Bad Weather, Good Company

The drumming of the rain and the occasional snare of thunder were the ambiance as he slept. Leon enjoyed storms, and quite loved when they would occur during regular sleeping hours. However, his sleeping hours had been anything but regular lately. Endless wandering and patrolling had left him exhausted but - for one reason or another - unable to sleep. His mind had been restless lately, and he attributed the lack of sleep to this and this alone. He had thought that becoming Lead Warrior would be enough to bring some genuine contentment back into his life, but apparently he had been mistaken. It had been a few weeks since he had been named Lead Warrior, and ever since then it seemed like his mental state had gone downhill instead of up. Leon rolled over onto his back, paws curling systematically above him. He stretched, suppressing a yawn as he tried to remember the last time he'd felt completely content.

The thought that came to his mind was not one that he had expected, and hardly one he could ever share out loud. It was the recollection of the time just after the eruption, before he'd been reunited with Valhalla. It was true, a lot of pain had flooded over him during this time. The pain of losing his home, of losing his family and possibly not ever having a future again. All of this should have brought him to an all-time low, but instead he felt happier than ever.

But why?

Ashtoreth. She was the only thing he could think of that could have made him feel happy and content in such a distressing time. A smile crossed his sleepy maw as he rolled back to his side and ultimately onto his stomach, where he pushed himself up and into a standing position. It was time to stop being lazy and be at least partially productive. Rain or shine, he was Lead Warrior and needed to ensure that everyone was safe. Azure eyes would open to the dramatic strobing of lightning on the sky above, radiating into his den. Emerging from the safe and warm confines of his home, Leon was greeted with a shower of rain on his head and neck. Without hesitation he continued until he was standing completely in the rain. Thunder rolled and boomed, accenting the lightning dance in the heavens. A sweeping glance would tell him that no one was roaming about, at least not in this heavy of a storm. With a pointless shake of his frame, the man pressed on into the heart of his territory, heading toward the border.

Mind wandered to Ashtoreth as he spotted a lone figure a couple hundred yards away. It was not recognizable with the flurry of raindrops that flowed over his face, causing him to squint his eyes. A strolling pace was taken up as he moved in the direction of the figure, curious as to what other Valhallan had chosen to be out in this weather. The last few days had been rainy, gloomy, and stormy. No doubt this wolf was simply sick of being inside. Rain soaked to the core, he would approach, noting that the wolf in question was none other than Ashtoreth. A smile grew on his lips as he came near enough to be heard over the chorus of thunder and rain. "Nice weather, eh?" A twinkle glowed somewhere in his eyes as he came up beside her. "What are you doing out in this mess?" Surely she wasn't trying to hunt in this storm? The food cache was no doubt dwindling down, but prey would be taking shelter - just as she should be doing. There would be no benefit of even trying in this downpour. "Come on, let's get out of the rain." He had just gotten into it, but from the look on her face he could tell she wanted no more part of this storm.

"speeeeech"