This Was Our Day Off

Rido lay back in the thick grass, staring at the blue sky, the clouds floating past, clustering on the horizon. They were in or a storm tonight, he reckoned. Beside him, Gamma lay on her back, legs wide open in a very unladylike position as she snored quietly, fast asleep. Her shadow coloured pelt warmed by the Summer sun. It was a pleasurably mild day today, so he and Gamma had jumped on the chance of going out by themselves, his sister Cordelia having a good, strong day and also out with her vayron somewhere in the mountains. Rido just hoped the good health would last, at least just for the whole day. To let her enjoy a full day out for the first time in years. He couldn't deny her that. Not when she was so often confined to the little cabin they lived in. Sighing heavily, he tucked his hands behind his head for barely even a moment before he rolled over onto his side, watching Gamma as she slept, her head tilted backward, lips fallen back to reveal sharp, strong teeth shining in the midday sun. The peace and quiet probably wouldn't last long. It never did with Gamma. Sighing again, Rido slowly got his feet, careful to be quiet so his friend could get some rest. Stretching his arms high above his head, he groaned as he strode away, today the nearby stream. Crouching down by the bank, he stared into the running water, watching as the fish darted away as his shadow fell over them. So quiet in this little glen. He wished he could come here more often. Shifting his weight slightly to look back at Gamma, Rido's shoulders drooped slightly as he frowned. Coming here even once a month was pushing it. The shadow female detested staying in one place and doing nothing. Coming here today and seeing her so relaxed was a rare occasion in itself. Proving how exhausted she was. Out at dawn and back past dusk most days would tire anyone out. Cordelia's vayron, a scholar more than a hunter, rarely left his sister's side. So she didn't provide for them. It was all on Rido and Gamma's shoulders. Which he knew pissed off Gamma to no end. She certainly did not like the other vay living with them. Did not appreciate her space being taken, or the fact that the scholar ate far too much. Making Rido and Gamma go out and hunt nearly daily. Sometimes Gamma even had to go on her own if Cordelia was having a bad day. He felt for her, he really did. But other than leaving his sister in that scholar's paws and leaving, they were stuck. And Rido would never do that. Honestly, he was surprised Gamma had stuck around for so long. He had completely expected her to leave them long ago. And they'd been together for seven years now. It was beyond him how they'd put up with one another for that long. Shaking his head at his own thoughts, Rido turned back to the stream before leaning over and splashing his face with the cool, refreshing water before he cupped his hands and took a drink.

Shanti flicked her tail absentmindedly as they walked through the forest, having no idea where they were or where they were going. For, they were from Roenden, not Warrenfall. And though they had decided to come over to see if there were any jobs or money they could somehow get their paws on, they had been completely out of luck since stepping paws on the shore. So before Atlas just started kidnapping randoms, Shanti had dragged him out to venture through one of the many forests. "How much longer are we going to be staying in Warrenfall for?" Atlas complained, "I miss the snow. And we haven't even gotten any jobs. And you won't let me take any gold," he cut her a glare which she promptly ignored. "We'll be here for as long as it takes. It won't be long before we get some jobs. And we were told how good some in Warrenfall will pay. You saw with your own eyes what that vayron and human pair earned. So we shall stay here for as long as it takes to get the coin we need," Shanti told him bluntly. Only with her brother did she feel comfortable enough to be so frank. So open. The pair fell into an easy silence as they scanned the forest, taking in their surroundings. They obviously never saw such lush foliage back in Roenden, and though it was a spectacular sight, neither were convinced they wanted to live in Warrenfall. Suddenly, a noise came to them and they paused, trying to locate it. Bigger than a bird. Two footed. Human. The sound of splashing soon came to them a few moments later and the siblings glanced at each other before they crouched and stalked toward the sound, using their darker coats to blend in the shadows. And there, through the bushes and a couple dozen feet away from them was a human, taking a drink from the stream. And, as they raised their gaze, even farther away, was a vayron sleeping on its back, her snoring soft, but heard by their sensitive ears. Two pairs of eyes narrowed as they peered out from behind the bushes, crouched behind them, hidden by the trees. "Think he'd sell for much coin?" Atlas mused darkly, tongue flicking out to lick his nose in anticipation. But the glare his sister, Shanti cut him had him shrinking back slightly, her red eyes boring into him. "Fine. What if we just kill him?" he asked, looking over at the human once more. "That other vayron is fast asleep. And far enough away." "Why, pray tell, would we need to kill him? Or kidnap him?" Shanti hissed, draco ears quivering slightly as she glared at her brother. "He's not doing any harm. And he's got nothing on or around him that look valuable. He'd be worthless to try and sell," she told Atlas firmly, waiting until her storm coloured brother relaxed, waiting for him to shift from the idea of harming the boy. "Fine," he growled softly, shifting his weight on his paws as his eye darted to the sleeping vayron. "What about that one?" "No." He growled a sigh, but said no more. "Besides," Shanti continued, "I highly doubt we'd be able to force her anywhere." "Who says? She's not very big. And there's two of us." "I'm not helping you," instant reply. Atlas sighed in resignation. "Fine, fine, we won't steal or kill either of them. But perhaps they might be in the middle of a job we could help with?" "One's fast asleep and the other is idling around. I doubt it." "Break?" he guessed. Shanti shook her head, but motioned for him to take the lead and followed him out of the tree line, stepping into the glen, the sun immediately warming their pelts.

