chin up, soldier [crow]

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East kept his head level as he gazed out towards the endless plains. The memories of Afghanistan were getting hazy as he tried to remember the scents he used to wake up to. He ached to feel the faintest touch from his beloved humans. Closing his eyes, East tried to keep his composure. There was no use dwelling on the past. East lived in the present, where there were constant threats surrounding him. It had several months since he had got off that plane and ran without looking back; East held no regrets. If not, he would've been lumped with a family, with children probably, and East would have loathed that. East was a soldier, something that had been ingrained in him since he was a puppy. He had no pack to be devoted to, but he longed for fellow comrades once again. He thirsted companionship; something East hadn't received since he'd left. East viewed himself as a soldier, and he would die a soldier. One day, East hoped to find a pack that would hold his beliefs and morals, and fight for what was right.

The Belgian Malinois started walking through the sparse grass. There was little shelter on the plains, for as far as the eye could see. Deer grazed in the far distance, however East was not looking for a meal. Besides, there was no cover to hide in and hunt the prey. Instead, East walked with no real purpose. It was late afternoon and the sun was slowly lowering in the sky. The air was comfortably cool as East took his stroll. It wouldn't be long before he would have to seek shelter for the evening. For now, he had nowhere to go, and no one to see. Clouds were forming nearby, possibly an indication of a storm approaching. East let out a gruff growl, hoping not to be caught up in a thunderstorm. The rain would drench him and East didn't welcome the idea of shivering all night from the cold.

A rumble of thunder made East stop and consider what to do next. He was a few miles away from the nearest forest to take shelter. East turned on his heel, beginning to make his way back to cover, however it wouldn't be long before the rainclouds shrouded his hopes of staying dry. A cool breeze was starting to drift in from the north, rustling through his thin pelt. East did not allow himself to shiver as he ploughed through the oncoming storm. Instead, he held his head high, and strutted with determination until he reached the edge of the forest. There was a bank up to the forest, and East quickly spotted a cave eroded away. Sniffing warily, East entered the abandoned cave, only too pleased to have found shelter before the rain started to fall.

crow

[crow]

The sun was nearing the end of its descent, the skies turning a brilliant rainbow of blues, pinks, and golds. There was more than sunset on the horizon this evening. A dark gathering of clouds, preceded by forceful winds laden with the scent of rain. If one listened hard enough, they could almost hear the lightning in the distance, and see the roiling thunder. Tall grass waved in the winds, gently at first, turning the plains into a sea of brown and tan. Then, with steadily growing violence, the land came alive. Birds scattered, rising into the air in great columns of feather. They circled, confused by the electromagnetic field of the approaching storm, then descended once more to their hiding places amongst the grass.

A wolf stood witness to the changing weather, the tall blades whipping against her legs and shoulders, her coat ruffling in the stiff winds. There was a small rise in the land, a place where one could see more of their surroundings, if only by a little. This was where the wolf stood, ears tilted backward against the winds, eyes narrowed as their amber gaze took in the world. Few animals fancied the notion of being caught in the imminent downpour, and this wolf was no exception. Her gaze panned left, searching for cover. Though her pelt was thick enough to deflect snow and light rain, a storm of this caliber would soak her underfur and leave her vulnerable to the still-chilly spring night. Eyes catch the green silhouette of a forest. There.

Without a sound, the wolf moved into a trot. The plane of the rise was not great enough to warrant her travel down being called a descent, instead she merely moved to the lower terrain. If she kept her head low, only her shoulders were visible over the grass, and they were dark, mottled grey, black, and brown, distorting her figure in the low light, making her all but invisible. Too bad she was more focused on cover than she was prey. A full stomach would do nothing to keep her from being soaked through. Her sensitive nose twitched. She could smell the rain even stronger now. The clouds could release at any moment. The wolf's pace increased to a lope, her ground-eating stride carrying her ever towards the tree line.

The wolf paused, standing before the undergrowth, senses alert. There was a scent of canine on the air, male. Fear was not something the wolf had felt, only an instinctual caution. Yet this was hampered by two needs--to escape the coming storm, to interact and satisfy the wolf's social nature. Too long had she been without contact. With this scent, she could satisfy both needs. Kill two birds with one stone, as it were. The wolf pushed into the foliage, following the scent trail left by the unknown canine. As she moved she began to analyze the smell. It was male, ubdoubtedly, but it was strange. It was not wolf, though it shared similar traits. Perhaps fox? Or coyote? It was of the canine family, just not wolf. The trail grew stronger. She would soon find out.

The cave where the trail ended was dark, its entrance obscured by both the setting sun and the gathered storm. She could not see inside, despite her excellent vision. Long she stood there, peering, wondering. It wasn't until the first drops of rain were felt on her back that she realized she would need to find cover. Be it here, with the beast that lurked inside, or elsewhere. A sharp exhale of breath. Meant as a greeting , a question; Who is in there?

