Willow Ridge I come from the land of plenty

RE: A meteor shower overtakes the sky!

Roman was very seldom a bad boy. He did what his family said, stayed within the confines of the Ridge, went to bed when he was supposed. Was he the model of a perfect child? Not exactly, but he felt pretty positive he came close. Even Addy, with her wild streak (Roman saw it as wild even though it was likely just her being out of her shell sooner than him), was a good child. Elle was maybe the image of a perfect child. Romanov was pretty positive she had never gotten into trouble of any kind. If she did then it was likely away from him and his sister.

Something tonight though had compelled Romanov to test his limits. He had crept out of the den when the world had gone dark. The young Archer had seen the world when it was light but the darkness was something new to him. It felt scary at first peeling himself away from his family. As he exited the den the boy tossed a glance over his shoulder. Something made his gut clench but he did his best to ignore it as he took a few more steps into the darkness. He would have blended into the shadowy world was it not for his white patches.

Roman took a familiar path to his favorite rock. It was one that didn't sit under a willow. It allowed him to have a full view of the world in the sky. He remembered that he had seen the scary cloud here. Ravenna had explained it some saying it was a sign from The Gods of Old but he still didn't understand the whole situation. Tonight when he looked up there was no scary cloud waiting for him. In fact it seemed rather clear except for all the stars dotting the sky. With his head titled back, amber eyes watching intently, he noticed something light up the sky in a sweeping motion. What had that thing been!?

It's Only Dark.

The dark Archer never felt as if his children were bad – not even Elle. Their temperaments were all very similar and Nicolo appreciated how he never had to really discipline his children. All it ever really came down to was a single look and his children would get the message. As they received more free reign, the father was unsure of what they were doing with their time. Nicolo knew that they would learn with experience, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before their curiosity got them in some amount of trouble. After all, they did have Archer blood in them. The alpha male’s yellow orbs popped open in the communal den, sweeping the area for those that were present. When he observed his children, he noticed quite quickly that one of them was missing. Of course, it would have to be Romanov. Gritting his teeth, Nicolo stretched, spine popping as he did so, and jaws parting in a long yawn. The aging man set out on a light trot, nostrils flaring as he tracked his only son. It was not ideal for the young Archer to be out so late at night and Nico did not want anything to happen to his boy. When he found Romanov, the child was staring up at the sky – a far cry from causing any mischief that night. The father cleared his throat to make his presence known and moved to take a seat next to his ever-growing son. Dark head tilted towards the sky, appreciating the stars that glimmered overhead. Had he not been paying attention, he would have missed the meteor that shot over the sky. The older man’s jaws parted in amazement, yellow eyes gleaming in appreciation. A soft sigh escaped his mouth as he looked down upon his son. "You had me worried, Roman." It was not his intention to intimidate the young man, the father just didn’t want anything happening to him, especially so late at night.

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Romanov Archer

They didn't always appear as fast as they left but each time one of those fast moving dots shot across the sky Romanov always found himself holding his breath. He had never seen such a thing before in his short stretch of life. He wondered if they had to do something with the weird cloud that had formed not long ago. Were The Gods of Old giving him another sign? It still brought the ever lingering question; what did it mean?

Before he could ponder the question much longer there was a sound behind him that signified someone had arrived. Amber eyes widened and his large ears pointed up towards the sky as he caught the melted colors of his father, topped by the pale yellow gaze of his father's ever watchful eyes. At first, nothing was said as the father-son duo sat side by side. The young Archer watched his father instead of the sky for a few moments.

"You had me worried, Roman."

There it was. Romanov had been waiting for anything to be said. While the words weren't scolding by any means (for seldom were the Archer children actually scolded or strongly disciplined) but the message was clear enough to the young boy. "Sorry, Dad." He whispered softly and leaned into his father's side the slightest bit.

art by crowteeths

It's Only Dark.

His son was smart. Nothing got past him, especially if it fell from his parent’s lips. Nicolo’s eyes softened when Romanov responded, a small smile curved onto his lips. He let out a sigh when the smaller boy learned into his shoulder. This was always what he imagined his life like when he got older. Sure, there were some things he imagined differently. His sisters by his side, the pack stronger, but he was content. His children were strong and he liked to imagine that they were happy. The dark Archer’s pale yellow gaze returned to the starry sky. The man’s lips parted, "It’s beautiful tonight, don’t you think?" It was certainly nothing to be frightened of. Nicolo felt as if this was good omen for their future and hoped that it would bring healthy tidings to his family. He dark man allowed the silence to stretch on between the pair, not wanting their time together to end. The father felt so much pride for his child and yet, he wondered what would happen after his passing. Gray hairs had started to form at the base of the alpha’s muzzle, a reminder of his increasing age. After all, his littermate was gone.

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Romanov Archer

"Hmm," He mused for a moment, a smirk threatening to break his features. "Yeah." The young Archer simply answered his father. It was beautiful even if it didn't make sense. The streaks of light that appeared and just as quickly disappeared were not as threatening as the rolling cloud had been.

Amber gaze moved from the sky to his father. "What are they, Dad? The things going across the sky." He elaborated vaguely as another moved through the dark above as if to help him out. Ravenna had mentioned his father had been a good teacher back in the homelands so surely he would know. Of course, Roman also had the mindset that his parents knew everything which helped usher him to ask questions about anything.

art by crowteeths

It's Only Dark.

He enjoyed this time with his son, just sitting side by side, admiring the stars that danced about overhead. His focus was taken from the view above when his son spoke again. Pale yellow eyes moved towards Romanov, softening at his question. Both of his offspring were very curious and he adored that quality about them. The man's tail wagged behind him as he looked back up at the starry sky. He spoke softly, "Well, we always said it was the Gods and our ancestors watching over us. It's their well of sending a message to us." The dark Archer had always been comforted by this. Though he was certainly not a Priest within the Torbine, he did appreciate their teachings and knew that Ele and Adel did as well.

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Shallow water has trapped several fish in a small pond. Hunt Opportunity

He listened with a hunger for the knowledge. It was needless to say he was pleased with the information. The Archer boy's tail thumped against the ground. More information about the Gods. Sending messages through the stars seemed a bit complicated but Roman supposed he couldn't argue too much. It had captured his attention, hadn't it?

"I wonder what they're tryin' to say." He mused aloud, wondering if his father might chime in with an idea. Roman had no practice in reading messages from the Gods nor had he seen such a show of stars before. It was certainly a pretty show, though. Leaving the young Archer with a good feeling about the message.

It's Only Dark.

Nico's eyes crinkled, thinking back to a time before he entered Relic Lore. He son was ever the curious one, but it was that curiosity that would make him wise when he got older. Pale yellow eyes turned down to look at his son, a sad smile playing at his lips at the memory of his sisters and other family members that he had long learned had to take a seat in the back of his mind so that he could focus on his family that remained. The dark man's lips parted, "The interpretations of the stars were always left to the Priests and Priestesses of our homelands. But I always liked to believe that it's those that have passed on reminding us that they are still looking over us." Eyes returned to the starry sky above them, Adele in his mind and heart.

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Priests and Priestesses.

They sounded rather magical, such flowing titles but from his understanding, Willow Ridge had no such titled wolves. Perhaps he'd poke around a bit more and see if anyone was perhaps secretly one.

Ah, but he was more concerned about his father's thoughts right now. His held titled softly as he tried to process the words. Someone in those shooting figures was watching them? They were moving so fast, though. How could the wolves up there even catch a glimpse of him and his father? Or anyone really.

A yawn slipped past the boy as he pushed his face into his father's warm fur. "Can ya tell me more back in the den? A story?"

It's Only Dark.