Perhaps it was fated that the girl whom was so interesting those years ago had been imprinted upon. He had but found his own imprint not long after he had met the lovely earthen girl from afar. Perhaps it had been horrible timing after all. Malum had found himself wondering of her in his days between their last parting and his recent accident; but recently the memory of her is faded and only becoming more so with each passing day. He still clings steadfastly onto this memory of the girl, Dessa, for she is part of his past and that means so much to the young adult. He had found his long lost sisters and now hope still remains that he will find this girl before she is completely erased from his mind.

He moves now with the grace and splendor that his mother had gifted him, his coat thickened immensely to battle even the harshest chills of winter, his direction shifting to move north toward the fields out of nothing more than curiosity. Perhaps he will always end up here, searching for this ghost of a friend that he had once had the chance of keeping, but it would not bother him even if he did. He will search for her just as he had for his siblings and he is sure that he will find her someday; hopefully to pick up where things had been dropped.

It is only by luck or chance that he is to find her on this overcast, winter eve as he approaches the lake that is now nearly frozen solid. Her scent, though nearly missing from memory, is heavy upon the wind and with it accompanies that illustrious aroma of estrus. Something even a strange one like Malum cannot ignore. His liver colored nose twitches as he brings it closer to the solid sheet of ice that now covers the lake, blowing a cloud of loose snow up into the air as he snorts. Yes, she is out here somewhere and his nose is telling him straight across the body of water.

He stands there for the longest moment, pink and jade eyes staring toward the small island that is situated in the midst of the frozen lake, unsure if he should chance making the crossing. But Malum never really feared death. He began to cautiously walk across, taking his time as he saw fit, for he knew that there may be holes in the snow covered ice of which he cannot see. Claws grasp and scrape against the surface as he keeps himself steady and surely enough he is upon the snow dusted shores of the island of which his damsel lays. She is not easily seen, especially beneath the shadows of the thick willow branches, but his nose does not lie and he slowly follows it in her direction. It is only when it parts the willowy branches that his pale colored eyes fall upon the familiar face – though she is matured, different even in her familiarity.

”Dessa.” her name is spoken as if it is a prayer upon his lips – perhaps it may very well be. His soul has left him and his life was nearly lost in the tumultuous storm only a few months ago. He had been so lost, so empty until he had found Malleah and Taji, and now Dessa. Slowly he is piecing himself back together again although nothing will ever truly be the same. At least he will try.

life of five years | of lurid & jumanji | saved by elara | promised to none | lost soul