He had not slept, but had pretended to so, watching restlessly as the others settled down or headed out for the night. It was not until all things were calm, that he removed himself from Titania’s side. He noted the flick in his now pregnant mate’s ear as he moved, and he knew she knew he was going. Without hesitating, Zalen moved over to the small hovel in which Shandom slept and nudged his Gamma briskly with his snout. He said nothing, but the look in his eyes and the stance in his body said it all; they were leaving.
The ebony and ivory pair exited the den quickly, making sure not to disturb anyone, though it was almost certain that their exit did not go unnoticed by some. The two moved rapidly and silently into the still of the forest, their paws turned in a beeline towards the borders. It was not until they were almost outside of New Dawn that Zalen spoke, We head to Anathema.
The Alpha then wondered what must be going through his Gamma’s mind at this revelation; Zalen knew very well that Shandom often frequented Anathema’s borders, and it was for that precise reason Zalen had chosen him over Tharin for this mission. Zalen was hoping that whatever good relationships the Qi’Vaex male had forged with the pack would aid them, for Zalen was going to speak on difficult matters.
The trek to Anathema was long, but not too difficult, but by the time the duo came within scent range of its borders, the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon, bathing the world in a golden and eerie light. Zalen slowed as the invisible barrier came closer, and he lifted his maw to the sky and called out a demand for a leader. Then, after his song had drifted away in the wind, the Alpha moved and stretched and twisted into his Optime form. He did not ever do this in front of others, unless completely necessary, but Shandom was a trusted friend and so the Alpha did not feel shame. As soon as he stood erect, the male reached back to quickly tie his tresses into a long braid; when a leader did appear, he would look them in the eye.
Photo courtesy of heathercharise
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