Swiftcurrent Creek tomorrow’s kings

Etienne ruffled hai fur and moved into step beside the other male. Golden gaze on the horizon and back to Cambria.

When was the last time he had simply walked. He wasn't sure. He tilted an ear as Cambria spoke.

Etienne sucked in a breath in thought what was his perfect day. He wasn't certain. But then pain blossomed along his insides.

A perfect day for me would be one dat I cannot 'ave ever again.

Etienne shook his head and placed a paw down. I would wake up near de sea. All my siblings wit' me. Reki and Suzu and T'eo. We would spend time. Den I be swimming in de sea. I would visit my granmes Erzulie and Roz. Mostly granme Roz. I would ask dem of deir lives. If dey was proud of me. And den I would nap and sing. But dat can never 'appen. My granmes are gone beyond dis world. My siblings...all I 'ave left is Suzu from our litter. Dey younger ones do not know me well.

Cambria sipped in a breath too at Etienne’s bittersweet opener. He hung on the other man’s every word, sussing out the unspoken context. Some of these wolves—his grandmothers, for instance—must be dead and gone, he surmised just a moment before Etienne revealed this truth. It sounded like much of his family was otherwise scattered to the wind.

Thank you for sharing that with me, the young Dragonling murmured, but sorry if it dredged up any grief…

What was it like, to have loved and lost? Cambria had never had a meaningful relationship in his life. It was hard to imagine such a thing, then losing it, moreover. It only took one long look at Etienne’s face to begin comprehending the breadth and depth of such loss.

He felt suddenly afraid. He was already so fond of Etienne. What if he did lose him, for one reason or another? A great sense of melancholy swept over him. Cambria would never willingly abandon this friendship they were fostering, though what if it happened because of circumstances beyond his control?

He froze there on the shore of the lovely little lake, the breath snatched from his lungs as he realized he had something precious to lose for the first time in his life.

Etienne shared his words. His perfect day. And oh it hurt, but he also felt so full. He had loved and lost, but he would not trade it. For to be loved, was just wondrous.

Etienne gave a small shrug. Dere always be grief in a life well lived. It is not someting you can get away from.


Etienne studied him. Wut would be your perfect day?

I wrote this to be my last post, so you can reply again or just archive it.

Etienne’s rejoinder implied that the pain was worth the price. Cambria could neither agree nor disagree, since he had no real frame of reference. He’d never really had anyone to lose until now, which was why he still remained frozen in place.

His companion’s voice broke into his thoughts, volleying the question back at him. The yearling blinked, tensing and releasing his muscles to get them working again. He puffed out a breath and resumed their leisurely pace around the shoreline.

I’ll have to think about it and get back to you on that, Cambria admitted. I haven’t had many noteworthy experiences yet, which just means the best is still ahead… right?

He drew in another steadying breath, releasing it in a low, slow whoosh. It was entirely possible this was as close as he’d come to a perfect day so far. Cambria realized that might be kind of pathetic, though a sidelong glance at Etienne’s face reminded him that it was still the truth.

Ignoring the various quivers in his belly, he posited aloud, Maybe something like today, pending further research. He would not soon forget it, though right now Cambria just wanted to savor it. Maybe it’s not perfect but it’s been pretty damn nice, spending time with you.

He caught Etienne’s eye and smiled softly. All too soon, their walk would end and they would go their separate ways. But true to his intention, Cambria endeavored to live in the present and, perhaps in doing so, derive a genuine reference point for his perfect day.