It was a place that stirred sigh inducing nostalgia. Kale was thoroughly surprised to even see it again. He hadn't been there in so long, not even in his dreams. *This is a dream*, he thought to himself, but the thought didn't ebb his joy with his return in the least. He gazed around the secluded clearing, a satisfied smile painting his lips.
It was large enough without being too grand, and small enough without being too cramped. It was cozy. The area was surrounded by forest on roughly three sides of misshapen circle, mountainous rock comprising the fourth wall of his sanctuary. From the mountain, a rather small waterfall, for all intents and purposes, flowed sinuously downward into an equally small pond that had a large rock jutting out over its mostly placid surface. The forest was dense but maneuverable, the large tree tops providing ample shade around the edge of the clearing. There were a few smaller trees near the center of the clearing that were made for climbing with thick, beautiful green grass all around, perfect for sleeping in on starry nights.
He was suddenly struck with the image a young, smoke gray wolf pup skittering through the secluded clearing. Around the edges of the pup's ears was glossy black fur, a feature that occurred along his underbelly, on the tips of his paws, and on the tip of his thick tail. The accents caused the young one to look quite distinguished, not to mention the way he carried his slight, gangly mass in such an esteemed manner. His trot was jovial and his storm gray eyes were dancing with mischief. It appeared as though he was looking for something, his muzzle often tilting toward the ground and his chest expanding considerably with each inhalation as he scented the carpet-like grass. Though it was obvious the pup was having difficulty tracking whatever he was searching for, his enthusiasm never waned.
Kale suddenly felt deep within himself that he too was searching for something. Without warning, the need became urgent. So urgent that he felt panicky, an emotion that triggered his wolf spirit release. He threw his head back in anguish, yelling loudly as the need to find that something grew. As the transformation into his wolf neared completion, the yell became a long, grief-stricken, melodious howl. When he righted his head and looked around, the little wolf pup was nowhere to be seen. In his full wolf form, Kale began searching for the wolf pup, expertly maneuvering his way through the dense foliage that comprised the surrounding forest. He suddenly felt as though he needed the pup to be able to find what he was looking for and became frustrated that he could find neither the pup nor that elusive thing.
Feeling very put out, Kale emitted another howl. When he re-opened his eyes, he was in the meadow again and standing near a small pond. When he glanced over into the water, the reflection was of the happy go lucky pup he had seen earlier and for a moment he felt relief that quickly shifted into deep puzzlement. He barked agitatedly for the youth to get out of the water. The pup's demeanor changed suddenly and for a moment, Kale thought he had upset the tike and was beginning to feel regretful of his tone until something weird happened. The pup began changing rapidly and Mihkale watched in fear as it became as large as he was, the light in the once happy looking pup's mischievous gray orbs now non-existent, leaving a reflection of hurt, anger, and remorse behind.
Kale sighed heavily, the chest of the now adult wolf mirroring him exactly. Both wolves cocked their heads slightly to the left in confusion before Kale projected a thought. *Who are you?* It only came back to him simultaneously with his projection before echoing all around the clearing in an eerie, mocking manner, the sound of it causing the male's irritation to rise.
Who dares mock me?!
He projected as he whipped his head around to glare at the perpetrator, his question roaring its way across the expanse and repeating over and over again. When the motion of his head stopped, his troubled eyes landed on a fleeting figure into the bushes. Even at that speed, he caught the creamy, white and tan hinds and tail before it completely disappeared. Suddenly, a terribly agonizing feeling of loss and missed chances overwhelmed his being and Kale erupted into a fit of rage and tears, slowly causing his lycan form to emerge.
"Come back!" The words ripped their way from his chest but never fell on any ears but his own.
Kale bolted upright in his bed, sweat seeping heavily from his pores and drenching the navy blue silk sheets that lined his mattress. His chest heaved frantically with the effort to get his breathing under control, his heart slamming uncontrollably against his rib cage. He was shaken β for more reasons than one. His realization of what he had just dreamed overshadowed the fact that he had lost control and began shifting into his lycan form β dream or not, it was a sign of his mental cage weakening β and the thought that he couldn't even see her in his dreams overwhelmed him. Tears brimmed on the rims of his eyes as he glared into the darkness of his room. He pressed the heels of his palms into his face to stop the tears and held them there, his muscles clenching and unclenching as he fought the urge to sob.
---
Antony felt the instant Kale had awoken because the hurt and pain his brother was feeling had jerked him from his slumber as well. Tony battled with whether or not to reach out to his brother to console him, or at least see if he needed to talk. It was the intensity of the hurt that made him decide to leave his twin be. Only one thing could cause that reaction in Mihkale and Antony was surprised the matter had even resurfaced again after so many years. He truly wished his brother hadn't become so prideful so that it would be safe to help him through the hurt enough for them both to get back to sleep.
Tony rolled over to eye the clock on his nightstand to the right of his bed. 4:05 am shone in bright red and Antony couldn't help but groan his displeasure. He was trying to subtly moderate the intensity of Kale's emotions by injecting his own peace into the link when his stomach growled. With a heavy sigh, and a heavy heart that didn't belong to him, he rolled out of bed, pulled on some boxers, and padded down to the kitchen to fetch himself something to eat, not worrying about the possibility of anyone noticing the huge bulge in his underwear, a definite sign of his usual morning wood.
No one in their right mind would be up at this hour
, he thought as he began his descent down the grand staircase.
---
Very slowly, she wrapped her slender, toned arms around her mid-section, her stomach harboring a mysterious uneasiness that was strong enough to wake her β this feat both shocked and worried her, as she knows herself to be quite a hard, sound sleeper unless...
Anaralise shivered slightly and willed her ill thoughts away, choosing to focus on the tasks of the day ahead. From what she understood of her lecture/orientation the other day, the earlier she finished her chores, the sooner she could have time to herself, unless *he* called. She decided it could have been worse than it was, so she continued down the servant hall, on floor above the cellar, and made her way toward the staircase to head up to the main floor. Once at the top, she opened the door that led into the elaborate foyer β if what she was looking at could even be described with such a modest term β and began making her way toward the kitchen. Part of her household chores was food preparation and it seemed like a suitable start to the lengthy list.
