watch where you step!

From the mouth of his new den, Ghoul watched the flurries of snow drift toward the ground. It was odd being alone, something he was taking time to adjust to. Not that he would admit to anyone that he preferred the company and comfort of sleeping in a pile with his siblings, he understood that they were growing and it was time. Having moved not far from his mother and his brother, Macabre, he wondered what his other siblings were up to. Even as the glistening white powder began to coat the volcano's slopes, he knew they couldn't all be hiding inside somewhere. With the sun hiding behind thick clouds, a gloomy overcast shadowed their pack lands. Being raised by a mother who was day-blind, these were the perfect conditions to go out during the day.

Growing bored watching the snow swirl and dance outside of the safety of his den, Ghoul stood up with a lengthy stretch before exiting. Grabbing his skull mask and clawed gloves, just in case he needed protection, he left his three companions behind him to rest in the warmth. Their reptilian hisses made it clear that they wouldn't be leaving the comfort of the den today. Sliding his gloves on and slipping the mask over his face, Ghoul took off at a trot down the volcano's slopes toward the nook. A forest of trees stood bare of leaves, their slim limbs bending in the blustery breeze that began to pick up.

The snow cover made it easier for him to blend in. His coat paled from summer, the only noticeable thing upon him was the collection of liver-colored spots and his piercing ruby gaze. Moving through the trees, he followed his own path. Unsure of where exactly he was headed or what he would be doing today, Ghoul noticed how silent it was. Not a bird stirred or a raccoon in a tree. All appeared to be hiding out from the building storm swirling around him. Snow became dense, practically up to his ankles by now, as he spotted a darker form moving just ahead of him. Even though he couldn't scent his sister, he knew her larger midnight-coated form just as well as their mother did.

Doing his best to stay quiet among the slight crunch of fresh snow beneath his paws, Ghoul hunched his shoulders and slid closer to Widow. Pressing his shortened tail close to his body and letting his ears lay flat behind his mask, he didn't hesitate to launch himself at his sister. He didn't care if she was taller than him, he liked the challenge. Even if she had that damn stick with her, he had thoughtfully brought his clawed gloves and mask. Smart thinking, huh? Putting his cleverness aside, Ghoul began to propel his thickened form toward Widow with slippery steps. Surprisingly, the faster he moved, the more his paws tried to give out under him. Frustrated, he pushed on and squinted his ruby gaze into slits, hoping to help him see better through the flurries that rose up between him and his sister.

Once he believed himself close enough, Ghoul slid forward on icy paws in an attempt to barrel into her.

G H O U L