along the way

Mercury listened companionably as she spoke. He didn’t want to poke at anything too painful to speak of, but Anthea seemed happy to share, and he was happy to listen. He closed his eyes, listening for the fish, instead of looking for them. At least that was what he told himself. Letting her voice wash over him, and think about her world for a time. The one she had been forced to leave behind.

“An answer would have been letting your pack be more open to trade, have a larger variety of people moving through, and more chances to meet people. At least, that was how our family did it.” He explained a little ruefully.

“Places are rich with vibrancy and… wait” he sat up with enough force to leave his vision swimming a little, even as his eyes locked onto hers. “Did you just say… a fire. No…” He stared at her in shock. “You never said how long the fire was, I never even suspected…” His expression was horror. Because he realised now just how likely her entire people were wiped out. A forest fire was one thing, a volcanic eruption another.


"Mercury"