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NOTES. this is gonna be funnnn

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The cave was tight, but East still had space to move around. Once he had sought shelter, he was now comfortable to lay down and watch as animals ran to find any cover they could. Amused, he stretched his legs out in front of him and gazed up at the ominous, black clouds above. It would be any minute that the rain would start to drop to the ground, and East could sense it would be a downpour. The blue sky had vanished, along with the sunlight. The entire land had been engulfed in darkness as the storm approached quickly. The clouds stretched up to the horizon and beyond, and East knew the storm would be a long one. Better get comfortable, He thought as he continued to gaze out at the plains. A thread of lightning burst the world alight, and the thunder quickly followed behind. East's fur prickled with anticipation and excitement. He was safe within his cave, and he enjoyed the thrill of a good storm. The humid thickness in the air was satisfying against his skin, and East breathed in the coolness of the approaching rain. His whole body was electric and buzzing as he waited for the rain.

A dark figure suddenly veiled East's view of the outer world. East tensed, letting out a warning growl. Behind the figure, the rain fell from the heavens, but East was no longer focusing on the weather. The stranger was blocking the only source of light, blanketing them both in darkness. He sniffed experimentally, and the stench of wolf dazzled him. Wolf. East had met very few wolves in his life, but he was cautious. They were larger, stronger, and built for the wild. Whilst East had been trained to fight, it came instinctually for a wolf. After a few moments, neither of them had done anything, and the rain was plummeting with increased force. When no attack came, East shuffled aside to let the wolf pass him into the cave. He had no issue with sharing a cave with the wolf, as long as they both respected each other and neither of them showed hostility.

Large puddles were starting to form outside as the lightning struck again on the plains where East had been standing only a few minutes ago. East tried his best not to flinch at the sudden sound, but he couldn't stop his body from quivering a fraction. He glanced at the wolf, before averting his gaze back outside. The plains were deserted now, void from any life whatsoever. The lightning was a beautiful spectacle, albeit extremely dangerous. He had seen trees felled from the force of lightning. God forbid if a tree were to fall and crush their cave. Finally, after a long silence, East turned to the newcomer. The lightning illuminated their cave for a fraction, and East could finally gauge her appearance. She was not an unattractive wolf - although what wolf was? - and she had a thick pelt to keep her warm in the winter. East was not jealous, but he had wished many times over the harsh winter that he had a coat as thick as hers.

"I'm East," The Malinois finally spoke, nodding to her curtly.

crow

[crow]

The wolf could've stood there for hours, it felt as much from the first tickle then pound of the rain on her shoulders, and caution would've never left her mind. Whatever was in the cave may not be accepting of her presence. The lack of visual contact further unnerved her instincts. One cannot evaluate what they cannot see. Nose twitched, the skin wrinkling minutely, air being pulled into the nostrils. There was little hostility in the air, only a tenseness that comes with the first-meeting of two creatures. Lightning flashed, silent, briefly illuminating the darkness that was the cave. A decidedly canine figure lay within, facing outward. Thunder rolled, the clouds closing the hole the lightning had created. Ears turned backward, closing themselves, hiding her sensitive sense from the noise and rain alike. Water began to pool between her shoulder blades, dripping from her stomach, her tail, her flanks. There was a shuffle of movement from within the cave. Another flash of lightning showed that the creature had moved, allowed space. A tentative invitation? Or perhaps a sympathetic gesture. It wouldn't be wasted.

The wolf lowered herself, ducking her frame, and moved into the cave. To say it was a tight fit would be a gross understatement. The hole was small by any standards, and fitting two canines was no easy feat. There was a lot of commotion as the wolf pressed herself in beside the strange-smelling canine, tucking her limbs and curling her body to lessen the space she took up. Though her face was impassive, her body remained tense, prepared for an attack. A scuffle in this situation would be difficult for both parties, but her instinct kept her ever aware that she did not know this canine, did not know his traits. Nor his dominance level. A low growl rumbled in her chest. In any other circumstance, she would not be here. The unknown relationship between the two creatures could be put aside in the interest of comfort and survival. At least, she was capable of doing so, even if the duration of their initial interaction would be tense and cramped. Her growl ceased, the message having been given, and she settled. The intensity of the storm promised a long wait.

For a time, the only sound within the cave was the breathing of each being, and the echo of the rain and thunder. To rest was the normal course of action for a creature trapped by weather--conserve one's energy for when the storm subsides. Sleep would not come this night. Not to this wolf. Eyes drifted close, but senses remained alert. Even a slight change of the male's breathing pattern would force her eyes open in a flash, body tensing. Though the wolf needed socialization, this situation was one that was mainly reserved for those who were already familiar, typically those in a pack. The interaction she so desperately craved after her time spent alone, would come. Amber eyes opened as the male made noise. A vibration of his chest, two single syllables falling from his muzzle. He spoke the same language as she. A curt nod warranted another low growl, though it was short in duration, only a heartbeat or two.

