Stolen Moments

[erynia]

Evening, and in the distance, the ambling roll of thunder echoed across the horizon to the far west. The azure heavens now accumulated an awning of stratus formations, the fluffy clouds blackened with slate precipitation, and the scent was heavy in the air. Squalls of heavy winds revolved o'er the lands of the Shinkou, the perfume of the inevitable downfall thick in the air, and every few moments the darkness was sliced through with intensity as the lightning made its electrifying appearence and the thunder rolled. The rays of Helios had long since ebbed, obscured by the lowering darkness and settling comfortably into the West, allowing the dark clouds to bring the early nightshade.

In the silence before the storm, creatures of the Shinkou plateau began to retreat into their comfort homesteads, for the power contained in the clouds above drove them into hiding. The sod swayed and dance with each breath of the winds, spiraling o'er the landscape, the petals in full bloom and craving the superb misle. In the far horizon, the mountains that towered protectively over the freehold were blurred as the rain begain to make its spiraling descent in the distance, and the thunder became louder as it made its travels. All was still.

Except....

Rushing across the dias of the Shinkou there was another thundering form. The storm consuming the highlands and the storm in the brujo's heart were so different, and yet so similar. The flames of detestment and anger flickering in his amber orbs flashed ever so violently in the flashes of lightning illuminating the evening sky. Brujo had aeruginous peltage, the blending of cerise and mahogony into a rusty colour, and orbs that shone like pure gold. His leathery mitts pounded at the terra beneath them, his granite talons tearing at the fresh sod, the black earth being torn upwards behind him as he made his blazing trail across the deserted plain.

Shiden was his name, a brute with a spirit that very much resembled his pelt: fiery and brilliant. He hung his dial close to the ground for increased speed, but the treeline to the Shinkou wood was very far in the distance, and his limbs began to ache with the fury of his blazing train across the lush desert. Frustrated with his lack of accomplishment, he began to slow down, snarling as he did so. He bucked a bit, his hindquarters sending more of the Shinkou soil skyward, and he turned to face the great distance he had come. There was a visible impression in the grass, and some divots from his violent footfall laid in silence.

The thunderclouds o'erhead began to groan and rumble. The lighting flashed again, and he lifted his crown to face the heavens. The first crystaline drop of water landed below his right eye, and rolled down his rough visage like a tear. He stayed still for a moment, and the steady beat of the rainfall began to crumble around him, and the thunder rolled. Brujo let his gaze slowly fall downward to the grass, and it seemed that the rain had a calming affect to him. Then, suddenly, as if in a sad tone, he threw back his dial, and released a lonely howl across the plains, rolling like the thunder, and obscured him. All alone. All alone...

[Relairah]

Indeed, the sky flashed with lightning, and thunder filled the air. Rain fell, but not as hard as some rains did. Stormy winds that swept through, twirled around, this way and that, causing trees to sway slightly, along with bushes and other plants. Leaves rustled, which added to the stormy air, and the green grass that covered the land, bent to the will of the storm. One, could not very well tell of the sun that was now sinking beyond the horizon, for it was covered by the dark clouds, and only certain rays that seeped through, were any evidence of it, and they were drowned out and forced away with the rain, wind, and other parts of the storm. So, one would not see the dazzling colors that filled the air above the clouds, no, not tonight, for that was not to be so.

Though the wind howled, even softer than some storms, ones greater than this, some wolves did not run for hiding. Indeed, there were many that stayed in the rain. There reasons varying. Some, hunting, some perhaps just enjoying the storm, and others going from one reason to the next. Each seemed to have his own means of viewing that night. This storm, may not have been as angry as some others, but it had its own place in the many storms of the past and future. Some might ignore the storm, as if it weren't there, others notice it and enjoy it, others might growl at it, as if it were an enemy, and so on.

