As the moon begins to rise, the buck looks up at its glowing face and smiles. Tonight is special. After all, just this morning he discovered he is to be a father - his first clutch. His own father had never been in the picture, but Moon knows he will be different.

With that in mind, he sets off in the hopes of finding one who may give him the edge he needs in ensuring his children grow up healthy and strong.

A wolf howled to the moon.

A lonely song that was soon joined by others to become a chorus, each voice lifting the rest. They called to each other from different points in the swamp, a strong pack, bound to each other; close enough to the buck that all the normal sounds of small creatures rustling in the brush stopped to listen.

( @Owlsomniac heyooo )

As the howls fill the air, Moon finds himself going still as he looks around warily. When their cries die down, the swamp is eerily quiet. He's not afraid, exactly, not yet - but he knows enough to be careful when it comes to packs of wolves. He's heard stories.

Tentatively, he continues forward as the cicadas gradually pick up their buzzing songs once more, though he keeps his eyes peeled just in case. The last thing he needs is to be caught unaware by a pack of hungry wolves.

@Ruriska

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert6.png[/imgleft] There are eyes in the darkness.

Glowing in the deep shadows, two pinpricks of light that betray no emotion as they stare steadily at the buck.

They move, the form they are attached too slowly revealed as that of a wolf, padding forward, at ease and fearless. It stops, watching the buck too see what he’ll do when faced by a predator in the night.

@Owlsomniac

Moon goes still as he meets that gaze across the dark that separates them. He does not try to run, he knows there are others and running would only provoke them. Instead, he stands his ground and stares back, waiting.

His breath frosts in the moonlight. Already, the cooler nights of Autumn are approaching.

@Ruriska

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert3.png[/imgleft]

It seems as though his decision to hold his ground and wait is the correct one, for in the blink of an eye, the wolf changes, becoming a stag, tall and proud, with eyes just as cunning.

“What do you seek?” He asks the buck.