The night air hummed with the sounds of the life residing within the confines of the forest. The ghostly wings of a near-silent barn owl swooped by, diving to catch its dinner. A snout pressed close to the ground, searching for a single faint scent amongst all the others that permeated the forest. Padded feet paced anxiously waiting for the call that signaled the return to the hunt.
The juvenile wolf raised his head and howled, the hunt was on. The only female of the wolf trio took the lead, bounding ahead of her pack-mates on light paws as the others followed. Over ditches and under fallen logs they raced along, sure-footed and determined until the source of the scent was visible.
Liulfr, the largest wolf and leader of the pack sprang forward slamming into lithe body of his prize. Prey and hunter went down with a solid thud, the other two blonde wolves racing forward to circle the pair. A new deeper howl was raised to the silver sliver of the moon, peeking through the trees. The hunt was off, the prey had been found.
From where he lay beneath the now snuffling and yipping wolves, Rylan chuckled softly, enjoying the playful moment between him and his companions. The playful tracker, Wesser whined and headbutted him, demanding more attention which he quickly received, his tail whipping around to kick up dirt and leaves on the forest floor.
"No pup, I haven't forgotten you," he laughed, sitting up some to rub the soft ears of the excitable male. "You did well. You all did," Rylan added reaching out to pet the female's head only to be intercepted by her mate's bared teeth. He backed off but did not lower his gaze in a display of dominance. His voice was kept calm and low as he stared the alpha wolf down. "Peidan's fine, Liulfr. Relax, you know me."
The large wolf growled until the demon dropped his hand with a shrug. An apologetic look was sent in the female's direction but no further action was made towards her. Rylan knew better than to pursue his intentions after the warning display.
Instead he rose to his feet fluidly, dislodging Wesser as he did so. "Shall we run my friends? Or are you worn out already?" Taking off, he smiled as he heard the others fall into line with him. Peidan suddenly shot ahead as Liulfr fell into step at his right and Wesser loped along with his unsteady gait to Rylan's left, pulling forward a few paces before falling behind again repeatedly.
Together the quartet flew across the ground, reveling in the wind passing against their faces and the chill of the autumn night air. Out of breath they came to a unanimous halt at the forest's edge, panting and breathing hard but with wolfish grins on all their faces.
Rylan leaned up against a tree and looked out beyond the forest towards the fields and hills of the human settlements. He watched as a torch was extinguished but thought nothing of it, instead raising his head to the moon. The silver light caressed his face, reflecting off the four pairs of golden eyes that stared up at it longingly. Together the wolves raised their voices in song to the beautiful moon, making Rylan long to join them in it.
The wolves soon quieted out of curiosity as a strange bellowing sounded not far from them. Even Rylan stilled and cocked his head in curiosity as it was not a sound he was used to hearing in his forest. Had the humans conjured up some new and terrible horror to take this sanctuary from him?
Liulfr sneezed, shaking his head as if to tell Rylan how embarrassing he thought the notion was with the literal forest guardian still present, alive and well. The demon chuckled in turn, nodding his head as his hand came down to scratch behind the alpha's velvet ears. "I know, old friend. It's pretty useless isn't."
Yet, Rylan could not shake the uncomfortable feeling that scrawled beneath his skin as the sound came closer and closer to where his small pack, rested. It unnerved him as all human things seemed to. He wanted nothing to do with it and had just come to the conclusion to leave when Wesser went and decided to do something stupid as was in his juvenile nature.
A second howl sounded off in the night air ending in a whine as neither of the other two joined him. Wishing for someone to play with, the youngest male went about barking and growling playfully as he hopped around, butting heads with demon and wolf alike, determined to start a wrestling match.
'Look at me,' his antics seemed to cry. 'I'm not afraid of the big bad humans and their strange toys!' They tried ignoring him but still he continued, bounding off further and further away from the group only to return in a repeating cycle. Then, just when Rylan's nerves seemed no longer able to take it, Liulfr's paw snapped out and crashed into the prancing wolf's snout in a commanding order of cessation.
Wesser howled in pain but immediately dropped to his belly in submission, much to the demon's relief. He did not fancy watching another pack-fight with the human settlement so close. The last thing he needed was for them to be distracted and get hurt because of it. As if sensing his tension, Peidan yipped from his side, her fur bristling outward as if to try and scare the approaching creature away. Within seconds her pack-mates were by her side and following suit in a warning display.
A massive lowing creature with a humped back and a massive rack of horns that protruded sideways from either side of its head like massive forked paddles charged through the underbrush at the quartet. Rylan could only stare in mouth agape awe at this unknown creature. Its eyes bulged showing terrified whites as it continued to bugle and bellow as it slowed but continued in its approach towards them.
The wolves for their part lowered, their haunches tensing as if preparing to spring. It was only Rylan's staying command that kept them in place even as Liulfr snarled warningly. Still the demon moved slowly closer to the beast, hand outstretched. There was no knowing if it would be soothed by his presence or further enraged. Still, something in him demanded he try to help as it did with all under the protection of his woodland sanctuary. Only the creature would be able to decide if he was ultimately going to be allowed to assist in its terror or get trampled by it instead. He certainly had a preference for the former in case anyone was taking a survey on the matter.
