Just Stargazing {Zuni/Silver}

[Kismet//Accalia]

Zuni padded along the bare hill. His tongue sticking out as the taste of fox was still there after that short hunt he had. He was bored and amazed. He was usually never bored. Always following his brother or Silver around. But his brother was acting weird for some reason. And he hadn't seen Silver for a while. Sighing, Zuni sniffed the air, hoping to catch the scent of prey. "A few bunnies and a moose. That's it. Nothing else." Wow, I am bored. I'm actually talking to myself.

[Ärï]

Silver bounded across the open plains, hot on the heels of a fleeing rabbit. With a soft snarl the she-wolf sprang forward and grabbed the rabbit's back, hearing the satisfying crunch of bones in her powerful jaws. Dropping the dead prey, Silver looked up at the sky. It was a rich navy blue tonight, accented with the sterling spots scattered across the deep azure sea. The ground was covered in a light layer of snow but considering it was the heart of winter it wasn't too bad. The snow reflected the moonlight making the land around it glow ivory and Silver's sterling pelt shimmer in the moonlight and shine like a fallen star still burning on the earth.

[Kismet//Accalia]

Zuni pricked his ears. "What was that?" He looked around curiously. Am I hearing things? No? There's a familiar scent, too! He started running towards the scent and paused. "Silver! Long time no see? Well actually, last I saw you was during the meeting. But whatever." He ran down to meet up with her. "Hi, again. The stars look pretty tonight, don't they?" He immediately looked up after talking.

[Ärï]

"Yeah" Silver barked, lowering her head to look over at Zuni. "What are you doing all the way out here? I thought you'd be trailing Grug like usual?" Silver flicked her ears curiously. It seemed Grug had been acting oddly recently and Zuni had been distancing himself from his brother. It was odd to see the two apart.

[Kismet//Accalia]

"Well yea, but..." Zuni looked down at his paws. "He's been acting weird. He hardly talks to anyone anymore. I don't know why, he won't tell me." He shrugged. "Well, if he doesn't want to tell anyone, that's his problem, right?" He lifted his head and tried to do a fake smile. "Well, we don't need to know everything about his life. I always thought he was weird anyway, if you know what I mean."

[Ärï]

Silver glanced at Zuni. It was obvious he was hiding whatever frustration or irritation he felt toward Grug's odd behavior. "Well it worries me somewhat. If he doesn't keep himself in line, it could get him in trouble with Destiny or Sirius if he slips up." Silver started walking, her steps light and barely leaving a print upon the fine white snow. Zuni had a point though, whatever was bothering Grug was his business but still, one wolf out of line could throw the whole pack off if something big happened.

[Kismet//Accalia]

"He'll be fine. He knows what to do if something like that." Zuni frowned and started following Silver. "So then... changing the subject, how have you been. And before you ask me, I've been great so far. Except for when I went hunting. Had to kill this fox and..." He stuck out his tongue before continuing. "...it tasted gross. But I killed it fast. It only bit my neck for like three seconds before I killed it. I'm too fast for any animal, I bet you."

[Ärï]

"You are an animal genius" Silver barked, amused sarcasim in her voice. "As for me things have been quiet. I still need to find Sothis so I can train him but that can wait until morning." The pale silver she-wolf flicked Zuni's nose with her tail and smiled at him, looking more playful now. "You think you're fast? Let's test that." Without warning Silver took off running. Her lithe form flitted across the snowy plains under the moonlight, cool winter breeze buffeting her frosty coat as she ran.

[Kismet//Accalia]

"I could give you a four minute head-start and I'd still win." Zuni chased after Silver. With no trees to block his way, he felt like he was almost flying. The wind moving around him felt great. He ran past Silver without even realizing it. This is great. It's almost like I'm a free wolf with no care in the world. He would've said that aloud, but with such a great ability came great sacrifices. He started panting just a little and looked back at Silver. Come get me! I dare you! his eyes seemed to say.

[Ärï]

Silver smirked as Zuni shot past her. That was just fine. She ran with a combination of endurace and speed. Though she wasn't as enduring as some wolves she could bet a week's worth of fresh kill that she had more endurance then Zuni, she wasn't panting yet and she could see Zuni beginning to pant. Her strides remained even, as if it were no race and she was simply running for pleasure. Silver let Zuni see the glint of amusement in her eyes as she continued to run, about a tail-length behind him.

[Kismet//Accalia]

Zuni suddenly stopped and started panting hard. He sat down and tried to take huge breaths. How does she do it? I'm faster, so does that mean I get tired faster? This makes no sense to me. He shook his head looked around the wide-open hill. So empty except for a few rabbits here and there. When he ran in the forest, he didn't get tired as easily. Maybe because there's less wind pushing against me to make me have to work so hard to run fast. Doesn't matter, I'm still the fastest wolf and animal around here.

[Ärï]

"What's the matter big boy? Tired?" Silver barked as she shot past him. Silver's paws beat against the ground at a steady rhythm, silver fur ruffled softly as the wind blew and sang in her ears. Moonlight lit her fur, turning it as white as the snow and moon around her.

[Kismet//Accalia]

"No..." The words barely came out as Zuni still panted. "I just thought that you might be a little mad that I proved that I am fast. You should start believing in me more. It could help you one day." He laid down and smiled. He was in his usual cheerful mood, not caring if Silver got past him. "This reminds me of the tortoise and the hare. I'm the hare and I"m just resting, that's it. I thought you would never catch up to me. Maybe it was just how fast I was going, but you liked like you were half a mile behind me."

[Ärï]

Silver rolled her eyes and kept running, loping across the land with grace and ease. Powerful muscles lean to her bones working with ease as her stride powered her on. Her green eyes drifted toward the moon, her head held high as she ran. Under the moonlight Silver looked regal and elegant, like the Alphess of some great land when she was only a wolf enhanced by the moon's cool ivory light.

[Kismet//Accalia]

Zuni stared after Silver. "Hey! Where are you going?" He stood up, coughed once, and followed slowly. "Remember that time in our old territory, right before... or maybe it was after." He stopped walking to think. Doesn't matter right now, right? "Anyway, it was either before or after our battle against Blood Mist before traveling the mountains. We were both talking about running away from the pack and becoming loners and stuff. This almost feels like we are running away." He made himself purposefully trip. He landed hard on the ground, but was still smiling.