One of these such wolves, whom did not much mind a storm, was one that was now in this place. Silvery ears, that weren't quite pointed at the tips, twitched in different dirrections, listening to the sounds around her. Silky and velvet soft pelt, of silvery hue, would have caught glimmers of the moonlight, had the moon shone at that time, for it was in such a way, to catch the moons, silvery-blue light and send its radiance about in a beautiful way so as to make this wolfess gorgeous to one's eyes. Well rounded head, held a maw of beauty, slender and of regular length, and was set on a well arched neck, rather bushy in soft fur. It was held high on her long back above a round and healthy body. Long, slender, but very strong limbs supported her frame above neither small nor large paws, aiding her in running so as to give her grace and beauty. Long, bushy tail, hung behind her, the tip slightly curved up, but the fur sagging down as it was soaked. Large, silvery wings, with a slightly bluish tint, were folded over her back with ease, keeping all but her neck and head, and most of her tail dry, though the feathers were soaked as the water ran off her wings and onto the soft, muddy earth below.

Shiden's howl, reached her ears, they catching the lone sound swiftly despite the thundering and cracking air above. Silvermoon suddenly jerked her head in that direction, but with grace so that it might have looked as a smooth movement. She smiled slightly, glad to know that she were not the only one around there at that time. She gracefully lifted her head up, her maw sticking up in the air. Slowly, coming softly then growing louder, her own sweet tune rose and filled the air, telling all of her presence. She smiled, taking off at a trott then easing into a faster and faster gait until she was in a smooth run, her legs sweeping back and forth with ease as they carried her swiftly across the land towards the one whom she saught. Her tail wagged as she ran along, she feeling many, many years younger than she was in truth.

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[erynia]

The thunderclouds o'erhead were now obscured by the lowering darkness of the night. The rainfall came down in steady plumes, and his breath crisped before him, despite the summer heat. He stood as still as the mountains, still gazing upward at the heavens, the raindrops spiralling downward, striking his velvet visage and collecting in his shaggy mane. Slowly, he folded his hindquarters below himself as he made to sit down, his caudal sprawled carelessly in the drenched sod and terra behind him. Still gazing upward, his thoughts began to wander.

Far, far away laid his homeland beyond the eastern mountain range, and long had he travelled o'er the rough deserts and wilderness. The flames of war and the strong, putrid stench of the casulties of the merciless battles on the western border of his home travelled with him, never releasing him from its horrifying grasp. Out of fear, he was driven to the well-known and well-respected lands of the Shinkou, that had forever haunted his dreams when he was young.

Brujo was ripped out of his thoughts by something... His cerise harks twitched and swiveled to the new intruder. His dial and orbs snapped her way to face her, and a growl rumbled in the confines of his mighty thorax. He stood, watching her to see what the fae was doing in these lands. She appeared to have stopped, looked at him, and was now trotting his way. He tensed. She broke into a run. He snarled. Lifting his ebon jowls, the ivory collided against his rusty visage and the incisors gleamed with each flash of lightning bursting from the shadowy confines above.

He stood, the hackles raising, but then began to cower. This was the she-wolf's land, and he was considered trespassing. Had she come to lay death upon the thoughtless brute? He knew not, and with that final thought, a fleeting image of his demise, he released another snarl, and turned to race across the lands. Fae thinks she will catch and kill me easily. I think not... He plunged into a wolven stride, not as fast as he could go, for he wanted to conserve his strength for when she was right upon him. He gave a final warning growl to the faemora, and the chase was on.

[Relairah]

Silvermoon slowed her pace slightly, her ears catching the snarl. She saw the gleaming fangs in the flashing light around her, and frowned. She became slightly confused, as to why he had howled his lonely tune, then angered at the site of another. She thought for a moment and then shrugged as he raced off. Should she follow, or simply wait. She sighed and again picked up her pace, her strides lengthening but not to their fullest. She ruffled her wings as if to help her gain speed without lengthening her strides to their fullest.

Along she ran, her ears suddenly lying down till they were flat against her silvery head. Her tail streamed behind her like a silvery flag. As she ran, her paws splashed in the soppy mud that now was on the ground, sending brown spots that landed on her legs. She seemed to ignore them, as the grass she treaded upon, bended beneath her running paws. She chased after him, wondering why he had fled before her. The silver chains around her neck, clinked as they hit each other with her running motion. Her amulet, swirling with silver and blue, also swished back and forth, glowing with light and power she would use in times to use it.

