Alright so maybe I was a little more asleep than I'd originally thought. But the heat had lulled me into relaxation, and as my eyes slipped three-quarters closed dreams began to materialize. There was still a small part of me that clung to consciousness, aware of my surroundings to a certain degree, but the visions seemed to garner more of my attention than the quiet clearing that I rested within. In my dream, I was not sprawled out on the flat, raised surface of the rock. Instead, I battled nameless foes, pushing back threats from Spirane's borders. One moment I was taking down a monstrous cougar threatening a pup who had strayed too far from its den, the next waging war against the dark hued wolf-eating demons of Moladion tales, followed closely by images of dispatching challengers who dared to vie for the throne that would only ever rest peacefully under Mountainborn blood.
This subconscious desire for action in my life had been a recurring manifestation in my dreams of late, and my lips twitched as I snoozed. Whether it was my own desire to prove myself as worthy of the title of Alpha, or simply the part of me that had always sought out chances to be bold in life, I'd not taken the time to consider. Of late my days had been filled with border patrol, speaking with wolves from the pack and those from abroad, and spending my free time with my mate. And inward reflection had never really been my strong suit anyways.
Perhaps it was the new scent filtering in through my nostrils as I snoozed that began to bring me back towards a more fully conscious state of mind. I couldn't be sure, but I was grateful for whatever it was, because the line between dream and reality was just blurred enough for the yearling's giggles to filter through the haze of waking. As he pounced, I was lucid enough to know that his was an attack of innocent play, and not the action of one of the creatures from my dreams of grandeur. All the same, my body still snapped up and around in reaction to his grabbing my tail, bringing me up into a sternal position. Rather than answering him with teeth, however, I had the presence of mind to simply give him a good nudge with my nose right into the side of his neck. If I'd been quick enough it might be enough to tip him a little off balance, and I would grin at him.