Silvershore

Chapter Eleven

Roscoe was having a normal day, hunting with Sakura and Ragna while Jupiter and Sky decided to stay behind for a bit. They'd probably all be third wheeling the two of them, anyway. Roscoe wondered why they weren't a couple yet.

The forest was far-reaching, misty, and flourishing. Its canopy was eclipsed by sycamore, dogwood, and yew, who gave just enough light a chance to descent for a mishmash of shrubs to cultivate the soft, rich soils below. Curving climbing plants embraced many trees, and a medley of flowers, which blossomed brightly, stood out against the otherwise beige lower level.
A discord of beastly sounds, belonging mostly to prowling animals, brightened up the land, and almost completely muffled the occasional sounds of large animals in the distance.

The dark shadows of the voluminous trees and puzzled bushes had become the structure of the forest. The trees stood proud and tall as protectors of the exigent grounds, as the bushes that had consumed the hard regions of the forest concealed the land from beneath the vibrant portals of the open sky.

The land was isolate and derelict from the prospects of busy life. Tranquility and idealistic bliss were forth seen in the deep depths of the forest as well as the environments sublime intake of the summer. The tall trees posses a sweet serenity that kept all safe in the forest from harm and demoralization.

"So, anyway, I thought up of a new joke, guys," Sakura mentioned. Ragna shuddered.

"Too bad Jupiter and Sky aren't here to hear it..." Roscoe sarcastically snickered.

"What do you call a criminal that looks down upon people when climbing down a mountain?"

"That was oddly specific," Ragna commented.

"A condescending con descending!"

"I hate you." Ragna nudged her.

"Tell us more, Sakura." Roscoe chuckled. He just liked seeing Ragna's hilarious reactions to these.

As Sakura kept going on, picking on Ragna, Roscoe saw someone in the distance, leaning against a tree. From the looks of it, they were asleep. Was someone really asleep on the job like this?

"Uh...you guys keep going. I'll catch up to you later." Roscoe told the girls.

"Don't leave me here with her!" Ragna begged.

"Oh, honey, I've got hours worth of more horrible jokes for you." Sakura snickered as the two of them kept walking.

The wolf Roscoe had spotted was none other than Alpine. That jerk who kept messing with Stormjay. What was he planning? Why would he pretend to be his friend like that? All Roscoe knew is that Stormjay was too kind for him and needed to be protected from someone like him. More than that, he really wanted to know the motive behind Alpine's actions.

"Hey!" Roscoe shoved him from behind, immediately waking up Alpine, who seemed caught off guard.

"J-Jesus..." He groaned. "...What?"

"First of all, you were sleeping on the job." Roscoe scolded. "What would Wood think?"

Alpine gave him a blank stare.

"Seriously, man. With everything going on with the increased threat of The Pack of the Fire, it's really negligent to be sleeping on the job! A-And since I'm the beta now, I could just punish you myself for this!"

"...I'm in love with you." Alpine told him, completely out of nowhere.

"...I-I...Wh-What!?"

"Just wanted to say something to get you to shut up." Alpine snickered to himself.