Sleep came easy for Terra that first night with Lotus, his warm, protective presence helping to lull her quickly into the realm where dreams rule. She drifts away, curled into a tight ball at his side, telling herself that, if she uncurled, it would make him uncomfortable and he would shift away from her. Yet, as slumber carries her away, the warmth of his body against her own has the girl’s brown form beginning to uncurl and spread out next to him, touching every piece of him that she can. And that protection that he offers, the silent strength that she needs follows the girl into the dreaming world.

Usually, when Terra dreams, they are nightmares, questions that her family left unanswered the day they dropped her off at that cave and left her to die. She had been too stubborn, or perhaps too stupid, to just fade away, finding ways to sustain her small body with the bugs that called her cave home. They too would fill her nightmares, crawling over her body, worming their way under her skin until she would wake up screaming. And, on the blessed nights that she did not dream (or that she did not remember dreaming), the earthen girl would wake up with tears staining her cheeks but np understanding as to why.

However, the first night spent next to Lotus finds only finds happy, warm dreams entering her sleeping mind. At one point, she even dreams of being held and, in the waking world, Terra presses back into Lotus a little more, her smaller frame a perfect fit against his taller, lankier one. Paws twitch, nose crinkles and the night passes, the sun eventually breaking over the horizon to paint the sky a beautiful masterpiece of colors after the stormy night before. She does not want to wake up, preferring to stay rooted in the warmth and happiness of her dreams because she does not realize that, when she does awake, she will not be alone.


"Terra Qilaq"

Sleeping next to another wolf again was a relief to Lotus. He had grown accustomed to the press of bodies in the large litters of himself and his half siblings. Their absence had made him a little salty, a little harder. With Terra in his arms, he could feel his guard slipping down, until he rested his head on her back and let out a soft sigh. She had fallen asleep already, he had laid there, still and watchful as she drifted off.

He stirred a few times in the night. His sleepy thoughts wondering if harm would find them slumbering, but every time he opened his eyes, he found the night undisturbed. His nose buried in the warmth of Terra’s coat, and the gentle rhythm of her breathing would lul him back to dreams again.

When daylight finally came he woke slowly, sighing into the morning air. He felt a strong desire to stay there for a long time. Curled up around Terra. But he knew the trio had so much to do to prepare for their journey. He lifted his head, and nudged her side gently with his nose, seeing if she was awake.


"Speech"

With Lotus, Terra has the best night’s sleep she has had since… well since she was born. Even her dreams are light and calm which seems like a small miracle in and of itself. As daylight breaks and the taller boy slowly awakens, the earthen girl’s frame presses backward into him a little more. A gentle nudge her side has the girl mumbling, head twisting slightly to hide under a paw as her brain fights to stay asleep.

However, a part of her knows that it is Lotus that nudged her and wills herself to wake up. It is slow, the girl moving into the waking world layer by layer, until her groggy green eyes blink open. Lotus is curled around her and Terra sighs contently, relaxing into him as her still sleepy does not register what she is doing. A huge yawn splits her maw open and, once down, she gives her head a shake as if to rid it of the cobwebs that linger.

All at once, the earthen girl realizes what she is doing and immediately stiffens, moving to sit up in case she has offended the tall boy. As she moves, Terra says, “Oh, uh, sorry. Good morning. Sleep well?” She leaves out the part where she slept great and doesn’t really want to get up yet.


"Terra Qilaq"

Lotus was patient. After nudging her, he gave her time, grinning as she ducked her face beneath a paw. “Terra” he whispered softly, wondering if she’d sink back into sleep. Perhaps he ought to gently untangle himself from her and get started on the day. Before he could decide, she started to stir when she yawned and opened her eyes, Lotus blinked down at her. It wasn’t until she stiffened that Lotus realised she hadn’t fully come awake until that moment.

He released his grip on her so she could sit up “Morning” He said back, his smile growing. “I slept pretty well. You?” he asked. The impending feeling of much to do willing him to get moving, but he found himself reluctant to let go of this moment.


"Speech"

It takes a bit for the earthen girl to wake up and, in that bleary twilight state, the girl gently presses back into the warmth of Lotus. Part of Terra thinks she is still in dreamland since she does not remember sleeping curled up next to anyone… ever. The soft voice of the tall boy calls her name, pulling away from sleep land and into the waking world. As the cobwebs clear and reality sets in, she straightens up, worried that she might have offended Lotus in some way by leaning back into him.

Lotus releases his grip on her and Terra feels a momentary sadness, the dark voice in the back of head whispering that she will never feel that touch again. But that isn’t true, because he had promised never to leave her and the earthen girl believes him. Something about him makes the girl drop her walls and fully trust him. They exchange pleasantries, and, as his smile grows, the girl offers a sheepish grin and ducks her head in shyness as she says, “That was the best night sleep I have had in my life. Thanks.”

Emerald green eyes dart up to catch his blue gaze and the smile on her lips warms. After a moment, she uncurls herself from Lotus, knowing that they have much to do today but still reluctant to let this moment go. As she stands, Terra stretches, long legs reaching out before her, the small pouch with her sharp rock gently rubbing against the fur of her foreleg as she moves. Once has loosened all her muscle and shaken out her coat, the feels ready to take on the day. Looking to Lotus, she asks, “So, what do we first?” Head tilts in silent question as she smiles at him.


"Terra Qilaq"

Lotus gave the girl a knowing smile. Sleeping alone really was no substitute to the safety and warmth of knowing another was beside you. Wolves weren’t meant to be loners, and so long as he was with Terra, he wasn’t alone. He grinned as she ducked her head, shy but growing to him. He was sure of it. She picked up her little rock and pouch, reminding him that they still had meagre supplies in the way of possessions.

“let's head East around the mountain, we might find better hunting before we loop around and make our way into the colder North. What do you think?” He asked, passing his thoughts by her He wasn’t too familiar with the mountain, but he was pretty sure you could loop around on the other side of it, right?


"Speech"

The earthen girl feels safe with Lotus and her shy smile slowly grows. After loosening her muscles and shaking out her coat, Terra is ready to take the day on. Emerald eyes watch the tall boy as he lays out the plan and her gaze moves out over the land to try and lay out the path in her mind. She has no knowledge of any landscape and it is daunting to go so far into the unknown so fast. However, she has Lotus and, with him, she can do anything.

Looking back to him, Terra offers a gentle bob of her head and says, “That sounds like a good plan. Should we take done the meat we didn’t eat and have some breakfast before he go?” In the branches of the nearby try hangs the rest of the deer meat that they had not consumed the night before. It isn’t much but it will fill their bellies for the morning and give them energy for the trek ahead. Looking to Lotus, she offers him a small grin as her stomach rumbles in complaint of being empty.


"Terra Qilaq"