King Elk Forest Fortitude

Today, Vaska did something he had never ever really done before: he had left the den all by his lonesome, and had set off somewhere with no company but himself.

He was used to having Vidaar or Venere around every minute of the day, and as much as he felt out of place amongst them, he felt wholly a part of them, too. Being so far from them felt strange, but oddly okay. Guilty, almost, at how good the separation made him feel.

Vaska sniffed about here and there - sticking to the shadows to avoid the glare of the summer sun. Somewhere along the way, he smelled someone familiar, and his heart did a little bounce in his chest.

Kev'lin! the little boy chirped, and hurried along the route the trail led him down. Kev'lin! he called for his protector again, a bright smile dawning across his usually downcast face.