stars on the horizon (solstice)

Miksa could not believe how different the territory was here compared to the rocky forest where he and his brother had been born. It was like his mother had dragged them to an entirely different world than what he was used to, everything bright and green and warm. And soggy. Clouds had been a near constant since they had traveled south, and occasionally rain or sprinkles too, but today there was sunshine enough to make the grounds easier to walk on and considering all the walking that his family had been doing lately the mostly white boy was incredibly happy about it.

He could still feel a bit of mud between his toes as he stood beside his mother and Shtiya and carefully he flexed them, staring down at his paws with critical yellow eyes. How many steps had he taken to get here? How much ground covered? It felt like a lot, and now this new, strange place as going to be their home. Thinking of that conversation his mother had had with them, Miksa lifted his bright stare to glance outward across the plains and felt his breath catch when he noticed someone coming. The plan his mother had spoken of seemed to be going according to plan.

The changes made him anxious, nervous, and quietly the boy tucked himself a little more closely against his mother's white side, wishing somehow that he could blend right in there and remain unnoticed while the adults conversed and went about all the technicalities that came with getting a new home.