Neilix paused at he side of a stream gazing down at his refection, he sighed, not shocked by his appearance. The alpha had expected it after almost a moon-cycle without food or water, his fur was ungroomed from many restless nights, and his now dull dark brown pelt clung to his frame from lack of food. Peering deeper into the clear unstirred water's surface, he found a pair of water deprived, diluted acid yellow eyes staring back at him, it was as if someone had stolen his once bright lively orbs and replaced them with the eyes of an elder, on its last breathe of the world; merely stuck onto his gaunt face.
He felt a pang of grief well in his heart;
'How can lead and take care of my pack if I can't even take care of myself?' he reflected with alarm a felt the eyes of his warriors bore into the back of his neck as he gazed into the stream, snapping back to reality he grimaced and nodded motioning for them to head onwards in the direction of home.
Neilix lifted his head his ears pricked forward and his nose twitching. He could scent something. He did not know what it was, but what ever it was it was the most beautiful thing he had ever smelt before. He had to have it. His mind grew into a possessive state, like a chicken for corn, or a shark smelling blood.
He galloped forward his eyes wild with yearning. He reached the thing that was emitting the tantalizing scent and immediately dug his snout into it, sucking in the warm salty liquid. Surrounded by beautiful heaven, he continued engulfing his tongue in the blood. He had finally quenched his thirst. The liquid ran dry and he unlatched his fangs from the now limp bloodless body of a fox. Shock engulfed him as he took an aghast step away from the dead creature "how could I?' he had violated the laws of nature and gorged himself on the nutrients of a creature of his kind. while the fox was not a wolf they where still considered miniature cousins of the top predator and where of high status in the hunting world.
He quickly smeared the blood from his lips and muzzle on some grass, and returned to where his warriors awaited him their faces puzzled.
The alpha did not explain the situation but simply barked; "move on with ya!"
They reached the column of 'Star-bond' by the time the sun had just touched the horizon. It displayed a spectacular show of light as it's blood was shed, battling the moon for rights to stay in the sky, an endless battle between night and day always awaiting the next day in which their destinies remain the same; to win and lose at dawn and dusk.
A wolf emerged form the golden fields that lay beyond the white stone pillar. Her pale creamy brown pelt blended in well with the long barley stalks that swayed in the breeze.
Neilix immediately assumed the posture of an alpha raising his tail high, he positioned his chest and head so they rose to be taller tan hers he glared down at her his silent body movements articulating;
"I am dominant fear me"
The wolf looked at him with raised eyebrows her posture relaxed, she did not see him as a threat she opened her lips to speak
" I do not fear you wolf, and nor should you fear me; the customs of this pack, and those who lay beyond, is to welcome all those who stray to our borders. For they may be gods disguised in mortal flesh"
Neilix tilted his head confused and suspicious of their ways nonetheless he and his warriors where tired and needed a place to rest, he nodded.
"I believe you wolf of the western plains" he glanced behind him
"We shall leave at dawn tomorrow, thank you for your kindness"
He followed the cream-furred she-wolf down through the golden stems of barley,
the wheat-like stalks reached to his neck and he was glad for she-wolf, native to the land, who guided them.
The slight increasing slope leveled out onto a flat plain, he was shocked to find that the slope descended steeply into a cup shaped valley. The barley stopped growing, at outer edge of the nay impossible to find, camp.
A ring of rabbit pelt cad, grass baskets surrounded a small fire pit that lay off to one side of the site. In the centre, a large pile of white stones towered above the wolves that peacefully went on with their lives, the shadow of the monument of piled stones was in occupied as though it could not be touched. As it moved round as the sun changed its place in the sky.
Neilix felt his eyelids droop, he settled down at the edge of the valley where his warriors soon joined him to sleep….