Broad paws lifted and fell repeatedly, effortlessly as the dark figure trod a steady path towards, what his nose was telling him was a large body of water, fresh water at that. A long ways back he assaulted the lines of marked territory, crossing into the lands of a female Alpha without consent. Sure his mind was lingering on his recent activities, like now, but he had stopped and sniffed around the borders for quite some time gathering information through scent. With my name comes a past. And with this past comes certain consequences I’d rather keep left in the archives of my story. The phrase of his new found, so-called alliance kept repeating itself in his head. Atreyu was rather curious as to what part of Zendelrin’s history did he want kept a secret? With my name comes a past… With every name there was past, but only those wolves’ whose actions may be frowned upon by a decent society would say such things. Although, Zendelrin was not the type of character who Atreyu pictured thriving in a well behaved pack atmosphere. But that didn’t explain why he wanted to keep his true calling from those he pledged alliance too; Atreyu had never heard of him or his story. …with this past comes certain consequences. His mind ran wild with hypotheses of his comrade’s previous encounters, most of which were based off of happenings in his own life.

“Remember that young femme who was searching for a lover and a new life…?” the voice whispered heavily. His brain began to pull photo memoirs that had been tucked away and nearly forgotten of that day. “We were still young then… So was she… Cute too. Remember now?” a voice cooed. The memory came rushing back to him as if it were yesterday, a type of recording played in his mind and a voice narrated the scene as Atreyu continued to walk through a forest of trees in autumn bloom.

“She had just left her parents territory, off to make a name for herself, join a pack and maybe one day fallow in her mother’s paw steps and become Alpha of her own pack one day. This was shortly after we left your brother and that bitch, still blood thirsty for more… You played the nice wolf routine well and still being young and naive she was eager to join you in your search for ‘a new life’ as well. We walked for many miles, further into the depths of unknown territory of nomad lands. The look on her face will forever be priceless as you turned and said, “You shouldn’t have left your family… Didn’t they teach you to never trust a stranger?” Both Atreyu and the voice chuckled, but only Tre’s was audible to the rest of the world. “That heart stopping, gasping for breath type of fear is what drives you Atreyu. Her cries were wondrous music to our ears…”

Emerald eyes had been watching, but weren’t really seeing where he was going or what he was passing until he encountered an odd obstacle obstructing his path. Initially he just loped over the limb of a tree as the voice continued its proud tale, “By the following morning, the only trace of our encounter was a mangled corpse of a wolf with many hopes and dreams for her future…” He continued walking on without a second thought until he came across another branch crossing his path. He halted and began to look around at his surroundings, now somewhat confused as to what he had come across. Turning his attention to the left of him, eyes followed a branch that was low to the ground; barely inches away from coming into contact with the fallen leaves of nearby trees, but stretching out another fifty paces or so, leafed fingers stretching crookedly outwards and up near the end of the branch. A single brow raised curiously, eyes tracing the branch back towards the center, where he stood, and then off to the right, climbing up to where a large branch connected to a massive tree trunk.

Eyes feasted on the grand spectacle of the Angel Oak tree that had rooted itself hundreds of years ago in his path. Paws carried him up to and around the base of the tree that must have measured nearly thirty paces as his head craned allowing his eyes to gaze at the broad branches covered with vinery vegetation. Atreyu was captivated by the sheer size of the ominous tree; it wasn’t the tallest he had ever come across but this one was by far the most unique form of timber he had bore witness to. He circled the oak tree once more, spiraling away from the base and heading off to investigate the low branches that made the tree look like a giant melting candle. He dipped his head to avoid a losing battle against a knotted arm that created a low archway as it gravitated towards the ground. The branch eventually fell to the earth, sinking beneath the ground and rising above the dirt and fallen leaves a couple feet away like a sea serpent wading across the waters. He continued his investigation of the old Angel for nearly a half hour more, captivated by how it managed to be described by adjectives not even remotely related; the tree was daunting and yet graceful, wicked and yet wise…

Continuing on his way, leaving the wonders behind for another day, Atreyu came across his destination, a large pool of cool water to refresh his pallet, his coat, his mind and just possibly his soul. His appearance caused a large flock of birds that had found rest on the sandy terrain took flight, the sound of nearly a hundred wings flapping and beating against the crisp autumn morning air disrupting the calm silence that had been laid over the pond like a thick blanket. He moved forward, dark orbs intent on watching the birds stain the open blue sky like a cloud of smoke rising above and floating on the wind as they twisted around, sunk low and flew higher, splitting apart to several smaller fleets and then each finding safety in the tall canopy of trees that bordered the pool’s shore. Tired paws sunk into the muddy shore and waded in up to his knees. He bowed his head to the clear film and salmon-hued appendage lapped at the fresh water, eyes scanning the colors of the season across the water, lobes alert to the noises of the dawn.

Lifting his head his eyes drifted towards the water in front of him, ripples disfiguring his reflection for a short period of time and when the waters calmed he stared intently at the beast starring back… He remained stoic for several minutes and then waded further into the pond. His coat was matted with his blood and that of others, the young couples, Rapture, even his comrade Zen… He padded in a horse shoe figure, out towards the center of the pool, pondered about not returning, thought again, and returned to the shore. He shook vigorously several times, even before he was completely out, liquid crystals flying from his coat sprinkling the shore, bubbling together sand grains. He found a type of tranquility in his solitude, in resting out in the open, in the irritated clamor of bird in the tree tops all while witnessing the sun rise above the horizon and sparkle off of the pond.

*****
Words: 1216
Notes: The great Angel Oak Tree, Clicketh. I had never seen one until my niece pointed one out at a house on our way to daycare and she said, "Look at that creepy tree." It was so cute. -heh- Also, since I'll be gone for the next... two weeks, I won't be able to reply until I get back... Sorreh...