The Past Tastes Bittersweet

Would hell even have a place for a man like him? That was a good question. Who knew. Maybe there would be a special spot reserved just for him within hell's fires. Or maybe he wouldn't go to hell. Maybe he just be sent into nothing to be forgotten...Wouldn't that be a blessing. He could feel nothing except the thunderous thumping of his heart against his chest and the chill that crept into his bones as the realization that Maija was here sunk in deeper. He hadn't expected to see her, at least, not this soon. He'd been expecting Sibelle to fill him on what his wife had been up to since his departure before he came across her, not run into her before any of that happened. His first instinct was to immediately seek her out, but experience told him otherwise. He had tried that the first time he'd come back and his advances hadn't been exactly welcomed at the very start, so he assumed that's how it was going to be this time as well. Assuming she even stuck around to talk to him that is.


The breeze would berate him with her scent, faint at first, but then pungent, telling him that she was very very close to him. Just how close he couldn't tell exactly, but she was at least within hearing distance, or so he assumed. The sound of pawsteps stopping would reach his ears and he felt his heart freeze inside of his chest. Maija. After so long, here she was, right in front of him, only a few paces away. As he stood breathing in her scent, a strange sound caught his attention. Someone was speaking and he knew it wasn't Maija. Alive. Breathing, existent. He tested the air again, finding a strange new scent that he hadn't noticed before. A...honey badger? His wife had a companion now? Well that was certainly...different. He didn't know Maija was fond of having companions. Then again, what did he know about his wife anymore?


And then came the sound of a body hitting the ground and Taurig snapped from his frozen state. Maija! he called out, immediately moving in her direction. Something had happened to her. Was she ok? He moved without thinking, needing to get to her side and see if she was alright, completely disregarding the little companion she had with her. He just needed to know that she was alright, his absence and return be damned. He still loved her and cared for her just the same.


"Burn Baby Burn"