{+ Azure +} The Wise Curse

Chapter Two, Tip-Toe Through the Woods

Tenshi looked out on the horizon, tomorrow was the full moon. Anxiety made his paws tingle and heart race. The rising sun made the dawn sky glow beautifully, reflecting in Tenshi's pale blue orbs. Inhaling deeply he got to his paws, looking around.

Not a single one of his fellow pack mates were anywhere to be seen. Quietly sneaking back onto pack lands- as he had gone onto unclaimed territory to watch the sun rise- he felt the soothing cold dew brush onto his fur.

The, slightly less, cold winds still blew gently, calming him deeply. He froze, picking up the smell of rabbit. Crouching he pinpointed it and slowly moved towards it. Leaping with claws extended he grabbed it neatly and swiftly.

Looking up Tenshi saw the familiar river and across from him a familiar black fur. "Hey Crow," He spoke setting down the rabbit with care.

"Hey Tenshi, I guess your paws do really walk on air. That was impressive!" Crow smiled, leaping over the river. "How've you been?" The darker furred wolf asked touching noses with Tenshi. "O- oh uhm- I'm good! How're you though?" The hunter stuttered out feeling his cheeks and ear tips heat up.

"Great actually, I have so much more free time since our borders have been really secure lately." Crow spoke as Tenshi covered the rabbit with reeds and the two sat at the edge of the river. "That's great to hear,"

Crow nodded in response lightly, he was clearly deep in thought. "Tenshi, you know-... we shouldn't be meeting like this, let alone us be the same gender! I mean- pack law defines that to be mates you have to be of the same pack who are compatible to have pups. It's also is strictly against two wolves of the same gender being mates... We could be exiled! What would our packs think of us?"

Tenshi was caught off-guard, trying to collect his composure. "Well I- I-..." Tenshi paused "I think it's something new, and something good. Pack law needs changing anyways! Its out-dated." He felt Crow gently leaned on him comfortingly.

"If we get exiled we can be together without pack law, love is love, and in the past couple of moons I've grown to love you, Crow. I haven't told you everything about me though-"

"Neither have I..."

"Say at the same time?" Tenshi asked and Crow gave a simple nod in response. Without skipping a beat the two spoke identically "The Pack of Stars chose me to go on an expedition to find a new place for the packs!"

The two's eyes grew wide, and grinned. "We'll be able to be together!" Tenshi spoke excitedly. Crow just smiled, nuzzling into Tenshi's chest.

"TENSHI! TENSHIIII!" A voice called. "Hide-" He muttered grabbing his rabbit. "Yes?!" He called emerging from the bush. It was his friend, Cloud that Holds Rain. She was a pure white she-wolf with grey eyes. "There you are! God I thought you died!" She scolded.

"Sorry- just some early morning hunting," He set down the rabbit. She sighed "Well hurry up with your hunt, I got better things to do."

Rolling his eyes as she stomped away, he signaled to Crow it was clear. He emerged from the bush and ferns shaking his fur out. "We really need to meet on unclaimed lands..." Crow huffed cleaning leaves out of his pelt.

"Yeah..." Tenshi sighed, sitting back down. "Who was that anyways?" Crow questioned moving to sit beside him. "Thats my friend, Cloud, she's always trying to act like I'm a pup who can't take care of himself!"

Crow found himself frowning, he knew Tenshi loved him- but pack law made it so that he felt like Cloud was a better mate for him. "Well- I should head back, I'll see you tonight!" Tenshi's words broke him from his thoughts. The two nuzzled before Tenshi grabbed his prey bounding into the forest.

Tenshi ended up dragging back a doe, it had a broken leg so it was easy to catch. "Nice catch Tenshi! You're really good at hunting!" The healer complimented. Her name was Lavender that Settles Fevers, she was a light brown with spots along her back, white paws, and a single white patch on the left side of her face resembling a mask. She had light purple eyes.

"Thanks Lavender," He chuckled lightly. "It did have a broken leg so don't give me too much credit-" She laughed shushing him. "It's still a fantastic catch! You'll feed the entire nursery, pups and mothers!" Her eyes glimmered softly, the two were best of friends, they knew each other since they were pups- practically inseparable!

He smiled back gently, "Thank you." She sauntered back to the healer's cave. Tenshi huffed making his way over to Cloud who sat speaking with Lark and Hawk, whom were twins. "Hey guys," Tenshi took a seat beside Cloud, starting to clean his fur.

"Hey Tenshi! We were just talking about the last gathering of packs, it was pretty weird that the Pack of Stars sent the storm." She sighed, flicking an ear as a bug landed on it.

Tenshi nodded, he couldn't tell them he was leaving- he knew Cloud would follow him. He had only told Lavender who had made a traveling mixture for him, and the other four. All he knew there were four others, and Crow was one of them.

The sun was at it's peak, blazing down new spring heat on the packs. "Let all the wolves old enough to run forests and hunt elk, gather around moss rock for a pack meeting!" Ryujin howled into the air. The four made their way to the outer edge of the circle.

"Bee that Hums at Daybreak's pups are of ten moons, old enough to become to-be's. Flint, Rust, Lemon, and Sparrow step up!" The pups excitedly bounded forwards.

"Flint, you are to be a warrior, your mentor will be Lark that Calls at Midday. Rust you are to be a prey-hunter, Cloud that Holds Rain. Lemon you are to be a warrior, your mentor will be Hawk that Cuts Through Skies. And finally, Sparrow, you will be a healer, your mentor is Lavender that Settles Fevers."

All the to-be's bounded to their new mentors, touching foreheads with them. "Now, you all are dismissed!" Ryujin gently made his way down moss rock. Tenshi smiled to the three, "Congratulations on your first to-be!"

"I'm sorry you didn't get one Tenshi-" Cloud was interrupted by him shaking his head, "Trust me- I don't really wanna train a pup right now." His pale eyes glimmered in truth. He had an expedition to go on- he didn't have the time nor ability to train a to-be!

Cloud shrugged, and the three left to tour the territory. Tenshi thought of Crow fondly as he basked in the sun. The two would be able to be together without judgement- even if it were only for a short while. He felt himself drift into a sleep as he relaxed on a smooth rock. His dreams filled with a message from the Pack of Stars- a warning of 'tall grass'.