Sun Mote Copse Dear Daddy-Long-Legs

Wraen had not been the one to be in the middle of the things for many months now, preferring to observe comings and goings from the sidelines and involving herself only, when it felt right to include herself in the narrative. Or, when she was absolutely needed. Most of the time Firebirds managed themselves so well that the now temporarily retired Sovereign wondered, if they needed one leader in the usual sense at all. From all the packs she had been part of only her birth family and this one had been so self-sufficient and able to function cohesively. 

Nevertheless she felt glad that for the time being she was off the duties to be on top of all things, to make sure daily that all was still running well, not to worry about the future. Future. Wraen had walked a bit this morning with many stops along the way. It felt odd that, while her mind wished to run, race, return to life, her body was not co-operating. She tired so easily that it was almost ridiculous. Her heart racing and her being out of breath even after a brief stretch that she usually would have covered without even noticing. Now every step was a little victory, but it made her wonder, how long would this state last or whether it would ever go away. 

She had spoken about death and dying with Arcturus not so long ago - then it had been theoretical, she realized at present that not only she had had spoken as if she had any idea, what it meant, when in reality she did not. Worse even - she had challenged the lady with the scythe boldly with arrogance and false belief that there was nothing to fear of, when in reality... well, reality was neither noble, nor beautiful. Feeling tired again, Wraen lied down on the rocky ledge that faced the waterfalls right across the river and, while watching the light playing in the water droplets, little rainbows appearing here and there, she thought about, how much she still wanted to live.