Wheeling Gull Isle bats full of shame

some time ago, elsewhere.

vesper awoke, immediately missing the companion that should be at their side. the cold had already retaken whatever lingering warmth she had left behind. she had been gone for longer than a few minutes, then. the darkling rose to stand, stretching downward with a yawn and then stretching each hind-leg in turn. blinking sleep from their fiery eyes and licking sleep-breath away from their lips, vesper set out to track down her scent.

they moved through the wood, unconcerned. if she hadn't gone to relieve herself, perhaps she had gone to find breakfast for them both; vesper knew she would not leave them alone for long. they trailed the prints in the frosted loam, enjoying the peaceful solitude of the birdsong-filled forest, as eager as they were to be at her side.

a horrible, wet yelp rang out in the distance, and then even the birds fell silent.

vesper ran towards it.

+++

present.

they sat at the shoreline, still as stone. late evening was falling, not yet deep enough in the night for the tide to ebb and reveal the land-bridge. vesper instead took in the sights, sounds, and smell of their childhood as they waited. the craggy, forested isle. the occasional shriek of a gull that had not yet settled for the night. the salt-and-fish scent of the ocean mixing with pine. all of it pulling chaotic memories of their youth back to the surface of their thoughts.