The day stirred unwanted memories deep in the warrior this day, his body sore as he loped around the perimeter of the mountain, sides barely heaving with effort. Eyes are narrowed in eager anticipation of a confrontation yet it did not come, it never came, and he wondered if it was by edict of Dragon or that they truly did not care that he stalked his old home. That he traced it in circles until he met the borders of Taviora before doubling back and resuming his route. Such extreme physical activity left him void of excess body fat and leaner than he had ever been, yet one could also say this is a byproduct of harder hunts as well. Meals was harder to come by, graced here and there by an ill goat who came too far down the mountain seeking easier terrain, but those nights were getting fewer and by far farther in between. Still, he had never felt more alive, more focused than ever before.

The muscles of his neck were stronger thanks to hours upon hours swinging the heaviest pieces of meat, bone, muscle he could scavenge back and forth. His legs more defined and his hindquarters definitely rounded but in a roguish way…a contoured way. His heavy winter coat fell about his physique in such a way that it lended him a roughed appeal, bespoke of his wild living. It whispered that he was no longer a pack wolf, that he held his own. Or was it more his eyes? Angling his trajectory he makes his way to Aplos, lifting each paw to clear the layer of snow that blanketed the world. Should he had felt inclined he could have spared a glance behind him, witnessed the perfection of each step yet he did not. However, unlike his Dragon his steps were perfect for a more practical reason: It took more energy to drag one’s paw than to just lift them.

Coming closer to where the slender neck curved before feeding into the wide source head, he pauses, head lifting to scent the air before lifting his gaze. His irises flash, his one white eye as brilliant as the crystals that paint the evergreens. She was near. Ears swivel as the soft whine of breaking ice dance upon the crisp air, causing his crown to slowly tune in that direction, his entire body shivering with a need so intense he shuddered. Bit by bit they danced across the frozen surface of the river, alighting here and there for but a moment before finding his intended target. Zeroing in, he just watched her. His burning gaze caressed the way her tongue lapped at the water, the droplets glistening as they fell from the soft fur of her chin. HE could still feel the bite of her anger, the pain of it ghosted over his body each and every night, forcing him to long for her. For her anger was preferable to nothing at all.

Suddenly he was moving, paws carrying his form closer to the thin neck where the two banks were closer. Each stride was fluid as he picked up as much speed as he could without twisting a paw before launching himself upon the surface of the river. Likening himself to a hare he comes down easy, making sure to keep his knees and joints soft so not to jar himself or the delicate ice that is his landing. He plays with death, toys with the notion that he could die right then, that the surface might not hold his weight for the meager time he planned to stay there, but it did not matter…she did. As soon as his back paws touch the ice he presses off again, sliding some as a sharp screech reaches his ears…the ice was cracking. Twice more he does this, the spidery web of the breach spanning to the edge before he, landing his hindquarters into the freezing liquid. Front paws scramble to bring his body forward, to free his quickly numbing back end yet he does not seem to find purchase as water evades his pelt to touch his heated flesh. With each moment that passes he finds himself tiring, the seconds draining him of energy and body heat, frosted pants heavy in the relative silence. It seemed that the world held their breath in anticipation of his last.

Sure that he will be swept away he looks up, burning gaze seeking her mahogany moons one last time. He wanted to look upon her, to see her in this serene setting and hope that she found peace. Perhaps she will even be looking upon him too…maybe.

”Goodbye my Dragon.”

With that whispered farewell, eyes slide shut. Perhaps it was only fitting that he die a painful death, swept away by the tide of life.