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Would it really matter, if you were to count the days left with your hands?

I measured distance in lines departing the rest of my life.

Dear Luna shows her face tonight, cradled in the dark velvet blanket lined in shimmering glitter. She graced the darkened world with her presence, allowing those of the night to bask blissfully in her radiant silver glow. It was a mysterious feeling she would give this one wanderer, who could see the beauty in the mundane, who could appreciate the importance of her existence, while she helped illuminate the path to his own self-discovery even as the world around him slept. She beckoned him to sing to her, to tell her of his experiences, his thoughts, his feelings and desires. All remained silent around him, the wind ceasing its symphony against the holes and hollows of the massive stones, steadying its caress against the bare limbs of trees. Mist rolled along his ankles, taking her light for its own and further immersing him in the dream-like reality as it returned the silvery luminance below him. His paws stirred the still pools as he wandered from one stone slab to the next, jutting towards the sky like the jagged fangs of a massive beast. Never before had he seen boulders take such shape and size, and at any other time that this might have wondered of their presence. Perhaps they were the cause of these feelings he felt right now? He was feeling unusually lighthearted this eve, somehow empowered, as if the moon’s presence had somehow struck him with a surge of energy. He was far from feeling like he should turn in for the night and more like charging through the grass and mist, to watch the world rush by and spread before his eager step.

But Angelo wasn’t the kind to just run around like an idiot for no practical reason. Not alone anyway. Where would be the fun in that, even though the feeling was immensely tempting at the moment. He decided that he would rather sing instead, the night being perfect and feeling sufficiently out of range of any possible ears picking up the sound. It wasn’t that he was shy or cautious- if it drew company towards him, he’d considered it a bonus. But he put his best efforts without the presence of an audience, without the pressure of scrutiny to waver his voice or fault his tone.

With a nonchalant glance around, he tossed his head back and howled. Long, deep, mirthful, haunting, echoing into the silence of the night.

(I think I might use an actual song for this if you don't mind. Or make up my own. I don't know.)

Caprina ears perked with the new haunting hum that seemed to be carried on the winds. Though the sound would've chilled anyone else, as Caprina looked up at the stars and saw the moon light up the earth below, making the haunting mist seem more like silver dust, Caprina couldn't be afraid. She wanted to join in this sound. The sound that danced in the silver dust and sang to the stars in the sky. She followed the sound as if it was a path, leading her to it's source of music.

She fond herself trotting into some sort of ring surrounded by tall stones made silver in the moon's light. The sheer size of them fascinated her and trigger the most of her curiosity. Her senses were on high alert as she strode around to inspect them. There were carvings on the stone that fascinated Caprina. She couldn't understand their meaning, but she could tell that no wolf paws made them. Humans had made these. But she knew not how.

She then found the source of the hum. A large wolf whose fur was adourned in all colors of creams, grays, and blacks. The cream reminded her of the grass of the prairie she crossed shortly after she had left her pack. The black seemed to be the color of chard wood and the grays were the very stones of the earth. Caprina pictured that this wolf had been made from a charred, dry prairie field. The stone was left bare from the recent fire and the black was the charred plants that had perished. But the cream, the pale orange that adorned some parts, showed life in the prairie. There was resolve in the land that would not surrender. And his eyes only compacted the metaphor with a pale blue color, almost like the sky, the essence of life that hovered over all of them.

Caprina listened to his hum and smiled at the tune. It was low and haunting, but there was a bright amusement to it. She looked around and gazed at the tall stones that guarded this place. The fog painted the blades under her feet with dew that blanket the coming morning.

And then a song came to her. It was one her mother had taught her about heroes in war.

"The silver light
shinin' bright
Surroun'ed our heroes last bed.

The mourners come
with mournful hums
to mark our poor lads' deaths.

For to battle they ran
With strength in their clan
To meet their fate at last.

Though our riv'ls were great
They fought in foggy wake
An' "

Her mood dimmed. She had forgotten the rest. Her mother had sang it to her when she was a pup. However as she grew up, the song had stopped, and now she only remembered those lines. For the first time in since she left the pack, Caprina felt a longing to go back.