"East." The word was strange on her tongue, if only because she had never heard it used as a name before. Was this his way of trying to make the best of a bad situation? There was no reason why she couldn't return the favor. "I am Enzane." Her voice was neither gruff nor smooth, instead it was an interesting mix. Decidedly feminine, but telling of the power of the wolf. Now having spoken her part, the wolf fell into silence. There was not much to say, as she saw it. Why ask the reasoning behind their presence here? Wasn't it obvious enough? Maybe he had something better to say. Or maybe nothing at all. She would wait.

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NOTES. lol this is hilarious xD

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East winced as the wolf took the space he had provided and lay down beside him. It was too tight, and East could feel the warmth of her flank beside his. He squished himself closer to the cave wall, huffing from the sudden cold. Awkward was an understatement to describe the situation the two canines were now in. He side-glanced to the female, who was resolutely staring out of the cave mouth at the storm. East could feel every intimate detail of the wolf's left side, and it was unnerving him. He couldn't remember the last time he had been in such close proximity to a canine - a female no less! It must have been when he was a puppy, tumbling around with his siblings. It felt like a lifetime ago now.

After the unbearable silence, Enzane introduced herself. There were no niceties, for which East was grateful for. The Malinois struggled when it came to conversation, and they were again plunged into silence. East turned his head to glance up at the darkened sky. The moon that should be high in the sky was enveloped in the thick, black clouds. The rain fell heavier with the passing seconds, drenching the land outside. East was glad he wasn't caught out there, trying to run through the mud and freezing himself to the bone.

Just as East was beginning to relax, his legs began to cramp at the angle he was laying at. Gritting his teeth, he spared a glance at Enzane, not wanting to embarrass himself. The burning pain in his legs was only growing more and more worse the longer he lay there. For God's sake, East, pull yourself together! He urged the pain to disappear, but if anything, it got more excruciating. His leg twitched, and soon East was shuffling into a more comfortable position, trying not to press too much against Enzane.

"Apologies. Just trying to get comfortable," He grumbled, wriggling backwards until his tail hit the end of the cave. Finally, he sorted himself into a better position, and rested his head against his two front paws. Phew. His eyes were drawn to the patterns of lightning that struck in the distance. There was something so endearing about storms that East enjoyed - as long as he was not caught up in one himself. "Beautiful, isn't it?" East broke the silence again as thunder rumbled around them. The sound reached deep into his bones, and East's fur prickled with the electricity.

crow

[crow]

Time passed. Slowly. Every breath felt like an hour, every heartbeat a minute. When one is anything other than comfortable, time is torturous. What would normally be a simple discomfort is now a burning ache. Every moment is magnified. Awareness is excruciating. The wolf tried to pull her limbs ever closer, and succeeded only in worming in place. A low growl of displeasure. Her fur prickled with apprehension, mind spinning with anticipation for the cessation of the storm. Social interaction was needed, yes, but not like this. The current situation could easily be likened to needing a drink of water, and instead getting a bucket poured down your throat. Ears lay back, trying to block out the reality of this cave. There was nothing to do but wait. Just wait.

The male beside her--East, as he called himself--began to twitch. Immediately the wolf's senses were on high alert, eyes open, ears perked. Entire body tensed, muscles coiling themselves in preparation for a fight. Tension mounted in the mere seconds between the twitch and the male's full-blown movement. His rear connected with her shoulder, the touch sending tingles of unappreciated electricity across her chest, and a warning snap-and-snarl broke forth. The wolf's teeth would not touch the male's hide, merely graze the air that existed around him--a warning, a clear indication of just how fragile their peaceful coexistence was. The male murmured an apology, the acceptance of which was shown by the quieting of the wolf's growl. It hadn't been on purpose, she had never assumed it was, but it was unwelcome all the same.

Once more they had settled into silence, the male's head resting on his paws, the wolf staring bleary-eyed out at the rain. Though it had lasted only a few heartbeats, the interaction had broken the monotony of this place. Now that it was over, things once again began to intensify. Time began to slow, enjoying the way the wolf writhed inwardly, laughing at her predicament. Eyes began to close, ears still focused on the male beside her, as the wolf sought relief from reality within her own mind. The peace last all of one half-formed thought before the male spoke again, once again jolting the wolf back into full-alert. Skull snapped to the side, eyes staring at him squarely, ears perked. Beautiful? What's beautiful? It took a moment for her brain to register that he hadn't been talking about her, and instead was remarking on the storm.

"I have always admired the sheer violence of storms." Gaze turned slowly from the male to the rain outside, one ear still pointed in his direction. "They can rearrange the earth in mere hours, if they so chose, and yet, it is with restrained ferocity that they strike what needs to be struck, and leave untouched what needs left untouched." It had always been easy for the wolf to identify with storms--the wolf had much the same nature. The prey that needed to be felled, the sick and injured, were felled, and those that were healthy and fit, were left to reproduce. Both species, though one animal would lose its life to feed another, benefited from the prey-predator relationship. A sudden thought. Eyes turned back to the male--East, she needed to think of him by his name, not as a creature. "What are you?"

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NOTES. sorreh for late-ish reply x3 feel free to kick mah butt