Your Bones

As his days apart from Lirium grew longer and more extended he found himself wandering through the southern lands. The Spring thaw had reshaped the land and all was now far different than he had anticipated. The Falls in particular granted him a lovely view and he could only think back to the last time he had been there. It was with Cél and he had fought a strange girl with two different colored eyes. He recalled how he felt at the thought of Cél possibly having interest in her and having his friend’s attention taken away from him. The thought stung him like an angry hornet. Knowing that Célestin’s carefree and optimistic nature would be challenged in the months following the fight, and how he would come to question the nature of their relationship.

He bounded down the rocky cliffs, unable to be lifted from his brooding even by the frolicking animals enraptured in Spring or the fresh blossoms that lifted and carried on the wind. He paced along the rock wall as the sun began to sink lower casting a vibrant array of colors off the cascading waterfall that still did nothing to lighten his mood. What was he supposed to do?  He had noticed that his own feelings toward Célestin had begun to turn since he reached maturity. Now he thought of how Cél would feel under him, how warm and soft his fur was, and how captivating his scent could be. He gave a deep sigh, inhaling the flora around him. The air was humid and alive with the sweet scent of flowers and the scent of damp grass, and realized in a truly disheartening moment that Célestin smelled like Spring.  

He shook the thought away and continued on his trek, refusing to even entertain the thought that what he knew and felt for Célestin was some form of mind altering glamor bestowed on him by his parentage. He moved away from the falls following the jutting cliffs heavy with greenery, his tail lax behind him and nearly tucked between his legs. He passed a small grove of ferns and assorted leaves and could just barely make out a small spring flowing down the smooth rock face of the cliff above him and pattering onto the stones beneath it. It was most likely caused by a reservoir at the top of the cliff that had frozen over and had been brought to life by the Spring thaw. The temperate and humid environment of the falls meant that rain would most likely keep the pool supplied during the summer, but for now it flowed free and unrestrained down the mossy wall. A trick of the last rays of sunlight shining through a bare patch in the overgrowth formed a rainbow over the small spring and Peg felt his heart clench at the sight of it. He was becoming obsessed, he could feel himself slipping into madness, and he felt that the only cure would be to hold Célestin against him and never let him go.

He sat, simply watching the spring and the rainbow while the sun slowly drifted downward until the prism of color faded. He huffed, almost disappointed to have watched it go then stood to drink from the cool water. The spring itself seemed almost magical; like a hidden gateway to another world, and his thoughts touched briefly on what Cél would say if he showed it to him. Would that bring him any measure of joy? More than his own warring thoughts, his companion’s melancholy mood troubled him and he wondered not for the first time if he was right to try and separate the motley boy from his birthplace. He wished he had come with him to the falls, wished they could go exploring like they used to, but knew that he still needed time to mourn his sister. When he raised Olympia would the rainbow hued boy be ready to join him? Or would his pack spend the first season surrounded by those that loved him that did nothing to quell his loneliness. He wished his father had been there to provide guidance but he was hundreds of miles away in the home he had left behind. The home that had ultimately come to join him in Boreas.

His thoughts touched briefly on Philomena; she was strong and capable and he could see her standing beside him when he raised his pack, she would make a fine wife if it ever came to that. That thought disquieted him more than he cared to admit. He pressed his head against the rock wall and let the cold water flow over his head as he groaned in frustration. He needed to stop thinking about this. He wanted a distraction from his thoughts on Cél and his future pack, he simply wanted to explore and be filled with the wonder of Boreas, but he couldn’t.