·The Moons Shadow·

[Rogue]

Beneath the pale rays of the moon streaked a figure of vivid colouration. It was as if one of the rays of the moon were rushing through the many lines of trees, kissing the floor of the Forest with precise movement here and there, weaving effortlessly like a spirit in the black abyss of shadows.

It was Rogue.
A snow-white lycan.

Her movement became retrogression into darker areas of the Forest; safer areas for a creature among creatures. Her coat was a milky white, purely why she had trouble blending with the night. She hid in pools of moonlight wherever she could, keeping her eyes closed as she listened, blocking out their amethyst gaze.

The she-wolf's ears twitched back and forth in a thoroughly rapt manner as she began to seej out the many noises and their owners. Her mandible inched forward slightly as she held her damp nose to the waning moon, a low howl erupting from somewhere deep in her throat.

Listening...

Her ears twitched again, back and forth, back and forth. So many noises, so many scents, so much like every home she'd occupied before this one. Every night held new scents and new objects, people and creatures to discover. One just had to know how to find them, and Rogue, was quite the expert.

For several hours after leaving the Lycan Tunnels she'd been tracking a scent to keep her mind off her recurring nightmare. She knew another lycan was following her, and she sensed a strong and familiar aroma wafting through the wind that travelled from behind her. It was Amelia, the lycan pup. Rogue didn't mind her following at all, in fact it was rather reassuring. At least she knew her follower for once.

Rogue's mind wandered a little. She was silently curious as to why the younger lycan hadn't replied to her howl only moments earlier, perhaps the dear was trying to stalk Rogue unnoticed. The older lycan chuckled mentally and continued onwards, sniffing the bark of nearby trees every now and then.

It was up to Amelia to show herself, or any other creature for that matter. Rogue's only task tonight was to serve as the shadow of the moon, basking in it's endless ensemble. As the rogue lycan she was, nothing made her more comfortable than being the ghost lycan she was, amethyst eyes with silver dappled through them and perhaps the palest coat of white any of the lycans at MH wore.

Rogue truly was a shadow of the moon...

[†Amelia†]

Amelia was in deed following Rogue; she had been stalking her scent ever since the white she-wolf had left in some kind of panick.

She followed quietly. Amelia knew that Rogue would know she was lurking but she didn't mind. The yopung Lycan pup was worried for her new friend; Rogue seemed to be tormented about the images that had invaded her sleep.

Amelia paused as Rogue howled towards the moon; she debated with herself whether or not to reply and decided against it. Instead she crept slowly forward and accidently stepped on a twig; it snapped with a loud crack into the air. Amelia sighed at herself; she really wasn't very good at the hunting part of being a Lycan yet!

she stepped silently out of the shadows, and into Rogue's field of vision. The moon light shone on Amelia's small body; her dark brown furr glinted in the light and her eyes twinkled as she tried to make eye contact with Rogue.

You ok? I'll go if you say to...

[Rogue]

The older she-wolf stopped in her tracks and lifted her head from the scent on the ground she'd been following. As she looked up she saw a thorn thicket, the base of tree trunks, ferns, and finally the sillouette of another lycan. The moonlight shone down on the other figure's coat, dying it a light brown colour.

Rogue moved forward and brought her nose high above her eye level, smelling the familiar scent in more detail. It was Amelia. Her brown fur looked pretty in the moonlight, but her brown eyes caught Rogue's attention. For once they shone with care for her friend, not that Rogue didn't know Amelia cared, just that the sparkle from the moonlight in her eyes made Rogue really understand.

You ok? I'll go if you say to...

Amelia sent to Rogue, eyeing her with an obvious wish to stay. The white wolf smiled on the inside and walked over to Amelia, immediately brushing her neck against Amelia's in a warm greeting. I could do with some company.. She sent, motioning for the pup to follow her as she continued on into the Forest.

[†Amelia†]

Amelia's eyes smiled at the offer to join Rogue and she eagerly trotted after Rogue deeper into the forest.

So where are you, I mean we going? Amelia wondered...more to herself than to Rogue...but she still wanted an answer.

She followed Rogue a few feet behind; close to her friend's tail. Amelia's tail whipped about widely; not out of excitement like it usually did but out of worry; she knew that something was troubling her friend and she wanted to help so much

[Rogue]

Rogue felt Amelia close behind, the brown wolf's breath gently tickled the snow-white she-wolf's tail as she held it steadily behind her like a trail of her alabaster shadow. Her paws stepped directly infront of each other, gracefully and as if she was balancing on a beam. Her posture was perfect, swaying in time to her steady steps as she moved forward slowly.

As they passed another thicket, this one of tight bushes, a mongoose shot out of the undergrowth and ran across their path stupidly. In a split second with an unidentifiable flash of white, Rogue was on top of the creature, growling as she sank her sharp teeth into it's punctured neck. The animal squealed for a moment, twitching uncontrollably after it's heart had stopped, a few nerve endings having difficulty in accepting their own end.

