Distractions

Walk | Talk | Think

Though fall had officially made its arrival, the heat of summer still lingered, particularly in the afternoon. It warmed the plains and the backs of the creatures who traveled across them, including the little grey hunter currently headed for the shade of the surrounding forest. Somewhere behind her she had scared a plump rabbit into seeking shelter in its burrow, growing impatient and causing the creature to run before she could fully bring herself into a mindset to give chase. It was a nice little meal for the pack's cache missed, a loss that might not be felt considering how well off Valhalla was even after the floods, but it was also the third slip up Ash had made that week.

As much as she wanted to say there was no excuse for her actions, bad as that might have been alone, she knew deep down there was. Ever since her talk with Meili she had been distracted, considering what her thoughts and admissions during that conversation had revealed and getting hung up on what they might mean for her future. She loved Leon. Even thinking the thought alone was hard. It baffled her how she might ever gain the courage to say it, to anyone let alone him, and the worry of what it could mean for the pair of them, or just herself is his feelings were only friendly, made it difficult to think about him for too long. But not even duty could keep those thoughts at bay. It was almost to the point where she would simply need to tell him to clear the thought from her mind and enable her to focus on different things at last. Once it was out in the open and she knew what he thought, she would be free, right?

Easier said than done, she thought to herself as she stepped within the shadows of the heavily wooded section of Valhalla, the green trees overhead obliterating most of the sunlight from hitting her and the cool air under the canopy pulling some of the unwanted heat from her body. Though there was admittedly a part of her that wished to admit her feelings to Leon, a much stronger part wished to silence that voice, clinging to the false belief that to never speak of the issue might allow it to resolve itself and never need to be dealt with using any extra effort. And though she had clear evidence to the contrary - her failed hunt being exhibit a - she was still incredibly nervous to bring it up. Just had to fall for him, didn't you? she thought to herself as she cut a path through the woods toward the center of the territory and the pack's den site, simultaneously hoping to run into Leon and not see him at all.