The Heartwood [m] In what appears to be a ritual "Godspeak" song of the Rieklings

Isolation seemed to help with the sadness, though it allowed his bitterness to fester and grow like an algae that consumed him and clouded his vision. On a daily basis he roamed further and further from his home, often not returning until evening or later and by then he was so tired that he would simply collapse and succumb to a dreamless slumber.

But it seemed that with every day, it became harder and harder to tire himself in spite of the travel, so he wandered further and further, attempting to cure his growing insomnia but inadvertently making himself even more tolerant to drowsiness by leaving his mind idle. 

He barely noted his surroundings. He spoke as little as possible, and avoided his family. Even his anger became wordless, though he would catch himself growling softly with every exhale, as though training his voice to deepen. He would only realize it when his voice caught, prompting him to clear his throat. 

The girl had hit her head a few times before he even noticed the sickening sound and when he looked up, he thought his eyes were fooling him. He looked up to the sky, as if expecting for it to be crimson and gold- and looked back to the girl, realizing then that it wasn’t a trick of the light, but a remarkable contrast of warm and cool hues in her fur. 

Then, he saw what she was doing.

He told her to stop, but only in his mind. He stepped forward again, and commanded her again but nothing came out. The part of him that understood what she was trying to achieve stole his voice away from him until another disgusting smack! finally snapped him out of it. 

He didn’t speak, but he bolted toward her, leaping silently in the hopes of tackling her to the side.