hidden from the world, open

[callie]

Melete
hiding from the world, just once
word count - 425
status - open

[/color][/font][/size][/right]Silence.

Somewhere in the foggy morning, a mountain grouse shuttered and rose into the pale sky. Gray eyes watched its dark shadow through the mist, rising into the air and taking flight. That could have been breakfast, though from her place in the ferns and grass, Melete had no intention of moving. She had been there through the evening and into the late hours of the night, waiting. For what? It had been a question she had asked herself plenty of times in the quiet of the night. The young cat flicked her ears back, taking in more of the silent morning.

An hour ago the light had touched the eastern sky, finally spilling now over the very tip of the mountains. The sky was blanketed with a heavy layer of clouds, a sure sign of rain later. The pale light turned Melete’s pelt to ash as she lay her head down again on resting paws. Somewhere in the distance, a familiar scent caught her nose. Another being. Of her clan? It must have been so.
Never in her three years of life had Melete seen another creature from the outside areas. They were there, she knew that fact well. But it was blind faith in the words and tales of others. Though believing word of mouth had never been trouble for her… Many would have said it was her weakness. Melete closed her eyes against that thought.

Perhaps she was out here to clear her head. It wasn’t like the female to be out so far, out alone for so long like this. Though she doubted her presence would have been missed over the course of a night. If she had been gone for a week, would the clan worry? If she disappeared completely, would anyone bother to come searching? Melete stopped herself then. Where were these negative thoughts coming from? This simply was not like her.

She considered then rising and padding through the woods, back home. The ground was cold beneath her belly. Melete’s tail gave a slight enemiech as she raised her head again. Home. At this time of the morning, slumber would still hang heavy over the den. A soft croak rose from Melete’s throat. She would go back soon enough. The peaks of the mountains rose above her hiding place among the trees. The loomed above her, dark against the white cloudy sky. The once place that had been her haven… Something held her back from it now, something in this silence made Melete want to stay hidden forever.
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[::Time::]

Nox;;

There goes another day, dont suppose i'll come out to play with you, i'll just sit at home, all alone, and act like I wanted to.

Mist hung heavy in the crisp morning air, filling unseen creatures lungs as they rustled quietly underneath a protective layer of earth and greenery. Ears enemieched, responding silently to the noises, recognizing and accepting the sounds, knowing that whatever hid, wasnt about to come out. Frost crunched quietly underneath lightly placed paws, blades of frozen grass breaking as if they were glass.

Deep brown eyes flickered here and there, watching for..something, to be truthful, he himself didnt even know what he was searching for, what he had always been searching for. Muscles contracted and loosened fluidly as Nox moved forward, stepping with care, large paws compressing the frozen earth slightly. He paused for a few moments, standing stock still as his deep eyes turned upward, to the clouded heavens. He felt the same familiar ache in his chest, the crying of his heart as it mourned for his family. Dead. Gone. Somewhere up in those clouds, watching as his life took on the look of a soldiers, no emotion, only tactics. His gaze dropped.

A soft croak made his eyes flick toward a cluster of grass, he stared at the cluster, making out the colour of a soft grey, the pelt of another animal. His nostrils flared slightly as he searched for a scent, and then, as he acknoweledged that it was a fellow cougar, relaxed. Tight muscles released, a instinctive reaction. Nox lifted his gaze to the looming mountains briefly before stepping forward, tawny coat gleaming dully underneath the faint sunlight that made it through the dense clouds.

On first impressions, Nox was a frightening creature, his physique heavily muscled and taut, skin stretched tightly against the bulging strength givers. His deep brown eyes almost black in the morning light, dull black claws clicking quietly as he moved through the mists toward the other cougar. But on closer inspection, his eyes showed kindness, curiousity, but also knowledge, and deep sadness, and as always, the look of someone who has been searching all their life for the one thing that would complete them, and have yet to find it.

Nox stepped closer, his head lowering as he approached the grass, he stopped inches away from the cluster of grass and lifted his head, able to see now the full form of the cougar before him. His lips curled into a small smile, watching the female for a few moment before he spoke Hello there. His smile grew, warm and welcoming, a little cautious. The names Nox. He felt slightly stupid, announcing himself as if he had nothing better to say, but introductions had to be made, and if he had to be first, so be it. His smile faltered as he turned to see the sun leave the tips of the mountains, another day had begun, and he would struggle his way through it, as always, alone.

Nox
Word count: 477

[callie]

It was the deep brown eyes peering at her through the ferns that caused every muscle in the cougar’s small body to retract. She had caught the scent moments before, but she had been too far gone in her own memories and thoughts to think much of it. The crisp morning air turned her hot, steady breath to silver stream, curling up into the space between the two creatures. They were the same, they were the same. That was the first thing Melete fed herself after the intestinal shock had faded away. She didn’t know him, but they were the same.

The large cat was only feet from her. She watched his mouth curl into a somewhat pleasant look. She forced herself to relax then, bringing herself off the ground a few inches. His name was not one that she recognized. But for one like herself who made an effort to her own name hidden, how could she expect to know others.

“Hello.” It was simple, and the only thing she could manage. Her voice was low, scratchy from the night spent in the cold air. Her gray eyes watched him carefully, she felt small compared to him, as she did any other member of her clan. But there was something in his gaze what set her a little more at ease.

“I’m Melete…” She added then. “I’m sorry; I don’t think I have met you before.”

If her spot in the clan had ever really mattered, she might have known his name, known all about this stranger. But socialism had been something the young female had learned to avoid. It made things so much easier at times. The silent moment grew between them then, stretching into what Melete feared was awkwardness.

She followed his gaze to the sun peeking over the top of the mountains. Soon she would have to be heading back, Melete had decided this before. Her gaze returned to the cougar before her. What was his reason for being out this early? Nox, he had called himself. She would have inquired, but held her tongue.