Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Creatures of Nightmares

Chapter 22

“Are we far enough?” Astra asked, panting. Apollo nodded tiredly. They all sat down a few meters away from a jagged cliff.

Astra looked at Apollo’s spotted fur glimmering in the sun. Then her gaze went to his three scars on his face as he looked at the forest behind them. “We can sleep there,” he said.

“A cave? Really?” Pax huffed.

Prince scoffed. “Are you too much of a princess to sleep there?” He asked, brushing against Pax playfully. After being in the dungeon so long together, they became like brothers.

Reign immediately curled up in the cave. So did Pax and Prince. But Astra and Apollo were still awake. “Should we hunt? So we have food for the morning?” Astra asked. Apollo nodded and they walked out of the cave.

The two wolves located a deer and crouched in the powdery snow. “Three, two, one..” Astra mouthed and they both pounced. The deer was brought to the ground as Astra lunged for its neck before Apollo could. The deer was dead.

“How were you such a good hunter?” Apollo asked. “Your father sure did drag me to hunt with him. I was just the best at it.” She smirked and flicked her tail.

-Darn it, Astra. You’re going to make this harder for me,- he thought to himself.

They dragged the deer back into the cave. “I’m not tired,” Astra huffed. “Me either,” Apollo said.

Astra ran outside of the cave. “Catch me if you can!” She sprinted away.

“Oh, you’re on!” Apollo barked and dashed after her, not missing a beat. He soared over logs and rocks, and soon caught up to Astra. “Slow, are ya?”

Astra hissed playfully and gained more speed. “Or is it you who is slow?” She asked and looked back at him.

“Astra, watch out!” Apollo pushed her to the side. She almost ran into a tree!

“Oh..” she said, panting. Apollo was on top of her. They both looked away, blushing if they could.

“Thanks,” she muttered.

Apollo got off of Astra and helped her up. “We should get back to camp,” he said. “Yeah..” Astra nodded.

They walked back to the cave, side by side.

Once they got there, they curled up to go to sleep. Before Apollo slept.. he had tears in his eyes.

###

Over the next few days, Apollo and Astra had spent time together. Yes, the whole group did hang out with them too, but occasionally they walked together alone.

One night, they went down to the water. The water glimmered under the moonlight. Astra and Apollo sat side by side. Apollo opened his mouth. He wanted to tell Astra. So badly. But he couldn’t. That wasn’t the plan. He closed his mouth and nuzzled Astra.

She leaned on him and looked at the water. “It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?” She asked.

“Not as pretty as you,” he said sweetly. And then he gave a huff. “We should go back to the group.”

Astra was confused, but instead she just said, “Ok, let’s go.”

They rejoined the group and went to sleep that night. Apollo could barely sleep, though. He kept thinking of how it would go.

-DiploLover24