Hythyr trekked along exploring the vast land of Torva. His travels brought him to the outer lands this night. The sky was illuminated with the bathing silver glow of the moon and glittering diamond stars adorned it's brow. The soil coated warrior took in a deep breath relaxing as he enjoyed the atmosphere of this distant place. He was a little weary from his travels and looked about to find a suitable spot for him to rest the night away. As he looked he heard a clear howl shatter the silence of the clearing. The somewhat haunting sound drew Hythyr's curiosity and he couldn't help but find the source. Monoliths guarded a circle, their purpose unknown to the young fighter. Humans had obviously built this here but Hythyr didn't understand what their use could possibly be. Humans often made little sense in their endeavors and the wolf understand their reasoning, but he figured that it must be of some use to them. Hythyr spotted the source of the sound; a male sitting about nonchalantly as a newcomer sang her own song. There was something familiar about the lady; Hythyr thought he had met her before but he wasn't sure where. He shrugged at the thought and approached the strangers. "Greetings. I see this night has inspired song in the hearts of you two. What brings you to this isolated structure in the clearing?" "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

Hythyr trekked along exploring the vast land of Torva. His travels brought him to the outer lands this night. The sky was illuminated with the bathing silver glow of the moon and glittering diamond stars adorned it's brow. The soil coated warrior took in a deep breath relaxing as he enjoyed the atmosphere of this distant place. He was a little weary from his travels and looked about to find a suitable spot for him to rest the night away. As he looked he heard a clear howl shatter the silence of the clearing. The somewhat haunting sound drew Hythyr's curiosity and he couldn't help but find the source. Monoliths guarded a circle, their purpose unknown to the young fighter. Humans had obviously built this here but Hythyr didn't understand what their use could possibly be. Humans often made little sense in their endeavors and the wolf understand their reasoning, but he figured that it must be of some use to them. Hythyr spotted the source of the sound; a male sitting about nonchalantly as a newcomer sang her own song. There was something familiar about the lady; Hythyr thought he had met her before but he wasn't sure where. He shrugged at the thought and approached the strangers. "Greetings. I see this night has inspired song in the hearts of you two. What brings you to this isolated structure in the clearing?" "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

Hythyr trekked along exploring the vast land of Torva. His travels brought him to the outer lands this night. The sky was illuminated with the bathing silver glow of the moon and glittering diamond stars adorned it's brow. The soil coated warrior took in a deep breath relaxing as he enjoyed the atmosphere of this distant place. He was a little weary from his travels and looked about to find a suitable spot for him to rest the night away. As he looked he heard a clear howl shatter the silence of the clearing. The somewhat haunting sound drew Hythyr's curiosity and he couldn't help but find the source. Monoliths guarded a circle, their purpose unknown to the young fighter. Humans had obviously built this here but Hythyr didn't understand what their use could possibly be. Humans often made little sense in their endeavors and the wolf understand their reasoning, but he figured that it must be of some use to them. Hythyr spotted the source of the sound; a male sitting about nonchalantly as a newcomer sang her own song. There was something familiar about the lady; Hythyr thought he had met her before but he wasn't sure where. He shrugged at the thought and approached the strangers. "Greetings. I see this night has inspired song in the hearts of you two. What brings you to this isolated structure in the clearing?" "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

Would it really matter, if you were to count the days left with your hands?

I measured distance in lines departing the rest of my life.

He drew out the final note before lowering his gaze to the strangers that gathered, a sense of satisfaction pulling the corners of his dark lips. Through his travels through the lands, he had picked up indications of the presence of other wolves dwelling in the area, though couldn’t say with complete certainty that they still did. The lands were fresh and untainted with the stink of territorial hubris, so perhaps it was simply another area where the few without homes search and seek food and shelter. He certainly couldn’t tell from their presence whether the wolves had packs of their own or, like him, were just other lost souls heeding the call of companionship. If the former, then in the least none looked perturbed to find him there, and that suited him just fine.

