Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2014 23:25:16 GMT -5
TAG WORDS: 878 NOTES: NOTES | The sun was setting. More importantly, a storm was brewing. Iskierka had only made landfall days ago, and for the longest time, she had camped out alongside the river. She hadn’t exactly meant to wind up here, but she knew very little of the strange continent she’d found only fourteen moons ago. Regardless of this, she wasn’t stupid. She knew what the early signs of a thunderstorm were, and she knew that in the middle of the sprawling sand, she’d be a walking target for lightning strikes. She’d seen wolves struck down in the sand where they stood before, had seen wildfires rip apart the sparse shrubbery. She’d seen the weak weeded out, the ones too stubborn to hide decimated. She had no intentions of becoming like them, so she ran. Her muscles burned as she went, streaking across the sand as the temperature dropped. Nearer and nearer the volcano loomed, and she felt a stirring of excitement in her belly. She’d heard the volcano here was no longer active, but there was still some thrill in fleeing from an approaching storm straight into the belly of the fiery mountain. She was scared of nothing, and no challenge gave her pause; she’d intended to visit the volcano the moment she’d learned of it. It was only convenience now that drove her towards it, under the assumption that she might find warmth and shelter from the cooling temperature and the approaching rain. Her auburn-gold pelt was a shade brighter in the sunlight as it reached the lowest point before beginning to sink beyond the horizon, sending rays of light across the sand. The ebony clouds had not yet reached the neon orb. The sand was beginning to firm just slightly beneath her feet, and she was thrown into the shadow of the crags. She could have almost sworn that the ground was warm beneath her paws; she doubted herself for only a moment. With each step that she took towards the dark rock, the warmer the air grew. She had to search for only a moment before her deep yellow eyes found what she’d been looking for: a cave, the opening a bit narrow but surely deeper within. This information, along with the location of the volcano itself, had been volunteered to her by a particularly batty old fae who she’d bumped into near the river. It was certainly the only useful information her jabbering produced, she thought with a snort as she cast a quick look over her shoulder. The sun was sinking quickly now, nearly out of sight; shadows loomed behind her like cobwebs. She ducked into the cave. The heat was enough to make her suck in a deep breath. It was nearly sweltering, but Iskierka reminded herself that this was what she needed. Deserts were so cold at night, and if the storm did happen to pass overheard, it would only get colder. Panting softly, she took a moment to scent the area. Nothing immediately reached her besides a queer smell that was faintly metallic, and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, nothing skittered or crept. The cave was a rough oval shape, large enough for a small pack to cram inside of, and towards the back was a tunnel that sloped downwards. Perhaps after she had rested she might journey into the dark depths to see how far she could go before the heat was too stifling for her to breathe, and then she would be on her way to find a new challenge to overcome. A dull rumbling deep beneath the earth pulled her out of her thoughts. She stopped for a moment, head tilted and ears pricked, but silence settled and stretched on. Satisfied that gushing lava didn’t seem to be an imminent threat, Iskierka sighed softly and settled herself against the bumpy rock adjacent to the caves opening. Warmth radiated along her flank and she hummed, laying her head on her lightly scarred paws. They would be considered an imperfection to a more delicate she-wolf, but Iskierka counted them proudly, as well as the small knot of scar tissue that rested hidden beneath the fur on her left shoulder – invisible unless one brushed her side or ran their muzzle along her flank. Not, of course, that anyone would. Iskierka had not taken a lover at all, despite the urgings that had come with each heat cycle. She had no true interest in mating for love – What a silly thing to even consider! – and would gladly mate out of duty to do so or simply because it pleased her, but she didn’t wish to cart a few bundles of whining, squirming pups with her if she became pregnant. If she were ever able to find a stable pack, she would gladly populate their ranks with strong offspring, so long as it did not interfere with her duties. Until then, however, she ignored her desires and focused instead on her own endeavors. In the far distance, thunder rolled. Shifting to adjust her weight and then settling once more, Iskierka allowed her thoughts to wander. She could only hope that nothing would disturb her here should she finally sleep, and in the morning, she would emerge unscathed and ready to sate her hunger. |
Forged by LUCI OF ADOXOGRAPHY