Phoenix Maplewood What a terrible world

Editing in an ending.

His solo march along the borders of the Maplewood took a brisk pace, it was easier to replace thought with action that way. Reek tried to keep his mind as blank as possible as he walked, but sometimes a creeping thought would sneak past past his defenses.  You didn't do enough, chided his own internal voice in the back of his mind. Reek winced away the hurt and continued with his patrol, soldiering on in the hopes it would make him numb.

However, numbness never came, no matter how much he distracted himself. Though Reek's wounds from the fight on the coast had closed, the wound caused by losing Scarlett left a much larger and more painful tear.  It was an open wound on his very soul, and that wasn't something he knew how to heal with herbs or cobwebs. Time was what he needed, and he had all the time in the world.  He would let it fade on the border and wouldn't cease until the pain was gone.

Out of the corner of Reek's eye, he saw a nondescript blur of brown and cream.  He stopped and turned his gaze to see Kael playing around in the snow. Jubilant. Reek sniffled once in the cold air and felt a chilling pang of envy.  Something about Kael reminded Reek of the man he used to be. He wished he could still be this man, but it was almost as if he no longer knew how.

Reek did not go unknoticed for long and Kael soon froze in place after meeting Reek's gaze.  "Don't call me sir," he muttered. The title made him feel old. There was a quaver to his voice; a stark contrast to the confident image he usually tried to project. He trudged through the snow to close the distance between the two of them.  After a quick beat, Reek shot from left field and asked, "Kael, do you think I'm old?" It was an honest question.  While Reek knew he was far from elderly, he couldn't help but wonder if his best years were behind him... and if those were his best years, then lord help him.

However, no response came. It was silly to think Kael could have offered some sort of help. "Whatever," said Reek before setting off into the Maplewood alone.