He approached the female in a languid saunter, eyes low and observing with the tiniest glint of interest. Even the moon in its proudest night couldn’t accurately reveal to him all the details one would need to see to precisely judge a person through appearance alone. No, that was her brother’s- the sun’s job. Hers was to accent upon it, the simplicity in her monochrome touch forcing to draw out only the most striking of features, for what beauty it held, or horror it concealed. And what he saw in the glory in Luna’s smile was a surprisingly young female, enjoying the newfound freedom of command of her life, roaming the earth as proud and eager as pups escaping the burrow, hungry to find what awaited them. Her warm amber gaze was full of curiosity, but gazed longingly past him as her own song wavered, as if struggling to find the rest of a forgotten melody.

“You sing wonderfully, my dear,” he spoke softly, as if preserving the sanctity of the silence around them. “A tribute for the fallen, to honor those that honor us with their lives. A fitting counterpoint to a song celebrating the beauty of existence. You have my appreciation and my gratitude.”

With a brief nod, he gazed up at the other wolf, another of about just the same age as himself or maybe slightly younger. He really couldn’t accurately judge from appearance, especially with the male’s pelt melting in the surrounding darkness with only the shining silver lining the silken lengths and reflecting the viridian of his gaze to mark his presence. Though from words he imparted, kind yet confident, he could hazard a somewhat accurate guess. Angelo smiled and shrugged at his inquiry. “Enjoying the night, my brother. Little things, like the peace of the night and the moon at its peak, is enough to draw inspiration in the calmest of souls willing to find reason to celebrate. Although my business in this specific area is simply mere happenstance.” He gazed upon the monoliths, never noticing before in his lunar-fueled dance amongst them that they indeed seemed to be arranged in a specific pattern across the earth. Imperious observing figures, sat neatly in a circle, concentrated in the field in the center where something of some importance would transpire and be judged.

“And you, would you happen to know this place? And the meaning of-“ he nodded up to the stones. “-those?” He couldn't think that the stones held any actual meaning, but their presence and arrangement was curious enough to merit some sort of 'purpose'.

Caprina smiled at the wolf with the charred plain fur complimented her song. She looked over to see the other wolf, the one she had seen before in the woods as he spoke to his lost mother. She could make out a vague outline of his large soil colored shape. Her eyes were more attentive to detail than the eyes of others were.

The brown one asked about how they came here. It was a question Caprina asked herself all too often. Her curiosity led her to strange places many times. She would feel a tugging at her paws that would lead her to a strange and new place. Like just now, when she followed the path of the prairie colored wolf's strange song.

The prairie wolf asked about the monolith's. Caprina answered him, "I wish I knew. I s'ppose they speak of some legen's. Maybe some human legen's. So you know anythin'?" She asked the dark wolf.

Hythyr listened to the question carefully. He thought about the hulking chunks of stone in the ground. He contemplated the purpose that they could have probably held. "I'm not sure of what purpose these monoliths hold. It most likely humans that built them; maybe it was some religious thing." Hythyr walked to the center of the monoliths and looked to the jewel encrusted sky. Some of the constellations seemed to line up with the edges of the rock slightly. "Perhaps it had something to do with the sky." He looked at the wolves before him. "As for its purpose for wolves, I hear tell of it being used as a ring for combat. I think it's also been used a place for ritual sacrifice. However, I'm just going on what I've heard other wolves spoke of it during my childhood." Hythyr sniffed the air and got a familar scent from the female. He thought he remembered it from some time not long ago. He turned and faced her. "You seem a little familiar. Have we met?" "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

Hythyr listened to the question carefully. He thought about the hulking chunks of stone in the ground. He contemplated the purpose that they could have probably held. "I'm not sure of what purpose these monoliths hold. It most likely humans that built them; maybe it was some religious thing." Hythyr walked to the center of the monoliths and looked to the jewel encrusted sky. Some of the constellations seemed to line up with the edges of the rock slightly. "Perhaps it had something to do with the sky." He looked at the wolves before him. "As for its purpose for wolves, I hear tell of it being used as a ring for combat. I think it's also been used a place for ritual sacrifice. However, I'm just going on what I've heard other wolves spoke of it during my childhood." Hythyr sniffed the air and got a familar scent from the female. He thought he remembered it from some time not long ago. He turned and faced her. "You seem a little familiar. Have we met?" "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

