Words are spaces between us.

This one's for you, @Scimitar

It was cold, and bitterly so. And yet Paarthurnax found that she welcomed the bite in the air as she wandered alone late that evening, farther from home hat she would have liked. She knew that Shadow would be concerned for her, for it was not of her character to disappear without word of her destination, but more than anything the crimson Frostfur simply wished for her own company. The very last thing she wanted was for her mate to send a scout to retrieve her; fragile as she might appear, Paarthurnax was in need of no baby-sitter.

The roar of a distant waterfall was what drew her in the direction of the stream, and she followed it at a meandering pace until it fanned out into a narrow lake. Paar looked solemnly over the rippling surface as she paused on the sandy shore, still damp from the tide, and she contemplated the turmoil in her mind.

Was she happy? Could she love Shadow the way he so wanted her to? She was certain that she knew him better now, having spent a great deal of time at his side, having woken to a new day curled in his embrace, having shared with him intimacy and affection. And he was hers, that handsome, proud, doting, strong man. He did his best, she knew that, and she adored him for it... but he was different. He'd changed a great deal since founding Noctisardor and Paar couldn't help but wonder if she'd been right: their relationship had progressed too quickly. Lately there had been some tension between them regarding several things, things that she couldn't quite shake from her wary mind.

She stood there, silent, lost in her thoughts, and quietly contemplated which direction that her uncertain future might take.