Why are there stars?
She was always restless, the little Frost angel. Her energy came in bursts, and she crashed often through the day after whatever excitement had taken her fancy. She just wished the night could unfold in the same kind of way. Take a nap when she was sleep, then wake a few hours later refreshed and ready for excitement. Instead, she woke to silence and the stars. She sighed and wriggled her way out from her mothers paws to sit a few steps away from her cozy family. It looked like everyone was sleeping and she knew she would get into trouble if she made any noise.
She did debate sneaking away, but she had pulled that stunt a lot over the last few days and she wouldn't be surprised if her daddy had started to sleep with one eye open. No doubt trying that now would only cut her fun short and she didn't want to be dragged back to bed just yet. She collapsed on the soft grass away from the overpowering warmth and presence of her immediate family and looked up at the stars that overpowered the night sky. There wasn't even a single cloud to mess up the lights of the glittering, shinning, spots.
Astrea felt restless again, well maybe not again, she always felt restless, felt like she was failing both little Illume and Volt when she was home instead of out there looking for not just one of her nieces but both... The other had chased after her sister, driven by guilt more than likely and that was also Astrea's fault... Would she ever be good enough for her family? Would she always try to fix one family member and then come find that another had just fell apart without the Star Dreamer even sensing it? Astrea got up then, she had moved back to her perch, it was not as secluded as it normally was with the family sleeping much closer then normally but even so Astrea still could not seem to go to them for warmth and comfort... It seemed that no matter how much she put herself out in the open she was still in the shadows, her internal star forever separated from the others... Loneliness hit the Star Dreamer then, like nothing else Astrea felt so alone, even when she was in the mist of her family, even when she was shown great affection, she still felt the outsider, like she did not belong with them, here on this earth with them... Astrea blew out a breath and then moved, wanting to see her siblings if not join them, she needed to remind herself why she could not just sprout wings and go to the stars like she wished to do... But as she neared her family a movement caught her eye. A small shape moved, she moved a short distance away from the group and then plopped down in disgruntled dejection. With a small smile Astrea moved forward then and settled near the girl. She remembered the day the girl was born, saw the swirling colors in her mind, saw the energies that was this child's gift... Astrea sat next to the child, her eyes first studding the look on the girls face and the wonder as she had looked up at the sky. At the stars. Astrea tilted her head then, she had not been home often, maybe staying only a night or two so she had not had much of a chance to get to know the new young ones. She wondered if the child even knew who Astrea was. Did she know her as her aunt? Or was it like little Illume again? Not even knowing she had a star spotted aunt? Astrea wanted to sigh again, she not only failed little Illume and Currant but she was failing her new nieces as well. She needed to make time for them both, needed to always be with them and make sure to make time for them. Astrea nodded then and fallowed the girls gaze, she would start now, she knew the child was probably unable to settle down for a full night sleep so maybe she would like a bed time story instead. The wind gusted then, tossing the feathers around her. She closed her eyes then and breathed in the clean scents of her home. |
She would hear the sound of another's approach, the soft crunch of paws on the earth and the general presence a wolf made. She didn't bother to avert her eyes from the stars, expecting the wolf to be going about their business or perhaps even creeping closer to mind Ray and ensure she didn't somehow find mischief.
When the wolf lay down beside her, the little pups ears twitched and she had to fight the urge not to look. Who was it? Was it an authority figure who was going to ruin her fun, or an Auntie/Uncle she could use as a shield to find amusement without getting into trouble?
The person beside her didn't speak, and after the few agonizing moments of waiting, Ray gave up expecting the person to tell her off or take her away and let out a breath, relaxing again and enjoying the stars, and the quiet, and the presence of another person beside her without them smothering her with their presence of warmth. Actually, it was quite nice. She liked how the person didn't speak, there was nothing intrusive about whoever it was, and a sense of comradeship began to form in her mind without even knowing who it was with. If there was one thing she hated, it was people automatically invading her person space. Honestly, people seemed to think that just because she was a pup she craved cuddles, and they couldn't be further from the truth.
At long last, her curiosity winning out, she turned her head to see the dark lady beside her. “Hey Auntie” she whispered softly, that was a safe thing to say since she couldn't remember the ladies name. She hadn't officially met many of her fathers siblings, and certainly didn't know them by sight. It was just, safe to assume that anyone she met within this pack was family to her, even when she didn't know their names. "Do you like watching the stars? or do you not like sleeping all the night too?"
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Ray of course knew nothing of the troubles going on in Astrea's mind. Her own where of course more pressing and immediate then anyone else's. It didn't help that she hadn't yet discovered that others felt discontentment also. No, instead she would pull her gaze from the stars and make a face at this dark shaded Auntie. “Just Ray” she clarified, keeping her voice quiet. She only used her big, full name when she was trying to make a point or look all important. In doing so, her full name sounded stuffy and uncomfortable.
The Auntie told her she was a star wolf, one who liked to stay up all night. Perhaps getting to know this Auntie would be good. If she was awake at night anyway, then when Ray couldn't sleep they could watch the stars together. Her lips twitched as she considered this, and she almost missed another important tidbit her Auntie's words explained. “Ohh... Astrea, the Star Dreamer” she sounded a little like she was reciting, but what could one expect? She had more auntie's and uncles then she had room in her brain to remember! If this wolf was Astrea, if made sense that she couldn't sleep, a question posed to the girl a moment later. The little one shrugged, and sighed. “I don't like sleeping in one big lot. I like lots of little sleeps, and doing things. Sitting still and pretending to sleep when I know I'm not isn't fun” she explained gently. Of course, she would have no idea that she was as restless as the Northern Wind.