life went on.
towhee and maxim had taken their family on a trip. tamar kept from the borders, leaving them to arsenio. but her eyes looked for new green things in warming temperatures.
and her body searched for the little signs that would someday soon tell her whether or not she too carried fresh life.
Large plodding footsteps took up the ground. Blue eyes darting from one tree to the next, keeping an eye on the entirety of the vale. It was beautiful here, serene even. But the scarred soldier still had yet to let his guards down. Meadow was still probably furious at him and truthfully he wasn't even sure why she was so angry. Yes what he said was uncalled for, but it felt like it was more than that, but if he pressed the issue he knew it wouldn't go well.
He shook his head and kept moving. The lady Tamar caught his eye and he chuffed quietly. He didn't want to startle her and cause even more of an issue in some way. It seemed that things just were happening around him at a pace faster than he was used too.
"hello, reyson."
her eyes took in the scarred man who had at last joined them, for reasons more than meadow she hoped. tamar fell into step with him.
"the first time i slept here, truly slept, i knew it must be home." she smiled gently at him. "my heart was filled with peace."
He smiled at her.
Hello Lady Tamar.
Meadow was the biggest reason, but honestly he just wanted peace. At Mereo despite that he would have been retired, there still would have been talk of war, and constant drills and teaching children to fight, and spars. And despite that he would miss the day to day and even Fennec and Germanicus. He was alright here.
I didn't dream for the first time in a while, my first night here. IT's peaceful. I set up near the forest, because i like trees.
"and all the trees are beautiful."
tamar fell into step with him. she knew that he and meadow were courting. but now she wondered how all these things might affect that.
would he stay?
"when you are settled, have you thought of what you might teach the others and the children?"
A soft chuckle and he nodded. that they are Lady Tamar. One of the prettiest things in the world and resilient. It's why I took the last name of Ebonywood. I used to stay under the trees in my former pack, not Mereo before, before here. When my brain was broken. Then. And I remember just always thinking. If I can just be strong like the tree for my soldiers. But alas even the great sentries of the wild fall someday.
Reyson frowned in thought. He had thought about it a lot, but he wasn't sure how he could use what he knew to help and teach, until perhaps now.
Well I know mostly soldiering, but that can be changed to fit almost anything. Figure tracking a vagabond or a deserter can be utilized to track someone lost in the wilds a missing child, or wolf. It can also be used in hunting. I know terrain very well, and how to fight in it. That can be changed to how to survive in it. That is what I have to offer. Years of experience on relationships, and life too, but not sure what that can help. My father knew stars and my mother plants. I don't remember her lessons well, i remember her presence mostly, but my father I can remember some of that.
reyson spoke and she listened.
through his words she got a new sense of the man: that he meant to be strong as a tree.
and she thought that he was. but that he must stand for himself as well. "let meadow teach you about these things. she is a good teacher, reyson."
her tone was meaningful.
Reyson no longer had wanted to be strong as a tree. That was before, when he back was broken to save the men who served for him. When the cat tails had thrummed against his back for a life he refused to take.
I'm not sure if Meadow wants to teach me much lately, Lady Tamar. She's not too happy with me. Not sure why, but I also know , now's not the time to ask. I'll just wait and see if and when she wants to talk to me about it.
He couldn't really understand why Meadow was upset with him or at least seemed to be. It was perplexing, but he would just be patient.
"you must give her time, reyson."
she touched his arm. "she will tell you. she has no difficulty saying her mind. but a woman must gather her mind first."
her eyes were bright and meant to reassure him. "while you wait, walk through the vale. learn all of its places."
He chuckled and dipped his muzzle. I'm aware that she needs time, Lady Tamar. ANd I am doing my best.
He nodded. I've walked the forest thus far. My body is more tired than I had anticipated. So I'm going slower than normal.
tamar nodded.
"do you also know you need time of your own, reyson? not only to wait for meadow."
"come with me," the little morphe invited, turning them northwest. "there are four lakes here in the vale. the first is lotus springs. the second is tiger lake. i call it the namir."
"but there are two that do not." and the one she wanted to show reyson was thickly forested with pine and oak all the way back into the curve of mountains, with a great grey stone rearing from the middle of the cold magnificent waters.
"maybe you can learn this place. it needs a name. and it needs someone to watch over it. not only to walk," tamar said earnestly, "but to speak."
HE was aware of it, but that didn't mean he had to like it. He realized in a way though he cared deeply for Meadow in an effort to keep her happy and not spooked, he was not as genuinely himself as he could be. He wasn't harsh and short. There wasn't a joke easy for her, like for Towhee or Maxim. Becasue he never was sure how she would take it, but that was just growing pains. They would need time to get to know each other.
He blinked and then a sigh left his lips, bone weary and tired. He liked this place. He blinked. What about Veterans Rest.
He tilted his head and looked all around, blue eyes tearing into the large trees, and the like. Yea he could move to here. He was certain. He liked it. And no one would be able to find him. He could have his episodes, work through his thoughts. A small span of a breath and he said nothing, just looked.
reyson spoke quickly.
too quickly.
tamar nodded solemnly, but her pale eyes insisted. "sleep here. think strongly on it."
the morphe wanted more than swift dreams for him.
Reyson had no reason to think he had done anything wrong. He had spoken swiftly, but that was because it had come quickly to him.
He nodded. thank you Lady Tamar. I appreciate it.
Reyson wasn't sure what he was to get here, but he would try his hardest to adhere to what she wanted.