i've got your love to keep me warm

The nights that Albion frequented were becoming increasingly colder as time went on. The natural pattern of the weather, which he had seen cycle through a few times in his life now. Never ceasing to amaze him how life could go from lush, green, and blooming, to dead, brown and frigid. Without the day and sun to warm him winter became much less tolerable a season. He was well adapted but that didn’t mean he had to enjoy it. With the lessening of the length of days and the stark change in temperature the Klein Prince’s coat was becoming much thicker. His undercoat was much more dense now and even the most frozen nights were spent in relative comfort.

While doing his best to return his mother Siren to Elysium for his ailing father Albion found himself practically all over the continent. Or at least the Western lands, she had last been seen in Ashen after all. He suspected that she had gone to try and find some kind of cure for Chimera, who had for a time believed himself dead and dying. Albion had thought so too, as did the rest of their family. Somehow the aged man had made a full recovery, and Siren was still missing. Part of him worried that she had found her demise, but the other part of him would never give up hope.

Even in the wretched cold. Massive paws carried him onwards, for the moment he was without sweet Fiametta. He had frequently shared in her warmth over the last season, but she had her own duties to see to as well. Albion had to admit he missed her, and not just for the opportunity to snuggle up together. He hoped that he might cover a bit more ground while she was away, she also had a wonderful habit of distracting him.

He shook the thought of her from his mind. The weather had been cloudy the past few days and he didn’t suspect that would change, so he decided it would be better to begin settling down for the night. He could think of no better way than lighting a fire. That was a challenge in itself when you didn’t have the correct tools or supplies. Especially out here in the grasslands. However full of prey the place was, full of tinder it was not. Most of it would be muddy and wet anyway.

Still, where there was a will there was a way and Albion had the will. Luckily he carried a flint and steel with him, a small traveling bag was slung across his shoulder. It carried everything he would need expect the big stuff. His flint, some cattail seeds. Enough to get s spark started. What he needed to find were things to really build a fire that could keep him warm throughout the night. He could see a good ways over the grasses, and was in search of an old dead tree or branches of some sort. He knew he would have to search for a good long while.


Thankfully the steady loping pace he kept was enough to keep him warm. With his heartbeat elevated the pace was comfortable enough he wouldn’t be panting. Especially in this weather. Albion searched for what felt like a couple of hours, stumbling upon some dead brush, then a little bigger brush, and finally he’d find his fallen tree. This would be where he was going to begin his fire.

Carefully Albion began to set up his pit. Dragging over a few smaller branches, gnawing on them and breaking them into smaller pieces to fit beneath the tree’s trunk which would eventually ignite. Then, with care, he set up the small sticks and twigs, nesting some of his cattail seeds. By now it looked as though he had made a massive next, and really it sort of was. He was making the perfect nest to hatch and grow his warming fire. With any luck the flame would travel up the trunk and he would be warmed the whole night through.

The tricky part was actually lighting the fire. He didn’t have Scylla’s dexterous paws, nor a companion to help him. So very awkwardly the man struck his steel against the flint, eventually he managed to make a spark large enough to ignite his kindling. With much effort Albion gently placed in tiny sticks and plant fluff to nurture the tiny flame, and after much struggle the spark began to engulf the larger branches. The Klein prince filled his lungs and gently blew air onto the fire before it truly came alive.

With a heavy, but satisfied sigh, Albion reclined to enjoy his work. He wouldn’t truly be able to sleep yet for fear of it not being fed, but with a bit more effort he would be warm the rest of the night.

Albion Klein