Blacktail Deer Plateau turn off your television

It was painful being here. It brought up memories of Emrik and a time when things were the closest to perfect she would ever get. She remembered that warm summer day like it was yesterday—the smell of the dark green forest and the way the sun had warmed her coat. Most of all, she remembered searching for herbs and rattling on about them to her mate as he patiently listened. He never really cared that much about the plants; he tried to hide it but never could from her, although she never let on that she knew. He seemed to enjoy it regardless, and it had become something they did whenever they wanted time, just the two of them—the memory had tears burning her eyes, and she shook her head to dash them away. She couldn't get lost in her grief here. She would never find him if she did.

She moved quickly through the forest, at least thankful that she had some reprieve from the bitter, miserable wind. Her nose took in the scents as she made her way through the trees, though she didnt pick up the trail of the stranger. Maybe she had been too focused on finding only one particular scent. She didn't detect him until she was almost right on top of him. She stopped and jumped back, startled by his sudden, to her, appearance. Shit, she released without thinking. I'm sorry. I didn't see you there, she told him breathlessly.