King Elk Forest of a boy ruled by the sun, burned by the things he could never touch

maybe @Delight ?! :D

The morning is frigid but Mato’s pelage thick and coarse for the winter keeps him well insulted. Unfortunately, thick fur can do nothing for the ice that has begun to settle in his heart. Mato moves through the five stages of grief at her continued disappearance: denial, anger, bargaining, a brief bought of depression that accompanied the unease he felt around it but now he has moved into the final stage: acceptance. It is cold and it feels cruel as he realizes that he accepts she is gone, that her return is unlikely. She returned previously but time continues to stretch and Mato knows that he cannot sit and pine for her. It’s not fair to him and it’s not fair to Tindómë when he’s spent a brief period considering going after her. Of leaving behind his kingdom in search of the wayward woman he had been hasty to give his heart to. Too hasty. He realizes his error now and knows that he has no choice but to let her go. In hindsight, Mato cannot claim that it truly surprises him. She came into his life like a violent storm: sudden and there before he even knew it happened and it only makes sense that she would leave it in the same way. Ironically, he is beyond his decision causing him pain. He’s grieved and nurtured the pain and like the earth he must heal. The natural disaster is over and now he is given the opportunity to rebuild.

Mato cannot necessarily claim that accepting that he is a bachelor once more brings him relief: it doesn’t; but it’s a step in the right direction he feels. It is what is best for him, what is best for Tindómë and he acknowledges this fact. He walks the borders slowly in the early morning sun that casts a golden glow over all it touches: pausing here and there to strengthen it in spots that smell a bit sparse to him.

330 words