The Darkness

To Spiris

We left just before dawn.

I chose to pack in the middle of the night, taking small naps between stuffing my bag full of warm clothes and small blankets that I knew we would need the first night since we couldn't make the full distance to Spiris during daylight.

I chose to dress in layers: sweaters and fleece layered pants, and high boots with thick socks to keep my feet dry and warm. I knew I probably would spend more time traveling in my wolf form, but I wanted to be sure I would be comfortable and warm regardless.

Jonas greeted us with a smile as Cage and I met him at the entrance of the Walls. He looked like he got as much sleep as I had from the way the dark circles were ringing his eyes.

"We have a long way to go, kids. Get ready to tuck in. We will have to move fast if we want to make the most of the daylight."

"You know where we're going, right?" Cage asked slowly, taking my bag from me and hiking it over his shoulder along with his own.

"I know where we're going, Cage. Don't worry." The sparkling smile he shot us made me feel that he was excited to be traveling.

The walk had started with jokes and laughter, despite the sadness that was clearly hanging over our heads. Eventually, Jonas started to point out small forest animals that came closer to us curiously. He showed us plants that were edible and pointed out the half-thawed stream that we seemed to be following.

"All streams of water leads to a bigger source." Jonas winked at me, as if he were sharing a secret with me. As if he was sharing information with me that may help me in the future to find this place again. Did he know something I didn't? Or was he just being friendly? I had never seen Jonas and Paeris act like much of a father-son duo, but I figured it was probably because of their age. I could picture Jonas taking Paeris out of the Wall and showing him how to collect berries or how to swim in the little stream. It warmed my heart to think of them in that way.

Everything was so silent around us, so still and covered in white. I could make out trees in the distance that seemed to be hanging on to their green colors, but seemed to be giving in to the bitterness of the snow.

I hugged my arms around myself as we walked, feeling the bitter cold sleeping into my bones. "It's so quiet and cold."

"I think it may be a good idea to shift here, you will be warmer. Once we get a little closer, we can settle down for the night. We're a little over halfway there."

I nodded as I noticed the sun starting to set in the distance. Each of us pulled ourselves out of our outfits, gasping and whining as the cold wind and snow plowed against our skin. I shifted first, ignoring the burning and twitching of my skin as the shift took over. I had never seen Jonas in his chosen animal form, his brown fur was a sharp contrast against the white snow. Unlike Paeris, Jonas had chosen to take the form of a large bear. He had managed to take our bags and tie them around his torso in a way that reminded me of saddle bags for a horse.

Cage nipped at me playfully and ran into the distance, burying himself in the snow as if he had been waiting for ages to be able to shift.

I snapped my jaws at him in attempt to make him realize that we weren't here to play, but Cage couldn't hold back. Jonas batted at him with large paws a couple of times in warning as he tried to pull the elf into his antics.

There had always been a playfulness about Cage that I had admired. Even when we were younger, he seemed full of life and energy - always creating a fun and safe space no matter the danger or sadness that filled our minds. Cage would always be a puppy at heart. He would make a fantastic leader one day, and an even better father for the next generation of pups.

We came to a small clearing after a while that was surprisingly warmer than the rest of the journey had been. The snow was nearly completely melted here, just small poofs of snow mounds were scattered around and frost seemed to be melting from the trees we chose to set up camp under. Jonas said that Spiris had a way with the weather and that we would finish our journey in the morning. I could tell he was tired from trying to keep up with us and because he hadn't slept much the night before. It was hilarious to me, watching a large bear running around with a hyper little wolf.

"Nym was nice enough to send us off with a canister of stew. I figured once I get the fire set up, we can get something warm in our bellies and get some rest."

I had made it my duty to set up our tents while Cage had gone off to attempt to find some dry wood. I smiled encouragingly as he returned with primarily wet wood. I knew there wasn't much hope for finding perfect wood for burning, but he had tried and I was thankful for his attempt. I held my hands over the branches, feeling the warmth through my fingertips extend to the branches. It didn't take long before we had a large fire, warming food, and tents full of warm blankets.

After finishing my stew, I promptly curled up in my tent and tugged blankets over me. I breathed in chilly air, thankful that I had packed multiple layered clothes and Paeris and I had focused most of our training on my fire abilities. The small opening of the tent perfectly framed Jonas and Cage who sat together beside the fire, telling stories of Jonas' youth. He told Cage of a time where he had fallen for a girl in a neighboring Region who was safe and warm and kind above all else. She hadn't cared that they were different or that they were told they shouldn't be together. Apparently, Paeris' mother was not Jonas' first or truest love. He had chosen duty over true love and while he loved Paeris' mother, he had always wondered what could have been if he hadn't given in to the voices of his elders.

I smiled to myself as I listened to their friendly laughs and Cage's silly jokes. Finally, sleep drifting over me as they wished each other goodnight and Cage climbed into my tent, his warm arms wrapping around me as I shivered slightly from the wind that busted into the tent with him.

"Are you sleeping?"

"I'm not anymore." I growled, nuzzling into his warmth and pulling the blankets tighter around me.

"Do you want to talk about anything?" He asked softly, nuzzling me back.

I stiffened slightly and shook my head. "I just want to sleep, Cage." If he noticed my internal struggle, he didn't bring it up. I relaxed as his breathing slowed and his arms stretched around me as sleep overtook him. There was a laziness about the way he slept, as if he didn't have a care in the world. I knew I should have kept my distance, but the warmth of his body next to mine felt so comforting. This was what we had always done: comfort one another at our darkest moments. Cage had always been there and always would be.

"Sweet dreams, Cage."