforting fit.

What are you hungry for? the shadow inquired, a playful tone in his voice. There was something in the idea of finding a specific meal that interested him. Crowfeather wondered if he could gather anything that Germanicus desired.

germanicus almost answered in the ribald banter of military-men. the skin beneath his dark fur flushed. to steady himself, the eagle glanced out across the landscape. "goat." they were hard to approach, more difficult still to chase from their perches and kill.

"or frogs." it was impossible to tell whether or not he was joking. only the sheen of his paintgold eyes held the truth.

Goat thought Crowfeather fixedly. The dark wolf was not certain he had ever hunted a goat. He had seen them scaling the mountains before, always just seemingly out of reach, always dangerously precarious with their leaps.

At the mention of frogs, the dark wolf puckered slightly. He was reminded of the medic wolf Vein, the one who had fed him. The memory did not sit well in his stomach.

Goat sounds good to me too. They like rocky places, I think.

The dark wolf glanced to Germanicus and then to his paws.

I don’t understand how they don’t fear falling.

"perhaps they cannot understand why we would chase them so high." the soldier grinned, gait loosening as he paused to stretch a moment. 

he was elated by the thought of a hunt. it showed in the way he seemed to come alive. germanicus looked at crowfeather for a fierce moment. "let us race, to the top of that ledge there." ahead, a stone plinth that jutted out after a steep green path.

he did not wait for an answer before he rushed into the wood, thankful for the speed that they would put between themselves and these saints.

Crowfeather grinned, a breath of a laugh exhaled once through his mouth. The wings beat against his stomach.

Germanicus proposed that they race to the ledge. Before the dark wolf could even spot the mark, the silver guard had jetted forward on swift paws. Crowfeather was elated. Quick, giddy, the shadow raced after its rightful place at the older man’s side.

The ground beneath his paws did not feel so rough.

they coursed. he felt almost like a gazelle, or at very least another leaping, lunging thing. long years of traveling had given him the awareness of how to pace himself. the eagle's breath was a swelling rhythm.

he put on another burst of swiftness, hoping to truly surpass crowfeather now.

Swift as could be, Crowfeather seemed to fly over the ground on willowy legs. The dark shape of him was like a racing shade, as though running were the only thing he had ever been made to do.

Germanicus sped up, drawing further ahead of the dark wolf. Crowfeather watched him for several seconds, trained on the movements in the older man’s back. He did not know how to say it aloud, but the shadow thought that Germanicus was beautiful. From the careful search of his yellow eyes to his sense of duty.

Crowfeather too increased his speed.

beautiful.

however fast his trained muscles were, crowfeather was a painting in flight. perhaps only now they dared to look at one another, captivated by the winds as was meant to happen.

germanicus set his eyes forward but could not push himself into a higher gait, resigned to it. he welcomed it, and closed his eyes against the whisk of the landscape into a watercolor blurring.

The thrill of the run swept the dark wolf forward until his limbs felt like they would quake. Crowfeather turned toward Germanicus, smiling, joyful. The dark wolf’s tongue hung from his mouth as he panted out further racing steps.

Late summer colors shifted past him in a blur. The smell of fall was on the air. Crowfeather slowed his pace some, breathing heavily from the effort of their jaunt. His eyes scoured the rocky face with interest, hoping to catch sight or wind of a mountain goat.

fade or keep going? i know u were interested in hunter! either way we will need a new one after more recent events <3

germanicus too cast his gaze about. the drop in temperature here was something to which he must accustom, albeit quickly. 

neither hide nor hair of the beasts, but the eagle knew their spoor well enough. muzzle to the ground, he led crowfeather higher into the ridge, where the path ceased to be traversable and became darkly steep instead.

there he found a half-dozen cloven prints, and pale fur caught in the crags of stone besides.

I'd love to keep going. I also am eager for new writing opportunities with you! I have been trying not to be overbearing. ^^; <3

You have a lot of characters with a lot of plots and I do not wish to make you feel overwhelmed. I will take any writing opportunities you can share. I will write in as many threads as you would like to have.

There was something to be admired in the confident strides that carried Germanicus up the mountain. The eagle’s shadow was swift to stay close, nearly pressing his shoulder to the older man’s hip. As their trek became more treacherous, Crowfeather felt himself increase in nervousness.

Hoof markings were imprinted in the soft earth, showing the path of the mountain goat herd as it had moved upward. Their footing was more difficult. It did not take very long before Crowfeather was unable to stay at Germanicus’ side.

One slip of his dark paw and the seer gasped in surprise.