Hythyr listened to the question carefully. He thought about the hulking chunks of stone in the ground. He contemplated the purpose that they could have probably held. "I'm not sure of what purpose these monoliths hold. It most likely humans that built them; maybe it was some religious thing." Hythyr walked to the center of the monoliths and looked to the jewel encrusted sky. Some of the constellations seemed to line up with the edges of the rock slightly. "Perhaps it had something to do with the sky." He looked at the wolves before him. "As for its purpose for wolves, I hear tell of it being used as a ring for combat. I think it's also been used a place for ritual sacrifice. However, I'm just going on what I've heard other wolves spoke of it during my childhood." Hythyr sniffed the air and got a familar scent from the female. He thought he remembered it from some time not long ago. He turned and faced her. "You seem a little familiar. Have we met?" "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

Would it really matter, if you were to count the days left with your hands?

I measured distance in lines departing the rest of my life.

Angelo gazed up at the structures again, his façade seemingly glossed over in wonder and deep acknowledgement of the male’s presumptions, nodding sagely in understanding as he connected each piece of information to make logical sense.

In actuality, his thoughts ran along the course of, ‘What the heck are humans.' Were they what his mother referred to as the ‘two-legged’ creatures that were responsible for the downfall of her original pack? He personally had never witnessed such a beast, though what he had learned about it through word of mouth painted them as fearsome monstrosities, capable of expelling fire and brimstone and striking down a wolf through mere will alone.

Some believed they were actually gods, descended from the heavens- or demons, arising from the pits of hell- to punish the wolves for their arrogance, to seek retribution for their sins, to cleanse the land of the tainted haven to be reformed and reborn anew. It would certainly explain the abstract concept of this strange arrangement, leaning more on the divine and the spiritual. And although Angelo was a follower of neither, he did find the information enlightening in a way, transcending the mortal boundaries of one’s perception of their purpose on this plane. Something could exist further than that, a map of their fates stretched across an omniscient blanket, designed by the unseen hand that ever-so-suggestively pushes its creations down the path it wishes to tread. Though it cannot force them to follow as it wishes- it becomes their decision to accept or not.

He watched the other two interact, one striking some familiarity with the other. Supposing he was the odd man out in this encounter, Angelo kept respectfully silent, wandering amongst the stones and observing the patterns carved upon its faces. If this was a place where wolves normally congregate, he couldn’t pick from it any clues that could tell him about it, the earth and his feet concealed by the ethereal mist. 'Spirits, perhaps,' he thoughtfully regarded, if this place was indeed regularly used for ritualistic sacrifice. This romp and flight of fancy was certainly becoming more that he initially imagined.

(ok I'm sneaking in more backstory and pack belief in this. :D Idk if that was the original reason for the monoliths.)

The idea of sacrifices and duels triggered something in Carpina's memory. She went to approach the brown wolf, when her foot stepped on something hard. She stepped back in surprise. Her observant senses were surprised by this new development. She looked down, pushing away all the grass and weeds to see it was a stone. In the stone was an odd mark. Caprina had to squint to read it since it was so dark and the mark was so worn. However, her eyes, like most of the time, did not fail her, and she managed to make out what it was. It resembles a some twisting lines that coiled together in a circle. Caprina recognized it as the sign of the Creator. Her mother had etched it in the dirt when she spoke of the first story of how wolves were made.

"You seem familiar. Have we met?" asked the brown wolf.

Caprina's fur prickled. She recalled seeing him in the clearing and watching him talk to his dead mother. She didn't know if the wolf would appreciate that she told him that. Instead she lied slightly. "Hmmm... I don't think so. But maybe we crossed paths once. But it's been rude o' me to not introduce meself. Me name's Caprina Lunari. I come from the North. An' to be 'onest, I think I know the legend (at least the legend me pack told me) about this place. Would ye like to hear it?"

