Stern gave a look to each member as he explained, as though to make sure they all understood his full meaning - tonight was a little different than most. Tonight was the night of the Moonlight Howl. And the small bodied নেকড়ে made sure that everyone knew.

"Tonight is the Moonlight Howl." He started, all business "I know আপনি all wish that we would have no patrols tonight, but suck it up. Its gotta be done, especially tonight."
He walked around each member, passing his gaze from one to the next, locking their full attention even after he moved from নেকড়ে to wolf.
"Its a bright night. Everyone will be enjoying festivities. Its not uncommon for intrusions to happen along out borders, especially during this time of year. Anyone who wants in always figures that with the party, no one will notice them slip in and out. They're most often wrong on that point."
Stern now walked his way between Dolph and Ayame, leaving the center of the circle. Each নেকড়ে moved to line up in front of him as he made a few paces and turned around.
"Our সাম্প্রতিক luck with the খচ্চর Deer most likely hasn't gone unnoticed." He continued, giving the rundown to each party member, "Being that, we'll আরো than likely have incursions from the East, if any. That's the closest place to the herds. We'll double patrols there."

He paused for a moment, his eyes began to gleam in the light from the rising moon. It looked like it would be quite large, judging of what glimpse could be seen from the horizon.
Except for the sounds of excitement and merry making in the distance, the area was deathly silent, each নেকড়ে awaiting their instructions for the evening.

"Dolph," The স্থুলকায় নেকড়ে started again, cutting through the silence, "You and Ayame will take the North-Eastern borders."

"Got it." Dolph's deep voice rang out, Ayame simply nodded.
Stern moved to the পরবর্তি set of wolves, The Omega and the Veteran Beta,
"Peace, I want আপনি on the North-Western borders, stick to the trees. Felan, You're flying solo tonight - আপনি have South-West border Duty. Remember what you've been taught."

"Right."
"Got it."
The two sounded off respectively.

"Shade... Think আপনি can make the long run tonight?" Stern asked, his voice softened when he spoke to Shade, carrying some concern for him, speaking the way only a friend would.
"Do আপনি even need to ask?" Shade replied, grinning as though there should be any প্রশ্ন in the first place.
Stern nodded for a moment before breaking his eye contact with Shade and turning to Eight.
"And Eight... আপনি know the drill, you're with me."
"You got it, Boss." Eight nodded with his simple statement and each নেকড়ে waited for the same thing they waited for each night.

"Alright." Stern started, sounding off loudly, standing full and tall toward the নেকড়ে who faced back, proudly ready to do what they needed to do for their hunt leader, "We've all got jobs to do. Lets go do them."

With that final word, just as every night, each নেকড়ে before Stern headed out at a paced run toward their respective directions, heads low, mouths closed and ears straight up running as silent and fast as they could.
They took this work seriously, even Felan and though he was the newest and in training, he caught on quickly. He'd make a fine addition to the patrols, and আরো নেকড়ে were beginning to take note of it.

Stern himself faltered, as he usually did for just a moment, observing things as they began. Eight took little time to line up with him, facing the direction they were to be traveling in. And tonight, he did so without a word, something new he was trying out to appease the gruff, squatty Beta.
Eight looked to Stern time and again over the পরবর্তি passing seconds. They'd normally be well on their way দ্বারা now but Stern was stalling for some reason, he was in thought.
Eight, not wanting to break his silence অথবা be reprimanded stayed quiet and broke his ready stance instead, questioning with his body rather than his mouth.
Stern took note and immediately his inquisitive look was buried, his perked ears returned to their normal height and his glazed expression faded away.

"Eight, uh..." Stern started, stammering for some reason, "Actually, I've got another idea."

Eight cocked his head to one side, losing his stance entirely now. What was this নেকড়ে concocting in that head of his?
Eight didn't know, but what he did know was that whatever it was was unorthodox. Stern wouldn't allow such time to pass during a normal night, it creates holes in the perimeter. Eight only shook his head and shrugged while waiting, there was so much wrong with this situation, he didn't know where to begin.

"Actually, I think I'm going to pick up this leg of the run myself tonight." Stern looked Eight in the eyes, swaggering this way অথবা that, putting on a thin layer of his usual cocky attitude, but it was hard to buy into it. Something else was up. The inquisitive look remained on Eight's face.
Stern still fumbled for a moment, trying to mask whatever his plan was দ্বারা putting up his usual front.
"Y'know, we just, uh, don't need the extra নেকড়ে power tonight probably... I mean, I doubt anyone will try to make a pass at our herd anyways so... uhh..."

The smaller নেকড়ে stopped making eye contact completely now, Eight saw exactly what he was doing. Awkwardly making excuses. But to what end?
That প্রশ্ন was answered almost immediately as Stern made eye contact again, briefly.
"Why don't you, y'know, Take the night off অথবা something? I'm sure আপনি can find something to do. The Howl's tonight, so, uh... there's, y'know, that."

Eight was taken back for a moment, he cocked his head further to one side and furrowed his brow in a vague attempt to understand just what was happening. Was Stern trying to do something KIND? It certainly appeared so, but why?? A million thoughts raced through his head, From it being a trick, to that Stern just really wanted him out of his পশম tonight.

"Uh..." Eight began, hardly knowing what to say, "Thanks, Stern...?" He blinked widely taking a step back. Stern still wasn't making much eye contact with him.

"Yeah, yeah, ahem. Y'know, just uh... Go enjoy the festivities and all. I'll bet that little Omega of yours will be surprised..." Stern stammered out again.
Eight smiled at him. He was doing something kind. A welcome change indeed! Not only that, but it looked like he'd have the evening to spend fraternizing with the rest of the pack members after all!

"Yeah. Yeah, I just may do that." Eight ব্যক্ত with a still slightly uncertain grin as he started a slow pace toward the rock, looking at Stern the whole time as he passed. He made a few slow feet of distance away from the squatty নেকড়ে before turning once আরো to look. Stern hadn't looked up nor moved, as though he was still in thought. He glanced back at Eight for a moment, immediately casting his gaze around elsewhere,
"What?" He demanded, his usual tone returning.
Eight simply smiled,
"Thanks."

Stern held a paw up to silence him and without a word pointed Eight in the opposite direction, telling him 'Go before আপনি get dragged back to Duty, Runt.'.


Eight smiled again, his feelings becoming extatic now with anticipation of his own. The sore feeling in his body now left completely, he didn't even remember it anymore, let alone notice it. He felt awake, hell, he felt alive! Now he felt the same energy he noticed around the common grounds today, he knew what anticipation he was missing out on.

He turned once আরো to look to Stern to see only an empty মহাকাশ where he had been. Smiling, the নেকড়ে turned and began his evening of preparing for the Howl. There wouldn't be much time, but he could find enough to at least groom himself, surely.
The moon was traveling its way upwards still into the sky, and it was a large one tonight. The light it cast illuminated everything, casting hard shadows in pale blue light.
Even with the cold night air, he could tell that every member of the pack was already arriving to the howling rocks, the sound of noise and laughter traveled well in the dense night air.



His paws found speed, his sprint began. There was work to do tonight, though, of a different variety than he had anticipated.


Tonight was going to be a fantastic night. He could feel it in the air.