Mud Monsters and Pack ghosts

He settled into the rhymths of sleep, letting the crackling of the fire and soft rustle of nocturnal critters lull him. Before he could drift off, he heard Malalia begin her song. Her soft voice lifting out into the night in the gentlest of hums. He cracked open an eye and looked to her, nestled beneath his wing, and gave her a sleepy smile. "You have the loveliest voice" he whispered, more asleep then awake at that point.

He must have fallen to sleep before she could even respond, pulled down into dreams. They might have been nightmares after their ghost stories, but the memory of her song chased them away and brought something gentler to his dreams.

An unknown time later, he was partly woken by the feeling of movement along his feather. He didnt bother fully waking as she gently moved free of his wing. He would have fallen fully back to sleep if her voice hadnt pulled him to wakefulness. He jerked upright, almost knocking Saph free of her bedtime perch. "Hhhuuuh?" He asked, or had her words been a dream? No, there she was, looking to something in the long grass. He turned, following her gaze, and stilled. His own hackles rose, and he growled softly, coming to his feet. His leopard and kea wole at that point, hugging tightly to his side and ear. "...Mel?"