The Summer Bonfire Festival

Fern knew the bonfire festival was drawing close and she had busied herself making small gifts for the Carpthius siblings. After picking Rudy’s brain for details about what each wolf liked, the gray girl had tried her best to get them each something special. Six small, wrapped bundles lay on the table before her and counts them, again. A seventh gift waits in the room Rudy and Fern share, where she can give it to him in a more private setting. Nodding at the number she finds, six, the gray wolf casts her gaze to a set of two pieces of clothes. It is simple, one laid on top of the other with a pressed sunflower resting between the layers. A small, sad smile passes across her light lips as she looks at the tied cloths. The call rings out Fern knows it is time to say goodbye to her mother.

Quickly and carefully, Fern moves the objects into a small pack that she then slings around her neck. Stepping away from the table, the gray girl grabs her wooden training sword from beside her and Puff moves to help buckle the scabbard into place across her back. Giving everything one more quick inspection, Fern nods to herself and the girl and stoat head out toward the plains. Rudy had promised he would find her, that he would be there on time but… he isn’t. Wolves are already gathered and her ocean-hued eyes cannot pick out the motley gray boy. Giving the absent wolf a small shake of her head, the gray girl moves to join the others. Smiles are offered to everyone and respectful dip of her head is given to Artorias.

Fern settles near the back of group as she does not want to interrupt any conversations or draw attention to herself. Taking a deep breath, the gray girl sits under the twilight sky on the soft grass and waits.


"Rudyard & Fern"