THE PATH TO HEAVEN
RUNS THROUGH MILES OF CLOUDED HELL
The fall of the sun marked the beginning of his day – somewhat backwards, perhaps, for one that called the Dawn Court home. But with darkness came the cover necessary for an attack, and with so few having taken up arms in Delumine and even fewer trained for such an occasion, Ulric had made it his personal duty to scout as much of the perimeter as he could each and every night. It left him feeling drained more often than not, but for his country, however new it may be to him, he was willing and ready to do anything to keep it safe.
As the sun made its final descent beyond the horizon, Ulric was set to move out, shaking the sleep from his mind and grasping on to that warrior mentality necessary to stay sharp in the depths of the forest surrounding the citadel. As with the start of each evening, the Warden assured his body was ready for the long night, pushing himself through a set of various stretches and stretching his legs out. Soon he was prepared to leave, only, the gallant cry of an owl overheard drew his attention away long enough for the roan to notice that he wasn’t quite alone. Drawing to a halt, Ulric turned, eyes of gold searching for the familiar form of his long-time friend – Somnus, the Regent of their fair Court.
His dark lips curled upward at the sight of him, thankful to see the man out rather than tucked away in the folds of the citadel. “We haven’t had a single breech as of yet – and I intend to keep it that way, Mister Regent.” The title was spoken with a grin, teasing and with jest, but one need only to look upon the face of the Warden to see that he was more proud of the man standing before him than anything else.
Somnus drew nearer, and at his brotherly act, Ulric was all too content to reciprocate by bumping his velveteen muzzle against the crook of the Regent’s neck. Stepping back to put a leisurely distance between them, the roan made to speak, but was met only by a perturbed emerald gaze. Cocking one ear back when the dunalino spoke, Ulric furrowed his brow with concern and offered a cursory nod of his head. “You can have all the moments you need,” he promised, the prior exuberance of his voice falling to something far more solemn. “What’s on your mind?"
As the sun made its final descent beyond the horizon, Ulric was set to move out, shaking the sleep from his mind and grasping on to that warrior mentality necessary to stay sharp in the depths of the forest surrounding the citadel. As with the start of each evening, the Warden assured his body was ready for the long night, pushing himself through a set of various stretches and stretching his legs out. Soon he was prepared to leave, only, the gallant cry of an owl overheard drew his attention away long enough for the roan to notice that he wasn’t quite alone. Drawing to a halt, Ulric turned, eyes of gold searching for the familiar form of his long-time friend – Somnus, the Regent of their fair Court.
His dark lips curled upward at the sight of him, thankful to see the man out rather than tucked away in the folds of the citadel. “We haven’t had a single breech as of yet – and I intend to keep it that way, Mister Regent.” The title was spoken with a grin, teasing and with jest, but one need only to look upon the face of the Warden to see that he was more proud of the man standing before him than anything else.
Somnus drew nearer, and at his brotherly act, Ulric was all too content to reciprocate by bumping his velveteen muzzle against the crook of the Regent’s neck. Stepping back to put a leisurely distance between them, the roan made to speak, but was met only by a perturbed emerald gaze. Cocking one ear back when the dunalino spoke, Ulric furrowed his brow with concern and offered a cursory nod of his head. “You can have all the moments you need,” he promised, the prior exuberance of his voice falling to something far more solemn. “What’s on your mind?"
HISTORY HAS ITS EYES ON YOU
➳
all contact is permitted and encouraged