The wolfess seemed a little startled that they might have met before. He shrugged off the thought. She walked about and paw at the ground and looked at something. She offered her name and asked if they wanted to hear her story. Hythyr gave Caprina a slight bow and introduced himself to her. "My apologies sir and madam, I'm Hythyr, Alyxian Champion at your service. What is this about a legend?" Hythyr was always curious to hear a new story. His mother had told him plenty when he was a young pup. That silly legend of the brown goat was one of his favorites. He turned to the male who had called out the musical note that brought him here. "Might I inquire as to your name good sir?" Hythyr had noticed that the wolf had not said much. Was he shy? Hythyr wondered about the guy, he was a bit mysterious. Hythyr settled down to listen to Caprina's story as nostalgic memories of his own mother filled his head. "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

The wolfess seemed a little startled that they might have met before. He shrugged off the thought. She walked about and paw at the ground and looked at something. She offered her name and asked if they wanted to hear her story. Hythyr gave Caprina a slight bow and introduced himself to her. "My apologies sir and madam, I'm Hythyr, Alyxian Champion at your service. What is this about a legend?" Hythyr was always curious to hear a new story. His mother had told him plenty when he was a young pup. That silly legend of the brown goat was one of his favorites. He turned to the male who had called out the musical note that brought him here. "Might I inquire as to your name good sir?" Hythyr had noticed that the wolf had not said much. Was he shy? Hythyr wondered about the guy, he was a bit mysterious. Hythyr settled down to listen to Caprina's story as nostalgic memories of his own mother filled his head. "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

The wolfess seemed a little startled that they might have met before. He shrugged off the thought. She walked about and paw at the ground and looked at something. She offered her name and asked if they wanted to hear her story. Hythyr gave Caprina a slight bow and introduced himself to her. "My apologies sir and madam, I'm Hythyr, Alyxian Champion at your service. What is this about a legend?" Hythyr was always curious to hear a new story. His mother had told him plenty when he was a young pup. That silly legend of the brown goat was one of his favorites. He turned to the male who had called out the musical note that brought him here. "Might I inquire as to your name good sir?" Hythyr had noticed that the wolf had not said much. Was he shy? Hythyr wondered about the guy, he was a bit mysterious. Hythyr settled down to listen to Caprina's story as nostalgic memories of his own mother filled his head. "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

Would it really matter, if you were to count the days left with your hands?

I measured distance in lines departing the rest of my life.

“Angelo. Of…nowhere in particular,” was his curt reply, seemingly disinterested in further glorifying his introduction and continued pawing about idly. A few times he’d entertained the thought of changing his name, they way one would give a title unto themselves upon achieving something particularly noteworthy. Like Kaiser, to suggest a stern, yet just, leader; or Panzer, a sturdy fellow, fortified and governed by his own personal law; or Ykro, one as mysterious as the actual pronunciation and meaning of that nomenclature. One time he convinced a group of wolves that his name was Hamsteak. But after all that was said and done, he found it incredibly infantile and went back to his original birthname: good ol’ Angelo. And yet he didn’t feel that even that fit him all that much.

He sidled up to the female, which he was starting to take a liking towards. She had a funny little accent that in itself spoke of her origins, and he was interested in learning more about her and what her family had been like. She’d introduced herself as Caprina- as lovely a name as he’d ever heard one. He gave himself a mental note not to forget- names tended to slip from him like water from his pawtips. Although he never forgot a face and a scent, but to put a name to it was sometimes something he felt unnecessary. He took particular note of the male Hythyr, the fact that he had a pack and its name. It must exist nearby then; not close enough to encompass this particular piece of land, but close enough to be familiar with it. He supposed he needn’t worry all too much about it, if Hythyr was any example of their temperament and attitude towards strangers.

“I would be interested in hearing your story, Caprina, if you would be so kind to indulge us.” He took a place to settle alongside Hythyr, as interested as he was to listen. It was always a pleasure for him to listen to one’s background and beliefs, enthralled with the lives of others so different from what he was normally used to.

Caprina smiled at the two wolves. She was kind of thrilled they both showed interest in her pack's old legends. She also like passing them along too. She felt that her pack was much closer when she spoke of them. She liked the pack and missed it, but it wouldn't compel her to go back. It was a traveler's life for her.

She gazed down at her audience, hoping to assuming a dignified stance, one that her mother would always take when she was about to tell a story.

