10-22-2016, 06:10 PM
Ruan
An emptiness was blooming within him. Jinju was growing up, no longer a frightened child in need of his protection. Reagan was increasingly busy in her political position, her involuntary distance gnawed at his soul. He'd spent so long on his own when he'd grown away from his sister's side, he should be used to it. But this solitude felt different. It wasn't just him anymore. He knew the warmth of having his own family.
And the aching loss of it.
Today, he'd returned to the place that could ease his mind. The forest here was so like the woods he'd roamed with the wolves of the Valley, his only sense of family and belonging before he met Reagan. If there were wolves here, he never saw them. The only smell around was musky foliage and traces of other horses passing through. One more recent than the others.
Rustling in the brush grabbed his attention. He turned his head in time to see a dark little face break through, testing the air like a feral critter. He observed her quietly for a moment, then swung his hips to face her and took a tentative step forward.
She instantly caught on the sound of his advance, flattening her ears and snarling, and he halted. She behaved as a wild thing would, not a cared-for little one. How long had she been on her own? He let natural wolfish instincts take over as he ducked his head low, reaching to carefully whuffle some breaths at her small muzzle. He pulled back after a moment and studied her.
"Girl," he said gently but firmly. Come out.
It was a test to see if she'd been raised enough to learn speech yet, or if she'd instead answer to the command in his voice.
And the aching loss of it.
Today, he'd returned to the place that could ease his mind. The forest here was so like the woods he'd roamed with the wolves of the Valley, his only sense of family and belonging before he met Reagan. If there were wolves here, he never saw them. The only smell around was musky foliage and traces of other horses passing through. One more recent than the others.
Rustling in the brush grabbed his attention. He turned his head in time to see a dark little face break through, testing the air like a feral critter. He observed her quietly for a moment, then swung his hips to face her and took a tentative step forward.
She instantly caught on the sound of his advance, flattening her ears and snarling, and he halted. She behaved as a wild thing would, not a cared-for little one. How long had she been on her own? He let natural wolfish instincts take over as he ducked his head low, reaching to carefully whuffle some breaths at her small muzzle. He pulled back after a moment and studied her.
"Girl," he said gently but firmly. Come out.
It was a test to see if she'd been raised enough to learn speech yet, or if she'd instead answer to the command in his voice.
