Blacktail Deer Plateau Under the moons waning gaze

I always have time for you! ♥

At the time his niece's death had been discovered, he hadn't had time to process it or deal with it. Even now, it was hard to grasp and accept. He just couldn't wrap his brain around the fact that Junior was dead. A warm, sunny summer afternoon that held no joy or beauty for him had passed into a fiery sunset whose burning embers failed to ignite any passion in him, and ultimately night had fallen, drawing her blanket of darkness and starlight across the landscape until all was silent and tranquil. Still, he lay where he had curled up at the base of a large tree, its knobby roots embracing his body. Empty eyes stared at nothing, while an anguished, confused mind contemplated everything.

He caught her scent wafting on the currents of the night, sweet and subtle and as elusive as the shadows themselves. He wasn't in the mood to socialize, and for a lengthy while, he didn't get up. But he wanted to see her. He needed to see her. With a sigh, he pulled himself to his weary paws and made his way to find her, following paths through the sparse trees until he emerged into a clear, grassy area. Ahead, seated on a gently curving hillock, he saw the silhouetted figure of Blue Willow limned in moonlight, as fine and beautiful as a black lily. He approached her, his eyes haunted with the grief that still roiled inside of him, and he touched her cheek gently with his muzzle in gentle, affectionate greeting. "Hi, Blue," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.