Phoenix Maplewood memories

AW but specifically for @Eros

This forest of maplewood trees reminded Daylily of Oakstead so much that her heart ached. Even after meeting Dawn, she sometimes worried about being out here in this taiga in winter. So far, it was just the two of them, and while she did feel a little more secure now that she had found someone to partner with, two wolves were not enough to create a pack or to hunt big game that would be needed later. Not that Day even knew how to hunt big game. Daylily had prided herself on her ability to hunt small game and fish to survive; she’d left the hunting of large game like deer and moose to others. She hated to admit such a thing, but she was afraid of large game and what their hooves could do to her chest or face if she wasn’t careful.

She shook her head and sighed, trying to conjure up happier thoughts. The first thing she thought of was that it was nearly Imbolc, the time of year in which the wolves of Oakstead began to prepare for the coming spring. Even the secular wolves took part, for Oakstead’s celebrations tried to remain secular themselves to include everyone. She looked around, trying to spot bits of green among the snow-covered ground, but it was still too cold in these parts. It would be a while yet before the Lady made her presence known once again, especially this far north.

To remain in a single area for too terribly long never sat quite right with him; perhaps it was the constant moving of his youth than instilled this behaviour into him, or perhaps there was more to the story. Whatever the case, the results were the same: Eros departed from the vale in favour of travelling, seeking new sights to behold; he assured those that may have seen him leave that he would return, once his thirst for knowledge was quenched. When that may be, he could tell not a soul, allowing his mind to wander even further than his body could reach.

Several days worth of travel passed and the masked beast found himself weaving through a forest; it was as bare as bare could be, winter having stripped the trees of their foliage. But it was still someplace new, with trees of bark just as white as the snow that coated the ground surrounding them; this he was no more curious about than usual, having seen trees of similar appearances throughout his nomadic days. What stood out to him the most of all was the scent of a wolf—fresh and feminine, a recent visitor through these parts. Having not come across any others since his journey began, Eros soon found himself trailing after the woman, following her scent with the hope that, at the end of it, another wolf would truly be waiting.

Sorry this is short.

With memories of Oakstead flooding her mind, Daylily began to hum a song she heard often during this time of year. She didn’t sing the words, only hummed the tune as she wandered among the bare trees. The wind suddenly changed direction and brought with it the scent of a male wolf somewhere ahead. Her tail wagged as she tried to search around the trees for his form. “Hello?” she called out, moving forward. Eventually, she saw his white-and-tawny form in front of her. “There you are!” she said happily, as if she had been waiting for him for ages. “Have you come for a drink at the stream? I’m afraid it’s mostly frozen over.”

popping an ending on since I’m putting eros back on the shelf

Another wolf truly lingered beyond the trail of the scent followed, feminine and bright. She seemed friendly enough, calling out a greeting and then extending to him an invitation—an invitation that he nearly took, stopped only by the song of a distant memory. For as bright as the woman was, cheery and welcoming, she reminded him of someone left in his past. Someone he cared for, once upon a time, and heart was made heavy by the thought of.

Troubled by this now, the man shot her an apologetic smile before altering his path once more, sending himself off and away from her. Perhaps, someday, they may meet again—but for now, Eros could not help but wish to get as far from those nagging memories as he possibly could.