Missing Piece

Somewhere up ahead he heard Strawberry's quiet voice, encouraging him to go further. It was likely she just wanted him to cheer up, and seem more like himself again.. not that Spirit was by any means a wolf people would call cheerful. He was far too skittish for that. He squinted as he neared the lake, hoping he'd spot her brown and red feathers against the nearby trees, but it was proving difficult. It was possible she was lingering in one of the nearby trees, and as soon as he went back to sulking she'd show up to check on him. Often he thought life would be easier if he were a bird; how easily he could fly away and escape from the worries and fears that plagued him. These daydreams came often to him, and he sunk so quickly into his thoughts he barely noticed when someone across the lake was trying to get his attention.

Even from a distance he could tell her coat was unique, and Spirit was intrigued. Though he was painfully shy, it'd been a long time since he'd met someone who caught his interest, and part of him hoped she might be a reprieve from his tumultuous thoughts. Slowly he veered around the lake's edge, marveling at how thick the grass here was despite the rough few seasons these lands had experienced. The reeds sprouted tall beside him, and he nearly disappeared from view until he rounded a bend in the shore, only a few yards from her now. Spirit forced a faint smile - her expression was warm and had a way of soothing the worst of his worries, though they would never fully disappear. "H-h-hello," he stammered slowly, taking a few steps closer. His posture was timid and jerky, as if ready to flee at a moment's notice.