Wanderings

She emerged from the Crystal Cathedral, she had slept within the cave waiting for him to return. Her chiming collar was all she had from him. She looked around, then gave the ground a tracking smell. He had left the cave and stalked away. Was this how it was going to be? Leave her to her own devices while he stalked out of sight?
She sighed. Was this what her brother and aunt had to contend with for their lovers? They weren't anywhere nearby for her to confide in. Not that her aunt would have let her have a word in any way.

Iris finally absorbed her surroundings. The crisp summer morning sun set the dew to sparkling on all the herbs before her. Had he known that this was some kind of herbal sanctuary? Perhaps his love language was such gifts and he hated to be touched unless of his own accord. Fine, she could learn his ways, she could adapt.

With a new resolve about her relationship, she set about the garden to discover what herbs grew here in such abundance. The sage had grown tall and shrubby, the calendula sprawled into all the corners, and the chamomile spouted between some strange square stones. Her chiming collar ever singing now. Louder than a cat's bell, a tinkling like a fairy among the flowers. Such was her nickname from him.