Nicolas growled low in his throat and turned away. He stalked to the far side of the clearing wading into the forest through some bushes. When he stopped, he was in the shadows of the trees around him but William could still see him. William moved off to the right of the fake den entrance. Achelois had moved out directly in front of the fake den. The three of them made a nice crescent shape on the very perimeter of the forest clearing.
William found himself wishing that he could go to sleep. The large amount of venison that he had eaten with the rest of his pack was sitting happily in his gut and it made his whole body feel heavy. He just wanted to curl up and sleep. Several times he had to jump up from his spot in the trees and walk around a little bit. By getting his blood flowing that way it helped a little in keeping him awake. But as soon as he stopped moving that heavy feeling returned and it was a battle to keep his eyes open.
He should have known better. Walking around was the best way to stay awake. Although he really couldn’t argue with the other two, Nicolas did have a point. What good was this little ruse that Aceso and Charles had set up if someone came by and discovered that it was just a fake while they were all off patrolling somewhere? But at the same time being out here for hours on end right after eating just sitting and watching the night forest was boring and sleep inducing.
He looked over at Achelois who seemed to have no problem staying awake. He could see her black, white, and tan fur blend in with the deep shadows of the night around her. She stood up straight and her head swiveled from side-to-side focused on the forest around her. He looked over to see Nicolas scratching at a thick tree. The blonde looked just as heavy and lethargic as he felt but as least, he hadn’t just lay down and gone to sleep.
William scratched the back of his neck hard. The sensation brought pain and a little bit of alertness back to his consciousness. He decided to start making small evolutions in his little area. At first, he had a hard time navigating the small bushes and pine needles of the forest floor. His mind was slow, and his reflexes were almost nonexistent. He knew that if he was attacked now, he wouldn’t be able to put up much of a fight. Soon however, he started to see details of the forest around him again. The walking was helping him to regain some of his awareness. After a few small passes along his little track, he could move without making any sound. He smiled to himself. Now that he could safely move around, it was time to turn his attention back to the forest. His eyes were sore but they wouldn’t close. He felt like he was on some kind of drug induced bender, unable to stop but unable to sleep as well. Time passed and eventually he heard the faint sounds of someone approaching.
He was hopeful that it was Aceso and the rest of his watch team’s relief, but he couldn’t be sure. He dropped down in a crouch among the bushes of his designated patrol area. He watched the area where the sounds had come from. He could see Nicolas also ducking behind some trees, listening to the sounds. He spared a few seconds to glance at where Achelois had been. She was gone.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
William shot his head up about four inches before he realized what he had done and lowered himself once more. Where did she go? He strained his ears to hear the sound of whoever was approaching while his head turned a full one hundred and eighty degrees to scan the forest for Achelois’s form. He couldn’t see her anywhere.
The faint sound of their approaching visitors was getting louder. He started to move around the edge of the clearing. If this was the attack they had been waiting for, Nicolas was going to need some help. Nicolas may not like him but two werewolves fighting together was a lot better than both fighting alone.
William tried to move faster around the perimeter of the clearing and the approaching sound was getting closer. He didn’t want to give his position away and he was still searching for the missing Achelois.
He hadn’t made it even halfway between his watch position and where he had last seen Achelois before three werewolf forms materialized out of the shadows. Aceso’s black fur with its white patch on her chest was leading the all-black form of Charles and the cream-colored Katherine. The three looked rested and in good spirits. Nicolas stood up and met the three of them on the outskirts of the clearing. William still did not see any sign of Achelois.
William stood up as the four werewolves entered the clearing. He started walking toward them when he saw a dark shadow behind them. William kicked his way into the clearing through the small bushes that enshrouded his feet. He didn’t have time to call out. The shadow moved into the gentle simulated starlight of the ceiling crystals. William stopped moving as the shadow became Achelois and she followed the rest of the group into the clearing.
William took one last look around the forest. The woods were quiet at this time of night. His adrenaline enhanced senses were acutely aware of his surroundings. No fog of being tired clouded even the smallest part of him. He looked out into the forest. He strained his ears and took in deep breaths to smell the air around him. There was nothing. He could neither hear, nor smell, nor see anything out there. There was something that bothered him though. He turned his back on the forest. He knew that something was out there. You’re just being paranoid. He looked at the group as they made their way to the center of the clearing. If Nicolas hadn’t seen anything, and if Charles couldn’t smell anything, then maybe there was nothing to worry about. He would have felt a lot better though if that weight in between his shoulder blades hadn’t gotten suddenly heavier.
He met the group in the middle of the clearing. The usual pleasantries were passed around. Aceso asked if anything had happened, all three of them told her that it had been quiet. In all honesty William just wanted to leave so he could go to sleep.
Aceso dismissed the three of them and they hurried back to the den. They followed Williams’ lead of doubling back on their trail and lopping around to make sure that no one was following them. William almost got sloppy and barely stopped himself from taking short cuts. He was so tired all he could think about was sleep. But the importance of keeping their den a secret was paramount to any amount of fatigue he might be feeling.
William led them back to the den. He ran past the entrance. The weight in between his shoulder blades hadn’t lessened at all, and he still felt like something was out there in the forest. When he was sure that it was just his imagination he looped back around and dove into the folded entryway of their den. He squeezed into the crevasse and in the deep dark of the den he collapsed into his area on the soft, warm, shredded wood and pine needle carpet and was instantly asleep.