One Together

W

inter was finally relenting into the cold beginnings of spring, which would come very soon. Her journey had been arduous and difficult, from the tallest mountain to the valleys below, and then onward to the Lowlands. Her paws ached, but she was content to walk on a dirt path once more.

Hints of bright green leaves, of new life, were already beginning to break through the snowy landscape. The hint of new life made her smile, and a sigh escaped as she hurried to put more space between herself and Tir Na Nog. Her pet skunk Herb seemed joyful to be away from the mountains and the cold, practically dancing around Willow’s paws. Both wolf and skunk were considerably thinner now, more gaunt. Hunting in the highest elevations in winter had proven challenging. But the spark in her grass green eyes remained.

The mountains had been beautiful, but it would never be home. She already had one, and while she was trapped on the high peaks, she often dreamt of that place — the family garden plot, the smell of dirt and the familiar trees. Most of all, she missed her family and friends. She had not bid anyone farewell when she departed. Did they think she was dead? Or that she had no desire to be with them anymore? Both options seemed plausible, and made her heart sink within her chest. More than one season had passed in her absence by now.

As she neared the family home, her pace slowed and her anxiety went into overdrive. She inhaled sharply as the old cottage came into sight. The garden was still dormant for the winter, with hints of emerging green - the same garden she had once believed she grew from, she recalled with a grin. She was no longer the child she had once been.

Willow felt a surge of gratitude as she took in the familiar scene. She had never wanted for anything in her life, thanks to her mothers. Clearing her throat, she tried to adopt an expression of calmness and confidence, and she called out, ”Mama? Mum?” The skunk sat down beside the wolfess, waiting patiently to see what would happen next.

@Nephele @Kylar

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

It had been a hard season to bear. For all of them. Anthe hadn't started to recover yet despite already being a year into adulthood. Nephele and Kylar both had tried desperately to search for answers. They'd asked doctors affiliated with the college to come but no one had had a cure. Instead, they had been left to provide symptom management as best they could.

Luca was still gone traveling and he didn't write at all anymore. Kylar wanted to believe that it was because he'd finally hit a distance where ravens couldn't reach. It still caused a knot to form in her stomach, however.

And Willow, the little light in their lives that was still healthy and sending word back, had at last disappeared as if she ahd been fated to do so. Once more, Kylar and Nephele's nights became colder—so cold that they curled together for warmth that they couldn't will back into their little cottage. When the time came for Kylar to return to teaching, she did so with immense regret and reticence, not wanting to leave Nephele alone. Neph had her jackdaw now but... Kylar was the one that had made the lifelong commitment to protect her wife. The thought that she couldn't be there with her always ate at her.

But Nephele had her work too. She was down in the clinic more often than not and together, they continued on hoping for the best as they always did.

...

It wasn't a particularly sunny day. Winter was waning, spring was waxing, and Kylar was checking the garden to see if they'd be able to dig up some neat rows and rotate the herbal crops. If the frost had faded enough for them to be able to dig without hurting their paws, she'd get to work this weekend. As for buying seeds... well they'd hold off on that. Neither one wanted to be far away in case Luca or Willow came home.

Kylar was nose to the ground when she suddenly heard; "Mum! Mama!"

Her head shot up and her eyes widened. Without wasting a moment, Kylar hobbled around the edge of the cottage, relief washing through her system as she saw Willow there. Thinner, scruffier, but alive. Well. Ky took this sight in for just a moment before barreling down the lawn to her little bug. When she got there, she'd drag her daughter into a bear hug—one that she would have given through the entirety of the girl's childhood.

"You're back," she breathed, squeezing tightly.

TABLE BY NESLA/NORI

@Nephele @Willow

Nephele's world was slowly shrinking around her. First Luca with his adventurous spirit had wandered away from them, and then Willow had begun her own journey too. It was painful stepping away from her pups when her heart longed to follow them wherever they went. Part of life was knowing when to let go. Knowing this didn't make her tears go away. When the first signs of snow arrived Nephele had turned to Ky. "You're not going anywhere, right?" It was a silly question, one spurred by her growing anxiety the longer they went without receiving word from Willow. Nephele had always hoped Willow would stay close to home, and maybe one day that Haven might be left in her paws when Nephele was too old to practise medicine.

The months passed and Nephele tried to stay positive. They had raised Willow into a fine young woman. There was every chance she was safe and well. "W-Willow?" Nephele breathed out when their daughter called for them. She'd dreamed of this day and often awoke with a tear still fresh on her cheek when she realised it was only a dream. She hurried after Ky, wiggling into the hug which was easy considering her small size and peppering the side of Willow's cheek with kisses.

@Willow, @Kylar

Art by Bunny

S

he nearly burst into tears at the sight of the familiar pelts, those faces that had cared for her and loved her all her life. Mum nearly knocked her off her paws, and Mama was not far behind, as had always been the case for as long as Willow could remember. There couldn’t be one without the other.

She savored the affection after so many weeks apart, still managing to control her emotions – sad and excited and ashamed, but mostly, she was relieved to be home. ”I went – I was waaay up north, in the mountains. And then the snow began, and I thought it would stop, but it certainly did not! I never saw so much snow in all my life, the kind of storm that you can’t see anything in front of you, but for days on end…” She paused to take a deep breath before she continued her story of misadventuring.

”It was dreadful up there, but it was also beautiful.” Her eyes became more distant as she spoke of it. ”It’s a bit hard to describe. How something can be both scary and amazing, both at the same time. But I — I’m sorry I left like that. I certainly didn’t expect to be there all winter,” she lamented, chin trembling with emotion as she looked between both parents, bracing herself for their disappointment and disapproval. The simplicity of childhood seemed far away now. But no matter how old she got, there was still a piece of Willow that would always be that rambunctious, curious pup

”And I’m sorry. I thought about – I didn’t want you to think I left and stayed gone on purpose. I’m not — I’m not like Luca,” she added quietly. Willow could no longer recall the last time she had seen her brother. She didn’t mean to judge him, exactly. Everyone was free to do as they pleased. Still, she missed her errant sibling, and was certain their parents felt the same sting of loss in his absence. ”How is Anthe?” She was not terribly optimistic that her sister was feeling much better, having been sick now for years.


@”kylar” @”nephele”

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck