Felltree Marsh i. disappear

@Makan feel free to post once + add whatever you'd like to this <3

A shadow following a ghost —

and oh, all the things they could see! She would show him now, the way a woman could fade into the world. The way a man could lose himself to life. It was easy.

That first morning saw them through wetlands, a wild and unwelcoming place. Manea coasted featherlight over the muddy knolls, deft paws finding paths along fallen trees and soft beds of ferns and flattened cattails. Not once did she stir the turbid waters.

Nor did she stir the birds from their perches. All around they worked and sang and shrieked to one another, never sparing a glance for the ghost or the shadow. Who would? She lingered among their bright colors and bright songs only a little while. There was so much more to be seen.

High noon brought heavy, wet footfalls to her ears; ursine, the wind told her, and perhaps the ghost did bristle a little then. Yet the bear never saw them, nose buried in a bush laden with dark berries. Manea only watched for a time, watched half-crushed berries falling to the ground and a daring squirrel skirting round to the far side of the bush. It felt as if a small eternity passed that way.

Then the bear was gone, and then dusk upon them, and coyotes yipping and prancing at play. This time Manea followed, all smiles and waving tail at the sight of their joy. They never looked at her. Eventually her smile faded.

But there was always more to see.