Permafrost Hollows everlong

the boys were sleeping.

she felt the nagging of her bladder and excused herself from the den, seeking somewhere not too far to find relief.

on her return she was slow to amble, taking in breath after breath of mountain air. it felt right to be here - peaceful, beautiful.

wilwarin breathed a sigh and took time for herself, nosing through a swath of flowers growing on the hill.

the place behind the waterfall was a circlet of hot water, a pool of steam which hissed against the air outside.

he gathered the purple fruits; he drank the leaves here.

and the star web filled the dreamer.

the tips of his fur reached for wilwarin as he stood quietly beside now, eyes drinking in the sky.

"are you home, dancing fox?"

she heard him approach and did not lift her head, not until he spoke. in her grip was a cluster of flowers and as answer, she let them fall away as petals on the wind; dancing there between them, netting in his fur.

wilwarin was smiling. she leaned close to the dreamer and rested her cheek upon his shoulder a moment — then reached to playfully tug at his scruff, and made an expression like a laugh, only soundless.

yes, we are home.

wilwarin pulled a laugh from him, and the petals spilled against his chest. her teeth were gentle on the ends of his fur.

home then.

the star web throbbed. the purple fruits whirled.

the dream went on.

"what do you see for us here? whatever i can't dream, i'll build," he said with quiet earnesty, nosing along her own shoulder.