The air was crisp and chilly. A light breeze ruffled the fur of a lone figure as it made its way through the dark forest. The snow underfoot was crunchy on top and soft underneath; in some spots the paws of the wolf broke though the top layer and met the cold underneath. The night was silent; most creatures would be asleep at this time. The sun had set long ago, leaving the land cold and dark. The moon was half obscured by cloud cover.
The wolf weaved in and out of trees, picking its way through the territory carefully. The only sound coming from the figure was the soft crunching of the snow. It made a steady pace as it walked swiftly, not stopping for anything.
When she had cleared the trees, Andy finally paused in her brisk walk, peering about her warily. She was not really sure what she was doing out so late; usually by now she was curled up somewhere, trying to stay warm. But tonight, she couldn’t sleep. Her mind was working overtime, causing the young Tenens to be roused from her fitful rest. Rather than trying unsuccessfully to sleep, she had risen from her nest and had emerged into0 the cool, dark night, thinking that a walk would tire her out. She had been wrong; if anything else, she felt much more awake now.
She had made her way to the farthest reach of the Valley territory. The old lighthouse on the edge of the beach lay nestled between many scrub plants. Here, out of the cover of the trees, the moon dared to peek out from behind the clouds, casting a faint, eerie light on the waters’ edge. Padding lightly to the water, she peered into it, seeing her face reflected in the lightly rippling water. She knew better than to go in the water. This time of year, the water was icy and any prolonged exposure to the black depths could be detrimental to her health. She settled for sitting in the soft sand instead, gazing out over the still calm of the waters’ surface.
Ever since she was a child, Andy had always found peace with water, especially the ocean. She loved everything about it; the smell of the sea salt, the feel of the damp sand underneath her paws, and the sound of the gull’s call was all very soothing to the female. Now, there were no gulls overhead, but the water still had the same effect on her. She began to feel much calmer, serene. She knew that once the earth was warmed by summer, she would love to swim here. Escaping the sun’s hot rays by swimming was one of her favorite activities, and she looked forward to that time immensely.
Knowing she should probably turn back soon, the young woman settled down in a comfortable lay instead, resting her chin on her crossed paws in front of her. Who cares if she fell asleep here, really? She didn’t mind…
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