Aurora Heights i will set my soul on fire

dusk | partly cloudy | 31 ° F, -1 ° C
for any AH wolf, but tag for @Ember

Although the snow had stopped falling from the sky it still crunched beneath his paws as he slipped away from the pack dens. As the temperatures remained cool the sky still stirred with colours occasionally, peaking through the cover of clouds and welcoming the new pack to their permanent home. For the first time the shadow actually felt as though he had found a home. His paws still itched with the burning desire to seek out new territories but at least, now, he had something to look forward to when he returned from his ventures.

He welcomed the cool, mountain air with a soft curve of his lips, his long legs carrying him parallel to the stream that cut through the heights. Their altitude put them at a disadvantage for the snow, for it lingered much longer than it would have if they had set up camp at the base of the mountain. He did not mind—living on the tundra for the better part of the winter atop a large rock had prepared Greer. The abundance of snow was nothing new to him, although he still detested the frigid substance.

A nightcrawler, the Archer could not stay curled up tight to his scarlet mate as the sun dipped below the horizon. The darkness beckoned him, providing the silence that he so desperately craved. He would be sure not to return empty-pawed, for he did not want to disappoint his pregnant mate. He was still adjusting to his new role, unsure of what he was supposed to do, for the spotlight of leadership had never interested the shadow. His silver eyes crinkled in amusement. If only his mother and sister could see him now.

She was late to return, ever the tireless worker. It felt damned good to have so much to occupy her paws, however. Oak Tree Bend had put her to task, but it was different. Their routine was set, their walls tall and without need for repair. It was certain that her disappearance had disrupted nothing. Here, she was actually needed, and her efforts were constructive, creating something wholly and entirely theirs.

Sleep still beckoned, however, and her tongue unfurled in a hearty yawn as she trotted back toward the slumbering bodies of her pack mates. It was not unusual now for her to tuck herself against the opposite side of @Kyna as her mate, adoring the closeness she'd always craved with the girl. It was exactly what she was looking forward to now, except...

The snow soaked up the aurora and the light of the moon, keeping the mountain lit despite the passing clouds. It was easy to notice the one shadow that kept moving, those twinkling eyes familiar but not yet known. Shouldn't she get to know Kyna's husband? Abandoning her hopes for sleep, she chose instead to switch tracks and chase after the man.

"Greer," she called out to him, "wait up!"

Once spring finally decided to arrive in the lands of Relic Lore the shadow knew it would come to miss the bright lights overhead. They were a sign of comfort for both Greer and the newly established pack; a beacon of hope. It would be strange, after so many weeks of watching them dance over the mountain, seeing a dark sky once more. He would welcome the darkness, like an old friend, for it was just as comforting as the aurora. With his new position the shadow knew that he had to be more punctual during the day, keeping his night patrols to a minimum, but he could not resist the siren call of the moon. It lured him away from his mate and the comfort of their den like a freshly caught buck.

The voice of another pulled him away from his thoughts, causing his slender legs to stop abruptly in the snow, his ears pressed forward as he turned to the pale female coming toward him. Ember, he noted as his second approached, his brows narrowed curiously. He did not know much about the yellow-eyed wolf, aside from the fact that she was close with his scarlet mate. The dark skeleton had noticed how Kyna was often sandwiched between himself and the pale wolf before him, so he knew that there was some history between the two. Perhaps their friendship extended to when the strawberry blond was a cub, like his relationship with her. A soft smile cracked his stoic expression at the thought.

In typical Greer fashion, the shadow did not speak. Instead a single brow lifted in confusion; was there a reason why the pale girl had stopped him?