Permafrost Hollows end of the journey; first of the trials

the beam of that smile was scorching as she flinched a little; like a lurking vampire straying too close to the sun's burning slants. that unflitered, untainted joy of unblemished youth...she swallowed thickly, averting that strained gaze momentarily. she'd only snap back when he spoke again, shrill boyish voice piercing the air. brows furrowed at the unfinished question hanging between them, head tilting very lightly as she mused lowly "am i..." was she what? what did he see to drag forth such a query? she looked down at her dirtied paws, as if the limbs that worked so hard to keep the restless nature of her mind at bay with her travels would have all the answers to what the shadow could have wondered. it seems any chances of getting to know what might have been uttered were gone though as that puppy glee grew fixated on the flower blooming before them. 

narrowed eyes glazed a little as he reverenced this minute drop of life and there was no use even trying to bite back the incredulous snort that pushed sourly into the writhing air. this....this puny, delicate little flower was alive, gossamer gleam glowing defiantly in the light as it pushed brazenly from the earth. she could shred it with the lightest gesture and yet here it grew, sneering at her situation. the fact that her father, a being of strength and power, love and kindness now lay dead and rotting in the earth but this...THIS FLOWER...lived on. it took a great deal of strength to resist the urge to launch herself and shred it to pieces, teeth pressing so hard together that a sickening pain launched itself through her jaws. 

she struggled against the sting of her eyes, not quite tears but something worse; this burning pain that begged for the release of crying but it just wouldn't come. exhaling heavily through clenched teeth, it was with a great amount of effort that she looked back to this child. also defying the earth's ridiculous kink for cruelty by standing out here alone and unscathed and whispered "why are you out here alone? where...are your family, your pack?" luckily she didn't feel the same reaction towards this soot covered scrap as she did with the flower, rather than wishing to tear into him she was come over with a desperate need to protect. to make sure the world did not add another victim, did not get another win in this corrupt game.