Dessa
mouth full of pins and heart pumping gasoline
There were many different trees across Moladion that had served as her home over the past year. A tall, broad branched cedar off the banks of the Aplos River had sheltered her in those first weeks after she’d left Diveen. When first her wanderings had begun she’d laid her head beneath the ficus that sprouted from between a broken shale of rock in the crags. A mighty oak that reminded her of the one she’d once denned beneath in Diveen offered her comfort in the valley. She had even enjoyed a span of time in the western portion of Enocra, sleeping in the felled crossbow of two cypress trees. Perhaps the choicest tree she had laid her head upon her paws beneath was the one whose shadow she sat in now. It was a great willow that grew slightly sideways out of the bank of the island at the middle of Ruieze Lake. Water had eroded the bank over the years and as the tree grew its roots slowly sank further into the lake in an attempt to stay buried in the soil. The long, slender branches often tickled the surface of the water during the warmer months, but now they brushed harshly against the ice that created a bridge to the island.

She had not been to the lake since the day when she’d first met Cae, the boy who had imprinted upon her, who had incited a strange feeling within her. But since their parting she’d felt no particular pull to go out and find him. And he’d not come looking for her, either. Not that she was particularly easy to find, for she was almost always on the move. She stayed in one place no longer than a month, and she’d only come back to the fields in the last week. The dead of winter had frozen the lake over, and in her quest to explore every inch of the free world of Moladion, she had moved across the treacherous surface on light paws. Since that first crossing she had become comfortable with walking across the ice, coming and going from the island as necessary. There was no abundance of prey there, so she had to cross back to the fields to feed herself.

Now Dessa lounged beneath the willow, the tendril branches sweeping down to shield her from the prying eyes of other wolves. Her naturally fluffy coat was even more so in these cold months, and it kept her plenty warm. She was not like most of the population of Moladion, hiding away from the elements in a den. She preferred to breathe the crisp, fresh air around her. It had been a year now, and she’d completely traversed the free lands. Each area held its perks, but no matter how far she tried to put it from her mind, she still often found herself wondering about Iromar and its inhabitants. Being a lone wolf, and one that not many paid much notice to, she’d heard the whispers about the changing of power throughout the packs. Iromar had shifted paws not long after her travels away from it had begun, in a peaceable exchange. But in autumn both Glorall and Asteraia had fallen to challengers at their doorsteps. Such things did not trouble Dessa, for the wandering life was something she enjoyed. She did not need to settle down, remain in one place for longer than she wanted to. If she decided she would stay another week beneath this willow, but then changed her mind three days in, it didn’t matter. She could continue on her way, perhaps return to the cedar along the Aplos. No matter what, she knew she had somewhere to sleep every night, because the world was her den.

Her left ear tilted around, changing angles every so often to listen to her surroundings. Honey brown eyes scanned them as well, dancing across the glittering surface of the ice, coated with a fresh dusting of snow from earlier that morning. The green flecks in her eyes shimmered as she looked up into the dreary winter sky, the sun’s brightness dulled by blotches of clouds that reminded her that more snow would soon arrive. But she was content, silent as she simply took in the world that surrounded her.

when they said you were past repair
iv. of elowen. by maddox. for cae. from everywhere.
i stitched you up, thread a needle with my hair