The weather had changed and with it came the lurker of the shadows, his fiery tinged pelt blending in perfectly with the scattered leaves that painted the ground. He was positioned just beneath a large tree, large frame planted while the world cried multicolored tears, the tears that he could not produce. Slowly crown rises to gaze upon the swirling sky, the great blue basin that marked the passing of time, yet today it held nothing but raging clouds as Nature battered him with the strength of her rage. The iciness of her bite tore through his fur and chilled his skin, yet he did not move. Could not move. Would not move.

Lids fall to meet cheeks as a shuddering breath racks his bodice. Why was he here? Why did he torture her so? Why did he torture himself….oh he knew why. He thought he deserved nothing more than to be alone. But that wasn’t it was it? No, it was much deeper than that. For all his strength…all his brawn he was a coward. He could not face, could not stomach that change…that his life would not be what he had known all his puphood. He, Leonidas, was fearful of change, of the loss of control. Perhaps sprinkled in was a bit of commitment issues laced with a fear that he could not be what she needed…what the pack needed in a warrior. That he was everything Flame had said…unworthy.

With these thoughts…these realizations, came the rumbling agreement of Nature, the thunder so deep it broke through his trance like state. Jerking forward, a paw is misplaced a step ahead, breaking his solemn pose. Head tilts as he regards this new development, radars pivoting to pay head to the soft crackling of dried vegetation. How easy it was to destroy beauty, to crack the façade that had lasted so many seasons. His Dragon, did she carry the cracks that he had caused? No, she was strong, she would not allow one such as himself to do such a thing to her. She was beautiful…she always was and out of habit and need his maw parts to allow her scent to wash over him. So strong and healthy was it that he almost groaned with the purity of it. Almost.

He should not be here.

That much he knew, for he had left yet again and this time he would not plead his case, would not put forth excuse after excuse as he had before. He was wrong, it was that simple, yet it was still such a large pill to swallow. Didn’t Flame tell him to never return should he leave again…or was that all in his head? Has Flame settled down and produced pups to join Dragon’s younger siblings? Unbidden sorrow forces his ears down until they merged with his skull. He should not be here.

Turning, his posture and demeanor full of rue, he finds he paws and upon his first step the heavens unleash their pity in blinding sheets. Yet the icy caress is welcomed, the pain of the heavy droplets embraced for nothing could compare to the pain that encircled his heart. With one last glance into the shrouded grey of the storm he takes another step to cross over her border, to return to the freelands and this time never to return. Flame would be proud; he finally realized his part and grew a back bone. He knew what to do and this time he would do it without ripping everything apart again.

For once he knew what true strength was, the ability to break ones own heart for the greater good.