Shandom so rarely slept well, that this particularly luxurious night was a delicious treat he knew he would end up savoring for quite some time. He'd awoken, of course, slightly earlier than the rest of the pack - it was only natural, the male would remain an early bird regardless of how well he slept. The pale man enjoyed the quietness of mornings, with only the chirping of a few winter birds and the rustle of the wind in the trees. There were so rarely any complications to ruin its peace, and on many days he would slink outside the den before many woke and appreciate the rising beauty of the morning sun. There were so many colors that danced on the admittedly sparse snow; it was like an array of rainbows and art, created just for him and his own enjoyment. On a face where there were so few genuine smiles and more serious expressions, Shandom always appreciated the true grin that spread across his lips whenever he looked at dawn's horizon. The birth of a new day - he could appreciate it. The natural beauty of each day's new dawn made him appreciate his own New Dawn; Shandom truly loved his pack, even if he did have a grievance with the Betess.
Try as he might, the male could not bring himself to understand the woman's kindness to Noah that day. She had blatantly chosen the Omega before him, choosing to show him disrespect he had not earned. It made Shandom's guard hairs prickle to consider the thought, and the man was still angry over the incident. His respect for Soran had decreased, though hopefully not noticeably, and so many thoughts were jumbled in his already weary mind. What could he do about the situation? He understood familial love - he understood it more than he would care to admit, if he were being honest - but rules and hierarchy held a special place in the white subordinate's heart. It was part of the reason he aided in the foundation of New Dawn, so he could have a place where following instinctual rules would be respected and smiled upon. He'd only sought to help Ciara and act on the Alpha's orders - there was no reason for Soran to treat him as she had done, and yet there was nothing he could do about it. The woes of having such a lowly rank bothered him intensely; he would need to improve his standing in the pack, and quickly, though he was not quite sure how exactly to go about it.
Curled into himself in a warm little ball, Shandom kept his eyes closed as he mulled over these thoughts. Soon, he would go outside and embrace the new morning, perhaps with a little more vigor than usual. Sleeping without the plagues of nightmares was a rarity, and it filled him with renewed energy. But before he could stretch his legs out, or even make any signs of consciousness, the man heard a familiar voice - the soft, older voice of Soran, the Betess he'd just been considering. Yawning and stretching, Shandom stood, his joints perhaps a little stiffer than they might have been when he was younger. I am awake, Betess. Would you like to come in here, or shall we go outside? His tones were neutral, not overtly friendly nor antagonistic; he did not with to incense a high ranking wolf this early in the morning. He came into the light and gave her a small, respectful smile; his posture was submissive, but he had just awoken - rolling onto his belly would only ensure he fell back asleep. Shandom hoped Soran understood.
.
[/html]