Stone Circle optimist

he’d been able to fall asleep again, but at what cost? there weren’t any nightmares, nor were there any dreams; at night, he was lulled by the same darkness which festered in the day. alsek was drained of all life, of all energy, searching desperately for any single string of happiness.

but there was none to be found.

everyone left him, with polaris surely included; how long did he have before becoming truly, heartbreakingly alone?

alsek trudged through the territory on heavy, dragging paws, faint stains smudged on the crease between eye and snout. in fact, he’d been so distracted by the weight of his own body that the sudden appearance of another nearly went unnoticed.

he forced himself to smile, trying his best to hide the inner devastation. oh, hi, alsek said, his voice uncharacteristically low, do you live here? valette’s scent was strong, so he assumed that this was her sleeping place, too.