We Could Play Pirates.

As Aresenn led Absinth through the labyrinthine caverns, her senses absorbed the environment around her. The dampness seeped into her fur, mingling with the earthy scent of moss and the tang of saltwater that clung to the air. Despite the darkness enveloping them, she felt a sense of security beside Aresenn, his presence a steadfast guide through the alien shadows.

As they emerged from the winding passages, Absinth's gaze fell upon the hulking silhouette of a grounded ship, its once-majestic form now weathered and worn by the passage of time. The sight stirred something within her, a curiosity ignited by the stories whispered in the breeze and echoed in the creaking of aged wood. Ships. There was a time her father mentioned reading about them, that they could set sail over the waters and remain at sea forever – passengers living within all the while.

Without hesitation, Aresenn led the way onto the ship's deck, his movements fluid and purposeful. Muscle memory of the time that this was his home, she guessed. Absinth followed with carefully picked steps, her eyes tracing the intricate patterns etched into the weathered planks, every detail of interest to the woman who had never seen something like this with her own eyes. She marvels at the vessel, imagining the adventures it must have undertaken and the trials it must have weathered. Storms? Waves the size of islands? Really, her imagination was running wild. As Aresenn turned to face her, his amber gaze piercing through the dim light, Absinth sensed a hint of indifference in his demeanor. She understood his lack of enthusiasm for the abandoned ship, its significance fading into obscurity with each passing moment. A past life, a failed pack, a disconnect. Yet, she herself couldn't shake the feeling of reverence he was long past feeling that enveloped her as she stood upon the deck.

"This is the ship of Pirate’s Plunder - or was," Aresenn spoke, his voice breaking the silence that hung heavy between them. "They have made themselves into something different now. This part of the old territory is obviously abandoned now… or once again abandoned rather." Absinth listened intently, absorbing his words with earnest interest for the history that lingered within the ship's aging hull. Not to mention the part it played in his own past. Though his explanation may have been delivered with more than a hint of detachment, she sensed a deeper significance, an unspoken invitation to glimpse into the pieces of his past.

With a nod of understanding, Absinth turned her gaze back to the ship, her mind swirling with visions of bygone days and untold adventures. It was gratifying, being able to stand here with him and earn herself more and more glimpses into his enigmatic self. Maybe that was too dramatic. “This is where you grew up?” She mused, eyes flicking from the planks to his face again. She could imagine him learning to walk, stumbling here and there, a proper pirate pup. “Simpler times, huh.” She had no memories like that, maybe an odd playful tussel with another child of monochromatic colors – but the images fade from her memory before she can properly grasp them. It made her curious though… “What… do you miss?” Absinth dared to question, her gaze searching for his own. Would he answer the question? Could he? Sometimes, if she thought about it hard enough, she could miss the scent of her mother’s perfume, because it meant that she was going out for the night and would not be home to take out her frustrations on Absinth herself. Haha. Simpler times.

wormwood