"It was the beginnin' of the world we know. The Creator 'ad taken 'ad created the colors and textures of the world and began paintin' them all over the plane. Some paintin's were wet, cold, an' slipp'ry. That was the the waters of the world. Then 'e created the land, a more diverse place, complete with mountains, valleys, deserts, plains, hills, and ev'rythin' more. 'E painted the world with many brilliant colors: greens to yellows, blacks to white, reds to blues, an' browns to gold. From trees to forests an' flowers to weeds or ev'n deserts to mountains: the Earth became a mural of colors, mixin' together to make the Creator's masterpiece. The skies to this day still change with the colors 'e uses to paint them. When 'e was done 'e called it the Earth.

"But the Creator wanted life on the Earth too. 'E want the people to see 'is masterpiece and dwell in it. That was when 'e created the critters an' the wolves.

"Now, I don't know 'bout 'ow 'e made our prey or our pred'tors or the humans who 'ate or love us. But I do know this. 'E set up a certain stat'n where 'e could form the wolves. Ye see, 'e wanted to use the very colors from which 'e made the Earth. 'E took bits from the mountain, the prairies, the trees, the soil, an' ev'rywhere. 'E took a bit of ev'rythin' from the land to create the wolves. An' when 'e 'ad gathered 'is supplies, 'e formed the wolves. Some came out brown like the soil. Others came out creamy like wheat on a prairie. An' other's came out with a bit o' ev'rythin'.

"But to this day, ye can still see the Earth in ev'ry wolf. Whether it be their pelt shade or eye color, ye can see it. An' to this place there is a place that sands, that all wolves must respect. It is a place where stones stand to guard it, an' a symbol sits to mark it."

She found a grass free place and etched the symbol she had found on the stone in the ground.

"An' that is the symbol an' this is the place. This is where the Great Creator formed us. An' thus I 'onor it, in gratitude for givin' me life, and lettin' me keep it for now."

Hythyr found Caprina's story to be incredibly interesting. He had never thought about how wolves were made. He hadn't thought about how the earth was made either, come to think of it. Now that he did think about wolves did seem to have earth-like features. Even Fanul and Saint could be said to be made out of fire. An interesting outlook, Hythyr thought and he smiled at the storyteller. "That's quite an interesting legend. Quite a unique way to view the world. It reminds me of the stories I use to hear lone wolves tell me when I was a pup." Hythyr walked over and looked at the symbol that Caprina had uncovered. It looked ancient and the exact shape was hard to make out. The carving had a sort of mystic allure to it. "Did your pack visit this place often?" He was getting more and more curious of this place. Maybe if he talked to enough wolves he could find it's purpose. Although, he knew it would probably remain a mystery for the remainder of his life anyway. "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

Hythyr found Caprina's story to be incredibly interesting. He had never thought about how wolves were made. He hadn't thought about how the earth was made either, come to think of it. Now that he did think about wolves did seem to have earth-like features. Even Fanul and Saint could be said to be made out of fire. An interesting outlook, Hythyr thought and he smiled at the storyteller. "That's quite an interesting legend. Quite a unique way to view the world. It reminds me of the stories I use to hear lone wolves tell me when I was a pup." Hythyr walked over and looked at the symbol that Caprina had uncovered. It looked ancient and the exact shape was hard to make out. The carving had a sort of mystic allure to it. "Did your pack visit this place often?" He was getting more and more curious of this place. Maybe if he talked to enough wolves he could find it's purpose. Although, he knew it would probably remain a mystery for the remainder of his life anyway. "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee

Hythyr found Caprina's story to be incredibly interesting. He had never thought about how wolves were made. He hadn't thought about how the earth was made either, come to think of it. Now that he did think about wolves did seem to have earth-like features. Even Fanul and Saint could be said to be made out of fire. An interesting outlook, Hythyr thought and he smiled at the storyteller. "That's quite an interesting legend. Quite a unique way to view the world. It reminds me of the stories I use to hear lone wolves tell me when I was a pup." Hythyr walked over and looked at the symbol that Caprina had uncovered. It looked ancient and the exact shape was hard to make out. The carving had a sort of mystic allure to it. "Did your pack visit this place often?" He was getting more and more curious of this place. Maybe if he talked to enough wolves he could find it's purpose. Although, he knew it would probably remain a mystery for the remainder of his life anyway. "Hythyr howls."

Table by Yahtzee