She looked away for a moment, at the terra about her and how it looked even with the pouring rain. She remembered younger days, when she had had even greater speed than even her fullest was now, even if she was yet to give it. Her mind began to come into memories of the past, a sweet smile finding its place upon her wolven lips. She then looked up to the sky, the rain pouring onto her face as her eyelids closed, letting the rain soak her. She lowered her head, and shook it, sending water splashing, only to have it soaked once more. She had slightly slowed her pace in her thoughts and now began to again bring it up, still holding back her true speed.

She barked and yipped, a happy tone to them, telling the other she ment no harm. She knew not whether it had reached his ears, as the storm seemed to swallow it up and cast it away. She sighed and continued to follow, wondering how long it would go on. Surely the other would know she was no enemy, and would do him no harm unless 'twas necessary. She watched his moving form, only ahead of her by not too many strides.

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[erynia]

As the thunder rolled overhead, the sound of the faemora's yip was drowned out by the noise of the storm. He knew well that she was there though, and not too far. As he threw a glance over his shoulder, his amber oculars caught sight of the wolf's powerful wings and he knew that she could easily catch him if she wished. Knowing that he would have to do something to loose her, he rammed his leather'd mitts into the soft, muddy terra and turned at almost a 90 degree angle, sending a barage of mud upwards as he skidded forth, and kept running as breakneck as a wolf could.

The lightning flashed in the distance, and the adrenilene flooded through his veins. He had not looked back to see if the fae was still behind him, but he continued to make right-left turns in a zig-zaging way, weaving in and out of the tall grasses of the Shinkou prairies, the grasses tickling his snout as he brushed past. His limbs began to ache, for he had been running for many days before this ordeal, and he was becoming exhausted.

In a final effort to loose the fae, he noticed a tall brush of grass to his lateral, and threw himself into the amber grasses, and laying low. His vision was obscured by the bending fronds as the storming wind blew, and the rainwater damaged his sense of smell, so he knew not where she was. But he made no noise and no movement, hoping that he would be safely hidden if he did so.

[Relairah]

Silvermoon almost slammed into him, her paws slipped in the mud and she lost her balance. She dug her claws into the soppy earth and moved her legs to regain control of herself. She looked up, seeing his form breafly before it suddenly seemed to disappear from her sight. She frowned, sniffing the air but only found the scent of rain and earth. She sighed, and looked at her now muddy pelt. 'Oh well,' she thought, 'I can clean up later.' She looked around, now going at a quick trott, eyes scanning o'er the terra in search of the wolf.

She saw the tall grasses and the many plants about, and decided he must be hiding, what else could he be doing. She sighed and stuck her nose to the earth, trying to pick up the faintest hint of his path. She thought she did for a moment, but then it disappeared. It kept doing such, coming then going constantly, and she knew he must have been running wildly. She simply followed in a strait line, her fur soaked and muddy as she tredded ever towards him. She kept her ears alert as well, searching for the faintest of sounds to indicate where he was, but she found none. Only the howls of the wind and the lightning and thunder above filled her ears.

She constantly searched through the rain, for it was not a heavy rain, but it was strong and not any sort of mere shower either. She thought she saw him for a brief second but she shook her head and no longer saw it. She continued, her maw stuck to the ground, her nostrils flared and sniffing. Her wings ruffled now and then to get rid of water inside them, only to get soaked as the rain poured down them around her. She was thankful for the wings, for they kept her back and limbs pretty dry most of the time, unless in flight or slipping in the mud.

After a while, she was sure she had to be very close. She lifted her head and stood still, neither moving nor making a sound. Her ears were perked on her head, listening carefully, and her nostrils flared and sniffed widely. Her tongue was now lulling from her mouth, and her sides moved in and out with her panting, that was merely drowned out by the storm. Her eyes searched keenly for the wolven, for she was certain she would find him soon.

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