Post by Toiro on Jul 14, 2014 5:20:01 GMT -5
The large grey alpha lay by the edge of the underground aquifer, muscles tensed as he stared down into its dark cerulean depths. He had never quite gotten over his aquaphobia, and would never ever be seen actually in the water, but at least he had managed to control his fear to the extent that he could come down here without the urgent need to bolt back up the passageway in order to get as far away as possible. He had even drunk from this pool a few times whilst the pack had been holed up in Lerelm during a particularly nasty winter storm, and appreciated its cool freshness and constant availability as a drinking source. Airila really was lucky that unlike the desert packs further south, they had guaranteed access to clean water all year round.
It was extremely beautiful down here too. From somewhere high above, a sliver of light shone through a tiny crack in the ceiling, providing an eerie blue illumination to the underground cavern as it reflected off the vast aquifer below and danced playfully across the glassy stone walls. Even with the wolf’s natural night vision, it was difficult to see in this dim light, but Toiro found that he rather liked the cosy comfort of the thick shadows. This would indeed be the ideal spot for solitary contemplation, if only he could completely get over the anxiety he got from being so close to such deep water. Anxious thoughts did not exactly mix well with the clarity and logic necessary to run a pack.
Not that there was much to organise anyway; summer was generally a quiet time of the year, with more emphasis being placed on training than serious hunting or fighting for survival. This season was therefore a good time to strengthen relationships within the pack too – Toiro was guiltily aware that he had become more withdrawn socially since Aludra’s disappearance, and hadn’t seen much of his packmates at all recently. That had to change. He wasn’t doing Airila a favour by spending such a long time grieving for his mate, and he wasn’t helping himself either. There was no point spending endless hours sulking over his loss – it was much more beneficial to move on and instead focus on the many aspects of his life for which he was truly grateful.
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