Am I Still Pretty?

Kotori was used to doing what he wanted when he wanted and how he wanted but suddenly he had work to do.  With so many wolves sick in the pack Kotori was a rarity with remaining in good shape.  The idea of relaxing had come to his mind but instead, he came out here, hoping to find her again.  Ikigai had been in his thoughts lately and how could she not be?  Before things had grown to this depth of strange she had already had a notion of spirits and reacted in a way they seemed to like.  She was probably just fine like him, right?  If anyone deserved to be in good condition it was her.  Kotori had challenged the spirits and was curious if that had anything to do with his being well or if it was his contact with the ashen princess.

The woods had mushrooms growing all around where the water ran and crystals clung to trees and rocks.  Kotori kept his ears pinned back and was growing better at ignoring the fireflies as they moved about.  The brownish wolf had no interest in touching anything that was abnormal for concern of catching the sickness that was all over.

He grew close to where he met Ikigai last time and once more she was there.  Kotori was shocked with how she looked though.  Of all the wolves to get the sickness why would spirits choose her?  She had humbled herself and prayed to them!  Kotori knew she was a proud wolf or at least was until spirits came into the matter.  The wolf picked up his gait to reach her, feeling sick as he spotted her tears and the ooze both draining.  

“Iki,” he hadn’t even really shortened her name before but now she seemed a sad sight.  The boy felt sympathy which wasn’t a thing he normally did.  Emotional attachments were just not things he’d ever really felt.  Right now though he felt sorry for her whether it was due to the crystals, the ooze, her pitiful look, or the tears it just all conglomerated together.  He walked forward till he was right next to her which was showing more care than she might realize with his dislike for it.

“I thought for sure you would have been spared with how you talked to them,” his words were soft as he sat down next to her inwardly debating the wisdom of touch.  How bad is it?”  He had heard of different levels of suffering but clearly, everyone was suffering.  “Do you know anything of why they are doing this?”


Kotori Fatalis