Page 309 of The Lands Defying

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It’s snowing again.

And the ground surrounding me that was once covered in red, is now pure-white once more.

I think I’m cold.

I know my body is shaking.

But again.

I don’t move.

Someone places a blanket over me, others place food and water down.

The Elites come, mourning their loss as I feel furs surrounding me, and I assume they turned wolf to keep me warm.

Wolves like the contact as they all lay around me, but I don’t feel a single thing, even as Runa whimpers and whines inside of me.

I look at the darkened ground in front of me.

The snow never covers that bit, like it knows it needs to be seen.

A reminder of who was there before it.

I think it’s another day now.

I blink, and the food is changed along with water skins.

Wolves no longer circle me, but that’s okay.

I like the silence.

Silence will let me know if I can hear him.

If I hear his footsteps.

I look at the dark patch, my fingers stiff but they twitch.

I lean forward, a blanket falling off my shoulders and I place my hand atop it.

Trying to sense him.

Feel him.

But my shoulders slump.

Because I feel nothing at all.

I look over the carving that I found in our cave.

It's wonky, chunks are missing, but the two wolves intertwined, wrapped around each other is another stark reminder of what I lost.

Why Darius made this for me, only to make it hurt every time I look at it, I don’t know.

Did he know he would have to take the rogures below? Has he known all along?

I shake my head at the questions I don't have answers to, and I port to just outside of Eridian where the lilk trees are.

Spring is here.

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