Sanguine Sands Dug Up from Deep Down

The return of the sun brought new life to the forests, but here, among the rough rock it only served to pull away the drape of snow, revealing the barren red hills beneath. The dry stone was warm beneath the male's paws, contrasting with the sharp, cold breeze that blew through his pale fur as he traversed over the ridge. Albireo wasn't particularly paying attention to where he was going as he snaked along the easier routes cut into the hills. The particular trail he was following had begun to slice deeper, the walls at either shoulder growing into the high walls of a narrow canyon.

There was something familiar about the place, if Albireo cared enough to think about it. The air had become cooler, the rays of the sun barely able to find their way to the bottom of the canyon. Rounding about a sharp curve he caught sight of a crimson floor, and instantly his skin prickled as his hairs stood on end. He moved slower, almost creeping as his breaths came in shallow huffs.

All that red, the high canyon walls. "Blood. Blood." He muttered, digging a paw into the red sand. "Blood." It shifted between his toes, cold and lacking the stickiness and fiery scent of blood. He knew it wasn't, but he couldn't help the turn of his thoughts. His muddy dark eyes swept upward, peering down the long stretch of sanguine sand contained by layers of ancient rock. "It's done," He told himself, not believing it. It wouldn't be done until Deneb made his move. Al was incredulous that his brother had come all this way just to make peace.