Unexpected Refuge

Quote:A renewed sense of urgency took over Ahstoreth when she learned that the hill they sought was just within reach now. Though it had truly only been minutes that they had walked, the trek had felt immensely longer, each step a mile that she was proud to have crossed. And there, just over there where the hill sat awkwardly upright with half of it missing, was their destination for the night, the place that they would at last be able to rest. Her lips twitched, pulling themselves for a brief moment into a faint, exhausted suggestion of a smile that quickly slipped away, her happiness instead having to stay within.

Leon reached the hill just before she did, and as he collapsed onto the ground she felt a strong tug of pity inside. He might have gone on looking like he head a sliver more energy than she did, but it seemed his own last stores had been spent. Without the least bit of self-consciousness she followed suit, falling to the ground in stages until she lay sprawled upon the cool earth as it seeped into her body to ease her overworked muscles. The pads of her feet still ached, but in a moment, once sleep claimed her, she knew it would be an issue no longer. Her gold and purple eyes blinked a few times as she felt her muscles relax, spent beyond consciousness any longer, and as she heard a whispered goodnight, her lips just faintly twitched into another smile before her eyes closed and she too drifted toward sleep.

Sometime during the night she had grown cold and had curled up, and woke in that same position. Her body was bound around itself, her tail tucked close to her dark nose. Consciousness came before she even opened her eyes, and for a moment she merely enjoyed the quiet, the peace. Blinking her two-toned eyes open, she quickly shut them against the unexpected glare of sunlight, this time opening them with more care and caution. She saw first her own dusty, ashy tail, and beyond that a wide stretch of grassy hills that seemed to go on for miles. Though the air possessed a chill, her still body had soaked in some of the warmth from the sun, and she felt quite cozy upon the ground. But recalling the trek from the previous day, and the hard last struggle she had made to reach here in the presence of company, she knew there was still a possibility of feeling out of sorts yet.

Drawing in a quick, deep breath, the little grey wolf stretched her head back and flexed her legs outward, drawing herself onto her side and out of her curled up position. Her muscles ached, but mostly from the cramped position she had kept during the night, a dull pain the only souvenir she had acquired during the race from danger and subsequent journey for shelter. Overall, she felt wonderful, refreshed, if not still a little dazed from having just woken up. Given another day or two, she supposed she could be back up to her old self in no time.

Recalling suddenly her company, she turned her head and glanced somewhat behind her, not entirely surprised to see Leon there but a little embarrassed because she had acted as if she was alone. Her smile a touch sheepish, she rolled to her stomach, hind legs curling up with her front paws still outstretched, and regarded him after a wide yawn claimed her. "Good morning," Ashtoreth greeted, smiling gently with her eyes still half lidded. She hesitated for only a moment, still attempting to shake the sleep from her sluggish mind, before she found her voice again. "Sleep well?" she asked, though her true curiosities rested elsewhere. Did he feel as better as she did? With an untold amount of trekking still in their futures, she hoped that their rest during the night had been enough. "I feel like I could run across another continent," she joked with obvious good humor, stretching her legs a little where she lay.

-- ashtoreth