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The stars were up already- she could see them, glittering icily between the barren branches of the trees. Light was still fading at the edges of the sky, and Star Washed Sky realised she was in an unfamiliar part of the swamp, or perhaps no part at all. Rising, her limbs felt unusual and strange. Her mouth opened somehow wider than normal and she let out a huff, the cold air causing her breath to pool around her. A tongue that wasn’t hers lolled from her mouth and caught on razor sharp teeth and she glanced down at the unfamiliar body. It was dense with fur, and she felt less cold than usual in spite of the snow still surrounding her. Paws tipped with claws were at the end of the strange limbs and she let out a wordless noise of confusion that came out as a quiet yowling whine.
Something nearby rustled and Star Washed Sky turned to see a familiar figure, the proportions distorted. Up close, Wish’s face was huge, intense turquoise eyes boring into her, and Star Washed Sky realised she was eye-to-eye with the familiar. She looked again at her body, twisting her head to see a short, fluffy tail and muscular, furry limbs. Her fur stood on end with a thrill of understanding and she glanced back at her friend, uncertain for a moment. Wish lent forwards, blinking very sweetly and touching her wet nose to her companion’s, and Star Washed Sky’s tail began to wave backwards and forwards, slowly at first but faster and faster as the delight filled her to the tips of every furry hair.
All of a sudden staying still felt intolerable. Her delight and love for her companion spilled into her limbs and she leapt with a high pitched bark of delight, and Wish moved with her, springing into motion. They danced around one another playfully, Wish rearing up and batting playfully at Star’s shoulders before crouching down and waving her tail expectantly. Star understood in a moment, and sprung towards the wolf, but Wish was already haring through the trees, bounding glittering into the undergrowth. Giving chase was so natural it was automatic, and Star pelted after her, relishing the speed and strength in her wolf limbs.
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[imgright]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgright][align=center]Running was a joyful experience, every step springing into the next, and soon Wish and Star were running side by side, chasing forgotten as they simply enjoyed the act of motion, tirelessly plunging over tree roots and across frozen sections of water. The swamp was more vivid, full of scents her normal nose couldn’t pick up as easily, and the night was full of the smell of sap and earth. Eventually they reached a familiar place- the vast, wide pond that Star Washed Sky lived at with her vast family. There was no-one to be seen on this night, and the pond was frozen to the centre. Wish slowed and fluffed her fur out with a quiet huff, and, panting, Star Washed Sky joined her, fur brushing up against her friend’s body.
A wolf’s face looks wiser than an animal’s should, at times, and Star Washed Sky met the gaze with wordless understanding. Something that couldn’t be said passed between them, and Star placed her paws gently onto the frozen surface, carefully picking her way to the centre of the ice, past the tangled roots of the Crashed Star, the tree where Star Washed Sky had expected to wake. Faithfully, Wish followed, and in the centre of the pond the two sat, unbothered by the icy sting from the cold beneath. Slowly, through time that might have been hours or moments, they watched the full moon climb to the middle of the sky. Wish stood, nosing Star Washed Sky in the side of her muzzle, and she glanced at her companion, returning the gesture fondly. Standing with a stretch, she returned her gaze to the moon, hearing Wish’s intake of breath beside her and understanding a moment before the howling call pierced her body. Drawing the night air into her chest, the nameless emotion a wolf’s howl contained came spilling from both wolves in tandem. Different, but the same. Both fierce and wise, yielding and playful. Both in adoration of the night.[/align]
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