Terveta-Chapter 3: Payment (Part 3)
The leopard looked up and nodded with a down expression. Within seconds the small vortexes spiraled out into a cluster of waving snowflakes while he rested himself against the opposite cave wall and closed his eyes.
Blizzard took a last moment to stare around at the others before he made himself comfortable and closed his eyes. With all the noise inside the cave gone, save for the light snoring of those around him, he could really concentrate on the outside. The roar and whine of the flowing snowstorm was soothing in a way. It was music to his ears, now that he could concentrate on the beautiful melody it gave.
Even though they had completed the mission, their life and death struggle with the hostiles all a memory, he could still hear their snarls and growls when they'd find food or a fight, their screams and hisses when they'd get injured, the bright red eyes that glowed like fresh embers from a great fire, and the clumped, ragged, black fur like the night sky with blood and grout caked into its recesses. That very image stayed with him until he fell into unconscious dreams; those too, filled with every Terveta's enemy.
The sun was high in the sky, right at its peak. The storm had stopped early in the morning, close to midnight leaving a perfect even layer of snow all across the land. Blizzard stood at the entrance and stared out with a smile on his muzzle. Vace stumbled up to his side, helmet under his arm just being woken up. The others were still asleep, unmoving where they each lay.
"Ready?" The Alpha asked with a grin on his muzzle.
Vace lazily nodded his head and got set. The husky brought his thumb and forefinger to his lips and blew as hard as he could in a shrill whistle. The wolf caught onto the sound vibrations in the air and with his power began to dramatically increase the note hundreds of times within a fraction of a second. At the end, it sounded like a hundred talons were scrapping across a chalkboard that stretched miles long inside the small cave. The three others instantly woke with a fright and looked around alarmed, each ignoring the ringing and pain in their heads. Even Vace was brought all the way from sleep's clutches by the sound.
"Up and at 'em!" the Alpha yelled, loud enough that the wolf didn't need to help him with the vocal increase. Seth had actually managed to jump up to his feet in the fright and stared around wordlessly while the two girls got up all the way. Seeing there was no danger the three joined the others in taking up their harnesses and strapping them over and across their bodies.
"We'll be making the rest of our journey in one full stride, no rest or food until we get home, understand?" They all gave a nod and a "Yes sir!" before he led them out of the cave and started to walk in the fresh powdery material.
They began at a brisk, easy pace, warming up and then each taking off in a full-blown sprint, but making sure to keep their ranks in order. Their trail was etched into the landscape, distinct from a view high up such as a bird's. It was much later in the day then the alpha had wanted, but it was better if they got a greater deal of sleep and a higher energy reserve.
Night came on quickly, the sunset casting a beautiful array of colors in the twilight. Then some spectacular came out and began to slowly move in the heavens. The aurora borealis illuminated their way a bit more with the aid of the stars and moon. The Terveta soldiers stared up in awe as they trekked on. The lights accompanied them all the way until evening, when the radiance of the sun dissipated them. They were making their way up a steep hill; one that they all knew meant they were so very close to home.