Sunset Valley past the dark forest

as dawn rose, so did anyu. he awoke rather suddenly, sucking in oxygen like a reanimated corpse, as if he had not breathed in hours. morning frost lining the grasses; that is where he coughed up a touch of blood, struggling to control his unsure lungs. breathe deeply. 

there was little that remained of the ghost that lay in that meadow. he searched his mind for memories and there were none. thoughts lead to feelings, and he began to feel the throbbing pain from the dash in the skin of his temple. a moment to process that, and he searched again. anyu. he was aware of his own existence, and little more. 

faces floated and morphed in his brain. he tried to grasp at them, like a fleeting dream, but in this same way they were gone within moments. the final traces of family or friends he assumed, pale visions like himself, disappearing until he could not see them. alone. 

he sat himself up awkwardly, limbs aching. and then a wretched sob struck, knowing there was nothing out there for him but a world empty of any emotional attachment.

"Hey there!" From the depths of the forest, came the little white wolf. She bounded over, seeing some life, but he looked like a wretched and saddened being. She could almost feel her heart weigh heavily upon looking at him, but Snowskip couldn't tell why. He just looked so sad, and lonely.. She had to swallow the pit she felt, and play upon a happy face.

So here she comes!

"You okay?"

deep breath, deep breath. watery-eyed, he looked up to the source of a voice, even as another drop slipped from the corner of glassy gaze. her face was not familiar- but would any of them be? there was no recognition in her gaze though, and his own look fell, as he sucked in another shaky breath. i don't know, he sighed awkwardly, collecting himself, trying to control his crying. i'm- i'll be okay...

Snowskip took a breathe, containing her own shakiness and kept the pools from forming so. A connectivity of emotions, that she fought back with pure optimism that she wished to share upon the other, "it's okay to be upset," she said with a charming smile. Intertwined with the energy of what others could be, it was a burden, but a relief, because she could try and fight what they may feel as well.

"It's okay to cry! Because you'll be okay." Gently so, the small winter wolf gingerly wished to place her snout on his shoulder with reassurance. She wasn't sure what the stranger was going through, but Snowskip wanted to pass along her own hope onto him.

The empathetic girl, who felt his pain as he did without knowing him. It's okay to be upset, she said. His lip trembled, gaze wavered awkwardly. It's okay to cry! Because you'll be okay. He blinked more water from his eyes; doing another look of his surroundings very quickly- was this heaven? Was she his guardian angel? But the world seemed as cold and starkly unfamiliar as it had the first time.

A shaky sigh, and his gaze rose to her finally with a sniffle, appreciative of the slight touch of her muzzle. O-okay. was all Anyu could stammer awkwardly, leaning slightly into her for comfort if allowed, like a kitten might with its mother.

She accepted the wolf with open arms, drapping herself in a warm embrace against him. She wasn't sure what he could be going through, but always thought if she could ease their pain just a bit, Snowskip would. She kept murmering, "it'll be okay," to him. 

"I'm Snowskip!" the winter wolf greeted with a smile.