The moment the two vayrons stepped through the tree line, Rido was on his feet and backing toward Gamma, who still slept like a log, front paws twitching gently as she obviously dreamt of something. The vayrons, one the colour of the midnight sky, the other like a summer storm, were on the other side of the stream, but Rido wasn't stupid enough to think they couldn't jump it. So he continued backing toward Gamma, hissing at her to wake up. But she didn't stir. The two vayrons continued approaching, slowly, like stalking prey. And with an ease that made Rido's heart stumble, they cleared the stream with barely a glance at it. Stopping beside Gamma's back leg he dared a glance down at her as he kicked her flank firmly. The shadow female was instantly awake, snarling at Rido as she stumbled to her paws. And then, bleary eyed, her focus turned to the two approaching vayrons and the fuzziness in her head cleared as her hackles rose and she growled menacingly at the pair. They paused momentarily, seeing she was, in fact, taller than the pair, before they continued their advancement.

Gamma took a tense step forward ready to jump in at the first sign of trouble, however, she quickly cocked her head to the side when the two looked at each other and the female halted, the male stopped a few paces away from her, standing in front of her almost protectively. "Who are you?" Gamma growled, ears flattening as she shifted a paw in front of Rido, standing beside her, ready to either shove him back or jump in front of him - or both. "That's not really your concern, is it?" the male responded. "It is when you approach my companion in such a manor that you scare him," she snapped. The male glanced past her to the human before grinning smugly, "we could've killed him before he'd even noticed us if we wanted to," he taunted, grinning wider when Gamma snarled. "Like hell," she shot back. "Stop it, Atlas," Shanti said quietly, watching the human and shadow female, "we decided not to start anything." "You did," Atlas responded. The female growled , nipping him on the flank. "Fine," he muttered, stepping down. "I'm Shanti," the female told Gamma quietly, no longer confident in the presence of strangers. Especially not a stranger who was so obviously aggressive. "Atlas," the male spat. Gamma stared at them for a long moment, reading their now nonthreatening posture, before she too, relaxed. At least a little bit. "The name's Gamma," she said and then gestured to Rido with her muzzle, "and that's my partner, Rido." Shanti dipped her head slightly before eyeing her brother, warning him to keep silent. The male looked away defiantly. "Do you know anything to do around here?" she asked Gamma, looking back at her, "we've been in Warrenfall for a few days now, trying to find jobs. but we've come up with no luck." Gamma thought for a moment, "it can be fairly difficult getting jobs without a human with you. Perhaps Rido could help there. Tomorrow, though. This is our precious day off. And Rido definitely will not want to ruin it with finding jobs for you two," she told them. "But," she began with a mischievous grin, "we can go for a hunt." "Hunt?" Atlas repeated, perking up. "Sure. There's plenty to hunt in Warrenfall. All very different from those in Reonden." "How would you know that?" Shanti asked curiously. "Rido and I travel a lot when we need to. We've been to all three continents," Gamma explained, "and I still prefer Warrenfall. Especially our prey.. What do you say? You up for it?" Shanti and Atlas looked at each before they nodded and the male turned to Gamma and Rido and nodded, "we most certainly would. Lead the way."