Whistle A Lullaby

Even though the snow on the ground spoke winter, the birds in the upper branches of the trees spoke louder than winter. Spring was only a few weeks away and already, Aelon could feel it. With each step she took through the Blue Moon Clearing, she added a small bounce to her step. She could feel her muscles coiling, preparing to launch her through the underbrush, to fly above the ground with her paws and heart beat pounding as one. But she had to restrain herself. As much as she loved allowing her spirit fly free, she was enjoying the warmth of the winter day and the sunshine fighting through the bare branches of the trees above her head. If she ran through this forest at her normal speed, she'd miss it all and relinquish the peace that was falling over her. She had no duties in her Clan today which gave her the freedom to roam around the lands at her own will. Even though the Blue Moon Clearing bordered both the Forest Clan and the Plains Clan, these lands were loner lands. Long ago, each of the Clans gave up a chuck of their lands, as a peace offering for the Alliance they signed long ago. It allowed loners to roam free as well as allowing the Clans to intermingle. Although the Clan hadn't intermingled in years. Proof that the Alliance was falling apart and another Great War was inevitable.

She hadn't realized that the bird songs had deafened her hearing till they stopped and she found her paws pausing in mid-step, her hearing suddenly sharp and alert. Only one thing could make the birds stop; another predator. Going into her Warrior training, she slunk into the underbrush, keeping low and to the shadows. Clearing, she was downwind of whatever it was and couldn't catch a scent. She retraced her scent trail behind her till she heard some scuffling. Peering around from behind a tree, Aelon spotted a bear, snorting and scuffling in the snow as he hunted for some winter berries. Aelon's mood perked up, her Warrior attitude fading. This was just another sure sign that spring was on it's way. This bear had just woken from hibernation, according to the chucks of mated fur and the smell of feces and urine and was starving. It was eating anything at this point. She would need to keep her distance. If the bear found her an easy target, it would attempt to eat her.