The moon was climbing ever higher into the navy heavens above. The stars twinkled brightly in the cloudless sky. All around the usually dead wood seemed alive; crickets were chirping, a owl screeched as it landed it’s prey. In the distance the lull of a stream washing over rocks soothed the air whilst a chilly breeze danced across the barren woodland. It was peaceful. Tranquil one might say and still- that was until a lumbering onyx brute crashed through the dead thickets on his way home.
His pace was steady, a trot rather then a walk as he bounced across the cold, solid ground. Dead leaves, twigs and stones crunched under his leather pads as his rhythm beat in time to that of nature all around him.

With his head erect, ghostly grey eyes alert and ears perked he was on edge. Whilst the woods were quiet, almost dead of life he always felt as if he were being watched. He considered that was the reason why on one else had made this area their home, for you always felt alone even when you weren’t entirely sure you were in fact by yourself. You needed a good deal of mettle to traipse through here during the day, let alone at night when shadows played havoc with ones mind.
Fortunately for Rhysis he wasn’t afraid of the dark. He wasn’t afraid of the monsters that went ‘boo’ in the night; he was the monster.

His march halted as he passed over the small stream that ran through the wood. With a glance around him the male lowered his head and allowed his coral tongue to snake out from his mouth and lap at the refreshing water. For now, the beast was still.

The bitter depths of the water quenched his thirst. His dry throat was coated with the crystal clear liquid and eased the slight burning which had been there before. He’d wandered far today and not taking much time to replenish his water levels; it was only now he was safe in the confines of his domicile that he would allow his guard to drop enough so that he could take a drink. Paranoid? Perhaps, but it had been a lesson well learnt when he was younger, many a time had his cruel father attacked him when his guard had been down. It was a hard lesson, but one he’d never forgotten.

Once he was contented, the lanky black male stood lofty once more and scanned the environment around him. In the moonlight, the neon blue flecks of his eyes glittered manically, contrasting beautifully with the steel grey hues which took up most of the iris. For an evil genius, he certainly was a striking devil and never more so then when the moon illuminated his soulful eyes, took notice of the flecks of silver which ran across his broad shoulders and tail tip. It was such a shame that such a glorious male should be so vile inside.

From no where, a stranger’s scent invaded his nostrils. Within an instant his guard was up and his ears alert, straining to catch the resonance made by the wolf the odour belonged to. It appeared he wasn’t as alone as he had hoped. This didn’t nerve him, in fact he was too alert to sleep so some company might be interesting, but what he didn’t want was for his den, which was very close by, to be discovered. His sanctuary must remain untouched.

With a snort to himself, the large brute turned and followed his nose- he had to find the source of the smell, ensure it wasn’t heading in his direction for it would be too close for comfort. His paws drew the male after the scent and it was not long before his eyes locked onto the silhouette of another wolf through the trees. Through the shadows he could not make out much, but it appeared the wolf was headed in the direction of the stream he had just left- he perceived it to be too close to his dwelling and had to stop them from going any closer. Thus, he made himself known with a short, sharp howl. He stood tall, away from the trees to allow the moonlight to engulf his frame and stand out to the other. He wasn’t afraid and had no qualms in making himself known… the sooner the better.