Deepest Instincts
Scout
05-13-2019, 07:23 PM
Sota had never liked the rain very much. The way the moisture clung to tree branches had always proved hindersome to the way the Songa traveled, and thus he'd always viewed rain as a deterrent rather than anything beneficial. Of course he knew deep down just how necessary rain really was, but that didn't mean he couldn't be disappointed when a brief shower seemed reluctant to slow. Instead of remaining just that - a shower - the rain seemed to steadily increase, and with it brought the arrival of thunder and lightning that felt like it had gone on for days. The tiny wolf had sought shelter for as much of the rain as he possibly could, and once the drizzle outside slowed to nothingness he finally crept out of the makeshift shelter he'd fastened for himself and set out to continue his journey into the unknown. Though Sota was far from what anyone could call a wanderer, he'd gotten quickly accustomed to these more free-roaming ways since his arrival in Boreas. As much as he would like to trail after Balsam forever, he knew he couldn't be chasing after him constantly like a pup would its mother - if he got caught sticking too close to him he had no doubt his friend would tease him mercilessly for it. It wasn't only that, though, but.. despite his traditional nature, and his strong desire to head back home to more familiar lands, Sota wanted to prove to himself that he was adaptable enough to embark on his own. Well, mostly on his own. Balsam couldn't be that far now, could he? Tipping his nose to the sky, he took a long whiff of the night's damp air. The moon overhead illuminated the swampy marsh and made travel much easier than he'd feared. The ground seemed to glisten with moisture, and what once had been mostly solid ground seemed to sink lower and lower beneath his paws. The water he had begun to wade through didn't bother him as much as the rain seemingly had; hopefully by tomorrow the sun would come and begin to dry the lands once again. He found it hard to shake the feeling of vulnerability his position gave him, but he saw no signs of strangers who might interrupt his journey. Only occasionally did he find his attention captured by the various wildlife, by the croaking of the frogs and the occasional rustle of wings of the birds that made this sanctuary their home. Just when Sota wasn't sure he wanted to sink much further into the marsh, he realized his paws had found solid ground again. Ahead of him a tall willow tree swayed in the night's gentle breeze, its boughs reaching low to the ground and casting eerie shadows across the marsh. The scent of a fresh kill touched his nose before that of a stranger did, as his paws found solid ground. His once-eager pawsteps slowed, unsure of what he was walking into - at the base of the tree he could make out the silhouette of a moving figure, and instinctively he froze as he tried to scope out the situation he might be inadvertently walking into. |