Otter Creek vice

hoping for @Jawahir but aw
late evening, 64 F

The shadows kept him hidden so far. He had moved only at night and used the daylight hours to sleep. He had survived off other animal's leftovers and small animals he could catch at night. But he had survived on far less. He thrived in survival mode; it was familiar. He knew what to expect and how to stay alive. 

The scent of water piqued his interest tonight. He would risk uncloaking himself from the darkness to quench his thirst only because he had to. Sayf was careful about it, though. He sat near the water beneath the safety of a thicket for a while, getting a feel of the place as his senses became tuned in to the area.

Only when he was sure he was alone did he step out into the moonlight and over to the edge of the creek. Still, he scanned the area once, twice, three times before lowering his head to drink. As he pulled the cool liquid into his mouth, his eyes never stopped watching. One sign of trouble would surely send him fleeing back to the safety of darkness.

another of their kind. red and ash in the darkness.
the jewel had heard the stirrings. they had heard the word, and seen their pale lover indisposed.
jawahir was careful as their own steps toward the figure, halting some feet away.
you do not need to have fear. not here. a place of wolves it might be, but akashingo belonged to them.
their gaze was sharp and observant.

He heard steps and froze, a split-second later beginning his retreat. But a familiar voice made him stop. He turned and stepped cautiously back towards the water. Jawahir, he said first, surprise and recognition briefly lighting up his gaze.

How can you be sure? He continued, always quick and to the point. I smell them everywhere; this place is owned by wolves. In other words, they should be careful, no matter how sure she was—and he would continue to watch his back no matter what words of reassurance she would likely try to offer him.

he was indeed lovely. she saw the familiarity. sayf.
jawahir stole closer, the fragrance of water lighting their path. it felt that the mesa waited on the blade of a knife. the mesa was silent and without culls, as maggie would have said.
pharaoh of akashingo serves me.
their lithe shoulders rolled now as the courtesan gestured toward the stone obelisk. the kinz ensures entertainment. but here we are free, brother.

This Pharaoh, he is a wolf? and he serves you? It wasn't disbelief that painted his tone, but curiosity. How had she managed something that he never thought possible. All that time he had wished, but it had never seemed obtainable. 

Free. They were free? He was too afraid to believe it. He crossed over to Jawahir and nipped at the side of her neck in greeting. I trust you, he offered. But never them. How could he when the wariness was branded into his soul.

he is a man hungry for many things.
jawahir ran their own teeth against the shoulder-blade of sayf. i would not tell you these things if they were not true.
akashingo had become home to many of their own. sate his body. you will see how easily led pharaoh can be. a small, sharp smile. they looked toward the mesa. will you come?

Sayf was no stranger to hungry men, but to sate their hunger for his own benefit was something he had never considered before. He wasn't opposed to the idea; in fact, he was impressed that Jawahir had created such an environment. They had always been smarter than he was, though. And of course he knew what they said to be true, it was just a little difficult to wrap his mind around.

Sayf nodded. Of course. Where else would he go? He hadn't expected to find them here, but he would rather be with Jawahir in their land of wolves in which they were equal than roaming alone.

there. they stared at akashingo. its red sides held many secrets.
and now one more.
he is not unkind. and he is handsome. for a wolf.
a smile as jawahir pulled off and nipped playfully toward sayf. they would race him there.