Stars in her eyes

Even though it was a chilly winter night, and Clove was tucked snugly into her mother and father’s chambers with her siblings, she found herself having a hard time falling asleep. She kept tossing and turning, accidentally smacking a sibling or two with a flopping paw. Thoughts of what might exist beyond their home swarmed inside of her mind, creating a feeling of excitement but also uneasiness. She had so much fun exploring with her father that she was eager to do it again, but didn’t want to bother him when he was busy. So she waited, rather impatiently, until he offered to take her out again.

It was nearly midnight when she finally decided to slip away from the chambers, sneaking out the massive doors that led to the hallway of the Carpathius wing. She made her way to the nearest stairwell, figuring it might be useful to tire herself out by going up a few flights. And boy, was she right. By the time she reached the third floor, she was huffing and puffing. Deciding to give herself time to catch her breath, Clove walked down the hallway of the third floor, admiring the tapestries and murals painted along the walls.

As she came around a bend in the pathway, the soft illumination of light caught her attention. It was emanating from the cracked door of a bedroom, likely from a lit-up fireplace. She could hear the rustling of papers, the tapping of nails against the floor, and the cracking of the burning wood. All of it piqued her interest, and she found herself being drawn to the commotion. She knew that whoever it was, they would be family or a friendly wolf within the pack. So she wasn’t afraid to push her luck and spy on them.

Peeking her head into the crack of the door, Clove swept her gaze across the room. It was a beautiful setup, and feminine in her opinion. In the corner of the interior wall, a silhouette lingered near what looked like a desk, shuffling through papers that were illuminated by the subtle glow of the fireplace. “Hello?” She called out, trying to catch the attention of the stranger but also not trying to startle them during their work.

"Clove Carpathius"