"Ready to head out for patrol?"
Y/N looked up at her colleague before switching off her laptop for the day "Yeah, let's go. Finished for the day, anyway."
"Good. Eager to get home early, I never sleep well on a full moon, I'll just toss and turn the whole night, least I can do is try and turn in early."
"Really? Thought that was just a myth or something. Just close the curtains."
Nick shrugged as he locked up the station behind them "It's not that, it's not even shining directly through my window. For the longest time, I didn't even make the connection until an ex of mine figured out I could never sleep through full moons."
"So then why aren't you the one on watch duty tonight?"
He furrowed his brows at her as they started going down the trail they usually took when they started their nightly patrol "What, like you don't sleep while you're on watch duty?"
"I do, but the bed in there is awful. So it's not a good sleep anyway. You could've taken one for the team."
"I mean, I've been stationed here long before you came along, so I did actually spend quite a few full moons while on watch duty, thank you very much. It's guaranteed no sleep. At least at home I maybe get 2-3 hours in."
"Awh you poor man, you," Y/N teased as they ascended an area of the trail where it became steep.
"Right? Speaking of. You've been here almost 2 months now. How are you liking it so far?"
"It's... definitely not what I was expecting. But in a good way, I think. The only thing that I'm most phased by is how secluded this place seems most of the time when it's not even that far outside town. I was expecting a bit more... action?"
Nick laughed lightly "Action? Like what?"
"I dunno. More wildlife interaction, for one."
"God, Y/N. You're such a rookie" he snickered. "You'll get your fair share of wildlife, don't you worry."
Y/N wouldn't call herself a rookie in general. Maybe for this particular job, but she was confident in her skills. A trained survivalist and ranger. She could identify species of birds, reptiles, mammals, and plants from sight alone. She knew how to build a fire, climb a tree, make a shelter from only what the forest could provide, and forage for food. She could do it all, despite being a newbie to the team. She felt like she was probably even more skilled than Nick. But as much confidence as she had in herself, she knew the forest, mountains, and wildlife were due respect. Especially during the night.
"I mean, don't you find it odd that the bears are so few around here? Like ok... boars and rabbits and what have you, but where are all the bears? I'm convinced they're hidden somewhere in the deeper parts of the forest."
"Haven't you patrolled deeper in? With Karl, maybe?" Nick asked with brows raised.
"No, I have, but we hardly saw anything exciting. You can't really believe we only got the 3 bears we've spotted this year around here. I mean, the place is massive," Y/N's breath was slightly labored as they continued along the steep path, "The highest points are so difficult to access, the few times we actually get up there can't really give us that great of an insight."
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Lupus Noctis // Harry Styles
FanfictionHe was staring at her in a way no one had in her entire life. She couldn't read anything in his eyes - not surprise, not fear, not malicious intent - nothing. ------------------------------------------ At Silver Wolf Preserve National Forest, hikers...