Rogue dropped the mongoose and licked her bloodied lips, raising her nose to the moon to let out a low howl again. She then stood up and clamped her jaws over the animal, not digging into it just yet, but carrying it as the she-wolf hurried on deeper into the everchanging evergreen.

Just a little place I like to call my own...

Rogue finally answered Amelia's question while her glassy stare fixated itself upon what appeared to be a clearing up ahead through a group of large trees.

We're almost there...

She sent. Her speed quickening as she trotted eagerly towards the spot of the Forest that she often slept in. She was careful to trace the blood dripping from the mongoose and clean it thoroughly before she continued, her reason for pausing every now and then. She would also rush across to some other trees and rub against them, sending any followers the wrong way due to confusion of her scent.

[†Amelia†]

Amelia ran her fastest to keep up with Rogue; she was only small and so her little legs were moving twice as fast to keep up with her friend.

Who are we trying to lose?

[Rogue]

Rogue continued at a quick pace, weaving through trees and leaving her scent on path's they did not follow. She ducked under low tree branches and jumped over fallen trees and logs, the mongoose still tightly held in her jaws.

Who are we trying to lose?

Amelia asked as she struggled a little to keep up with the snowy she-wolf. Nobody...I usually sleep in the place that I'm going to show you so I'm just attempting to keep it a little more secretive from the rest of the forest. I don't really want any unanted guests. Even though the forest is not mine, there are no rules stating that I can't try and deter others from my resting ground. She answered slyly.

Finally they came to a clearing where the gentle trickling of a stream could be heard. Rogue pushed through some long grass and swerved some trees, stepping out onto fresh green grass and placing the mongoose at her paws. She looked around cautiously, sure enough nobody was to be seen, nor heard, and no unusual scents reached her nose.

You like?

She asked Amelia telepathically, gazing around proudly at the beautiful area. Flowers blossomed with deep hues, hardly much sunlight was visible through the canopy above, but the warm rays that did streak through were blanketing the few beds of flowers scattered here and there. The stream flowed freely through the center of the clearing, and to one side stood a large, bowing willow tree.

Beside the willow tree and under a mound of risen earth was a small opening to underground. A den. Rogue tilted her head towards the den and her eyes twinkled with delight at her small but comfortable resting place. There is where I sleep. She whispered telepathically, as if someone else might hear.

It was a priviledge for Amelia to know where Rogue spent most of her time. This was where she disappeared to when she wandered off to the forest. This was sometimes where she spent her nights. Sitting down on the soft, luscious grass she smiled inside, happy with her little home.

[†Amelia†]

Amelia crept slowly into the clearing. Its beauty astonished Amelia; she thought that the forbidden forest was all gloomy; but she had been proven wrong. This spot was enchanting and it took her breath away.

wow she finally uttered as she walked slowly in, being careful to ensure that she didnt step on anything which would ruin the beauty...

This place...wow...Rogue...how do you keep this place so ...wow! Amelia was speechless. she knew that she was very privilaged to have been shown this secretive place

[Rogue]

Rogue transformed into her human form, being naked in this area didn't bother her, despite the fact that she knew other forest creatures could pass by anytime. She sat on the grass lazily, before reaching over to the mongoose and throwing it over to Amelia. "You're welcome to eat it, I'm not hungry." She said, smiling.

She then rose and walked over to the stream, crouching down to wash her hands off in the cool water. She watched her lilac eyes flicker in the rippling reflection and she cupped her hands, lifting them to her mouth to sip from her palms. When she'd drank her fill she turned around and sat down again, watching Amelia's amazed eyes.

[†Amelia†]

Amelia picked up the mongoose in her mouth without looking at it; her eyes were fixed on her surroundings. She walked slowly around the outskirts of the clearing, stopping occasionally to take a good look at some pretty flowers or some other thing of interest.

Once she had completed a full circuit she stood and looked over at Rogue, only now did she notice that her friend was naked. Amelia looked away; she wasnt used to seeing her friends...well anyone but herself naked.

I'm sorry! Amelia said turning away to give Rogue her privacy. If she had been in human form her cheeks would have matched the rose pink in her eyes.

[Rogue]

Rogue looked surprised for a moment, then realised it was the first time she'd been in her naked human form infront of Amelia. She swallowed heavily and bit her bottom lip. "Oh, no, I'm sorry. It doesn't bother me seeing as I've been used to it most of my life, but if you're not used to it that's fine." She transformed back in to her wolf form and wrapped her bushy tail around herself. Her lilac eyes twinkled in a warm and friendly look.

[†Amelia†]

Amleia turned back around.

Sorry...I just thought I might have seen you when you didn't want me to...

Amelia transformed; her dark brown glossy furr melted away leaving her naked and exposed to the elements. Her cheeks turned rosey; they co-ordinated with her pink eyes. She pulled her long dark brown hair over her shoulders so that it covered her chest.

Sorry...I'm not hiding myself from you...well I suppose I am...but this is the first time any one has seen...

Amelia stopped her rambling and lifted the dead animal to her mouth, she riped off some flesh and chewed on it while looking around. A cold chill whipped up her spine; she guessed she would get used to being naked with nature son enough!