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The chill was spreading across the lands, thin tendrils crossing over the shadows and making themselves known. They signalled the approaching winter, something Mae was still getting used to the idea of. Before any of them realised, the summer had given way to autumn, which had faded into the coldest time of the year. Soon enough snow would fall once more from the skies, the lakes would freeze over and howling winds would send them fleeing for shelter. Though by the look of her she should be perfectly accustomed to this time of year, the pale femme had grown up in permanent heat. Last year had been her first snow, a shock to her system as she settled into a home much further North than she’d previously known. She was looking forward to seeing the beauty the white cover brought to the lands once more, but was definitely still partial to warmth and would miss the suns hot rays until they returned the next summer.
Food eaten, Mae licked at her outstretched paws, cleaning them off and nibbling the fur to ensure it lay back down properly. The femme was surprised as Terrel shifted closer to her and turned his head to lay it over her back. His body cradled hers, a blanket of warmth that cast the creeping cold away. Her ears fell back shyly as she stopped cleaning her paws, hesitating a moment before giving into the urge to turn her face and bury the muzzle into the thick fur on his chest. Her heart leapt as she shifted against him, to be as close as possible to the familiar touch. She rested her head over his paws, smiling as he explained the reason for moving closer. “I’m much warmer now, thank you Terrel,” she spoke lazily as her body relaxed into his, unable to contain the happiness in her tone that came from his concern over her warmth. Could he really have remembered an old conversation about their favourite times of the year? She did, and she could easily believe that he did also.
Comfortable and warm, resting, against her closest companion, Mae allowed herself this moment to take pleasure in his company. So far from the bustling pack and the responsibilities required of her, she could truly relax without keeping an eye out for a distressed pack mate’s call or the scent of a stranger in the lands. She remembered their time at Rainbow Cliff, curled up together so comfortably that they slept until she needed to return to her duties. Leaving had been painful and she’d given him a last embrace with a low whine before running off before she upset herself. Having slept beside him, nights since had been lonely, cold and she’d often found herself longing for his presence. The only time the feeling had been pushed slightly aside was when she’d provided heat to Macaria and the newer, mute pup after finding them during a storm. However, it was in no way the same and the femme had continued to crave the male’s company.
Mae’s gaze slipped to the moon and stars now fully visible in the sky, a blanket of distant lights that were ever puzzling to the wolves, the inspiration of many tales. The moon, however, required no explanation. It was a constant. Terrel’s head shifted and suddenly began to call out, a soft howl to the heavens, the song of their species that transcended time. Mae took a moment to appreciate the sound as it caressed over her ears before lifting her head from his paws. She regretted the loss of contact but was excited by the prospect of singing a duet with the male, aware that they’d never howled together before and ready to remedy that. She took the chance to lick the side of his cheek, purely on instinct, before raising her head and opening her maw to join in. She released her gentle lyrics, pitch changing every so often to sing a complimentary song to the male’s own. Their duet sang out in the still night, a beautiful melody for anybody nearby listening on.
After their songs had faded Mae finally took the opportunity to once again look around at the strange stones surrounding them. The shadows danced around, falling unnaturally due to the structures, and sent a shiver down Mae’s spine. She whimpered a little, turning to bury her head into Terrel’s neck for comfort before pulling back slightly so that her gaze could switch between their surroundings and his entrancing eyes. “What do you think is up with this place?” she asked, voice feeling too loud in the stillness of the night, “I’ve never seen stones in such a formation…”
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||Mae|| ||Female|| ||Young Adult|| ||No Mate|| ||Saw Tooth - Iota||
RustyEyron
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