It’s steep, Crowfeather breathed, bumping his nose into Germanicus’ rear.

absolutely no problem! i love writing with you and you're very patient <3

two things happened then: crowfeather's voice and then the way his breath against the sensitive inner hairs of his flank singed germanicus.

he was consumed and gripped through by gooseflesh beading on all inches of skin. the eagle could only muster a grunt and a nod, lowering his head as he pushed higher.

his claws gripped the stone, and germanicus was suddenly, horrendously grateful for the threat of injury. it cleared from him the startling reaction. he looked back at crowfeather. "have you ever run directly up?"

Crowfeather burned at the grunt he received, splaying his dark ears atop his crown. The duo had traveled together for over a month and still, the dark wolf quaked with fear at the prospect of disappointing Germanicus. The strength of his desire to prove his worth seemed to have increased with each passing day. The eagle had taught Crowfeather a great deal in a short time, but the older man’s lessons were not limited to what was shared between the two of them.

N- no, Crowfeather gasped softly, quaking at the thought of racing up the jagged stony slope of the mountain. His mind continued to play an image of a single misstep, one paw that had not quite made its landing, and the wicked tumbling death that would follow. Is- is it possible?

<3

"yes," the eagle answered. "but only if you allow yourself to be afraid." there was no reason to pretend otherwise. "choose each step carefully. and do not run at first. that is a misnomer." the smile on his face was wry.

the silver wolf began to move higher, taking care. but mountains he knew. "look for shelves of rock or outcroppings. we walk as they do." the goldweave eyes searched for the boy, wanting to gauge him before they continued.

The answer was so plain, so matter of fact, that the shadow feared he might have misheard Germanicus speak. The older man wished for them to proceed with caution, yet speed and assuredness. Crowfeather did not believe he could do both while seeking outcroppings and ledges for his feet.

The lurch in Crowfeather’s stomach was obscene. Germanicus moved higher and the shadow was swift to step in the exact same places as the older man. The eagle seemed to know exactly where he would be in moments. The seer wished to be only one step behind him.

Germanicus would have his goat, Gods be damned.

germanicus watched, and listened. eventually they came to one of the aforementioned places, and he was glad for it. the eagle rested his paws while looking down at the drop from where they had come.

above them, the scent of goat hung musky and fragrant in the air. there were males and females on the ridge above. "i will go up and force one down toward you. we will seek to pin it here. we will only have a single chance."

but his tone did not suggest that he thought they would fail. the eagle looked toward the shadow again, and if crowfeather said nothing, he would begin his stalk toward the fielded hillock.

Upon the small shelf of stone, Crowfeather was all but gasping for air. His lean shape heaved with each breath, but he drew his tongue along his narrow muzzle with a breath of relief at the sight of Germanicus slowing to stop and rest for a moment.

The shadow did not miss the scent of goat above them. They had a tangy and overwhelming musk that was difficult to miss. His whiskers twitched as the older man stated he would climb up and force one down to the shelf where Crowfeather stood. The dark wolf balked at him slightly, wondering what it was that he was intended to do there on the rocky ledge – battle the fleeing mountaineer?

Y-yes, Germanicus, Crowfeather wheezed softly.

crowfeather always rose to his tasks.

germanicus began to climb higher, and soon was lost to view. silence, and then the thudding of hooves surely showered the shadow in dust and pebbles, shaken loose from the overhang. a bellowing, a snarl.

a goat, careering downward with germanicus fastened to its throat, claws ripping as he controlled the fall of them both.

they would strike the ledge, the eagle and the prey. crowfeather must be ready to fight at once.

The silver eagle disappeared, leaving the shadow to stand upon the ledge with a foolish expression and a nervous shuffling of his paws. After several moments, he had started to feel as though he should check on the older man.

The sound of hooves from above drew Crowfeather’s ears to a point. He turned sharply to see the shape of a goat careening downward toward the shelf where the dark wolf stood. Fear burst in his belly, spattering like fireworks. Germanicus’ snarl forced Crowfeather’s limbs into a stiff position.

Hackles lifting along his lean frame, the dark shadow snapped his teeth and yapped at the goat. He prayed the beast would halt in its tracks for only a moment.

crowfeather flashed for their quarry. germanicus found purchase upon the ledge and dragged the beast closer to them both.

it fought to run between them along the outcropping.

he caught it at the base of its skull, but fangs had not yet cut through the winter pelt there. the eagle sought to immobilize the animal, holding its bellowing form where the shadow might yet strike.

Germanicus moved sharply, with precision that seemed dreamlike. The shadow watched with wide eyes, standing on shaky limbs while the goat bleated and struggled to flee from the hunting duo.

When the eagle had found his fangs at the base of the goat’s skull, Crowfeather circled to where the noisy animal’s throat was exposed. The goat reared with sharp hooves, forcing Crowfeather back until his hind leg fell from the edge of the rock shelf. Fear surged through his heart and pushed him forward.

Momentum carried the shadow. His teeth flashed quickly and he aimed a sharp bite for the goat’s neck.