Phoenix Maplewood akele hum, akele tum

a series of sharp cracks and splashes made him flinch, and he looked over, seeing dawn approach him in a clumsier manner than he was accustomed to. well, and this was the same girl that had fallen out of a tree, and gotten impaled by a stick. he supposed he wasn't too surprised. she came to stand silently, looking at him.

god, she even declined to speak first? then again, it had been her tongue that had gotten them into this mess. with a sigh, he blinked at her, mouth pulled taut before finally opening to speak.

"how are you feeling?" his eyes raked the healing wounds of her shoulder, the small but painful-looking one on her face, and while his gaze held concern, the emotion didn't quite make it into his words. his tone rang cool and hollow off the trees; he had spent days stuffing down his feelings, and it would take some time to drag them back out again.

songbirds chirped quietly in the canopy, a calm melody at odds with the tension-fueled air below. the creatures were beginning to return north in droves, and their presence was a comfort--it meant that spring was close.