Dusk

[silver]

The white sand tickled between Thunder's toes as he lay in the darkness and shadows of the trees. His golden brown eyes shimmered in the dim light of the evening as he tilted his head slowly to the side. Apart from the gentle swash of the breaking waves moving up the beach and the slow cool breeze of the night, there was complete silence- it seemed there was not another living thing insight. The salty air tickled the black wolf's nostrils as he diligently scanned the horizon for any form or another. He could see none.

Unrest, he felt, from this silence. For days now, he had sensed a lingering presence, watching his every move. He could remain seated here no longer, for he felt it shift around in the darkness enveloping the long and slender trees who shade he rested in. Slowly and cautiously Thunder rose to his feet and shook himself gentle to remove the clinging sand from his sleek dark coat. His eyes were narrow but alert, his ears were pinned upwards and his tail erect. Quietly he slinked into the shadows, wishing not to expose himself in the open area of the beach.

Thunder had been scouting this beach for days now, constantly moving, resting only for a short while. He had had little sleep in the past few days but it did not tire him for he fed well. With powerful jaws he had snatched up small rabbits as he snaked his way silently towards them. He was a skilled hunter and a master of stealth. He suspected that the organism he had thought to have been following him had lost wind of his trail, but he could not be certain. Trotting through the trees the dark creature moved, not letting his mind wander nor allowing himself to be startled by the snapping of twigs or the knock of pebbles in the distance.

A wise wolf for age he was. Thunder was a mere three years old with no pack and no acquintences, no allies and no communications with any other wolf within the region; though he was aware of the many strays, some seeking solitude, some outcast from packs and some steering well away from the packs who were not the least bit friendly towards one another. Thunder was aware of this and could not decide which of them he wished to join. Synl was a dog pack so either he would be welcomed but only for the protection and teachings he could offer the dogs. Arnlan was dark and mysterious, quite like himself but he did not appreciate the mystery and unknowings of the members. They had no real clue or knowledge at all about their alphas, it seemed to him. Sallin had brutal leaders and an unfriendliness about it that was strange to Thunder. And there was a newer pack established within the area, a pack who welcomed dogs into their ranks and seemed overall friendly. Not for him. Soon though, he would choose a pack where he would offer his knowledge and skill to. They'd be so lucky.

Still, every wolf feels a longing for companionship and Thunder was beginning to feel that he had to join somewhere soon, but his mind kept him from rushing into the first pack. He must first contemplate whether or not he'd feel at home there else he would make powerful enemies if he decided he wanted to leave. And surely he wouldn't get out without a fight in most cases. So here he was, scouting the beach, avoiding an unknown figure whilst sustaining himself on rabbit and furthermore deciding where he wanted to set up home. His powerful and muscular legs moved him swiftly over the soft humus between the trees and his tongue lolled from his mouth as he panted gently. He contemplated whether or not soon he would encounter another wolf and began to think of the outcome depending on its character.

[sarhea]

Scatterstone Beach....it had been a long while since Ashay had ventured here. Her first experiences in this land had been here on the beach, as a rag tag group of dogs, wolves, and half-breeds had contemplated banding together. At that point in her life, Ashay had been craving companionship, tired of living the lonely life of a traveling con artist. She'd actually wanted a place to belong, to try and make a change. But it never happened. The group fell apart before it began, and thus, Ashay had found herself alone in Manor Cemetery. Ensnared by her bitterness at life in general, she had gone downhill quickly, her mental stability teetering on the brink of the abyss. The cemetery had nearly killed her, the scarcity of winter prey there had almost claimed her soul, condemning it to haunt the place forever...

But then spring came, along with it, prey enough for her to regain her strength, her composure. And now she found herself back on the beach. She would not go back to the cemetery-she would not survive another winter there. And she was sick of eating rabbits. She wanted deer, and for that, she would have to have a hunting partner, or worse yet, join a pack. The lands inshore of the beach were teeming with the scents of game, much more so than the cemetery. But she'd also come across several predator scents, wolf included. One in particular, she had come across days ago, concentrated on the heavier growth of the beach. She had kept her distance, and only earlier, caught a glimpse of the scent owner. Very large, dark, male...It would be her luck to stumble across a male. For the most part, she despised the gender-they were all the same. She had not met many that all she had to do was play little miss flirty and get whatever she wanted. She was so tired of that.

But it got her fed, and right now, she found herself willing to venture forth, to see if there was any potential for an alliance. The male was very large, and appeared very powerful. She would be smart to harness her tongue around him, for she would not want such a creature as her enemy.

She decided her best course of action would be to take herself out onto the white sands; a risky move being that no telling what other creatures were around, but to sneak up on this male would be a mistake. She could see him from down the beach, the wind carrying both their scents deeper into the forest, away from each other. It was now or never. She stepped out of the shadows, the rising moon casting an almost eerie yellow glow onto everything it touched. Ashay's mainly silvery pelt would stick out like a sore thumb, she figured she'd be spotted instantly.

But out she stepped, a confident gait as she strolled out onto the white sands, heading down the beach, aiming to pass before his position, but being careful to pretend she didn't see him. She would observe his reaction, if any, before making a move herself.