Nyr shifted in her nest. Her silky blue fur brushed her nose and she murmered sleepily. Nearby sat Mason, her appointed Guardian. Mason watched Nyr with pride. This beautiful blue pup was his Bond! He twitched his ear and snorted softly. Pawing the earth with a hoof, the spotted horse rose to his feet and stuck his head outside the den's opening. The winter air blew fiercly against his face and he squinted to look into the distance. there, in the distance, stood a dark gray Waja. His poisonous green markings swirled on his pelt and his purple-gray eyes flashed as the snow danced around him. He lifted his head up and laughed, a crazy, wild sound that sent chills through Mason. The Waja disapeared, but his laugh lingered in the air. The wind was the laugh. And the wind screamed as it raced past the sad, solitary withered tree in which a pale gray and red Waja sat.
The Waja sat, balanced carefuly on the withered branches of the tree. The pale, mocking winter sun cast no shadow on her ash-and-blood coat. She blinked her bright silver eyes slowly. So. The laugh. She dug her claws into the limb, thinking of the Waja who the laugh came from. She snarled softly. Oh, yes. By the time winter was done, she would have her revenge. She howled angrily to the dispasionate sky. The laughter would die.
Moya was restless. She lay in her nest, consumed by her thougts of the past. Suddenly, her ears pricked up. The wind carried the soft, faint echos of a laugh. She shivered. She knew that laugh. Moya heard another sound. Sitting up in alarm, the snow-and-blood Waja raced to the front of her den. The howl, borne by the screaming wind, was dying. Moya stiffened, her eyes widening. Oh, my sister, she thought sorowfully. Are you still chasing revenge?
Aztec sat on the smooth gray rock by the river's edge. His white fur glistened as he looked into the water. Still wet from his swim, he looked longingly at the mountains. He sighed. Stirring the clear, reflective water with his paw, he heard the faint traces of a laugh. In alarm, he dove into the river. He knew that laugh! He had to warn the Tribe! Submerged beneath the water, he did not hear the howl that lingered in the wind.
Mason looked around nervously. This day was full of strange laughter and howls. This part of the Ruins were treacherous and those that lived here were angry and would not hesitate to raid a helpless pup and her Guardian. His heart swelled as he looked at the beautiful pup before him. he would protect Nyr with his life. she stirred and opened her eyes. her eyes, framed with long, thick lashes, were a mysterious purple-gray.
