Reisx ran through the underbrush, relishing in the feel. The breath in her lungs escaping in mist. Her eyes upon the distant water. But she knew, deep in her heart and body, that she would stop herself well before she came to the shore. It made her wonder, amazed her, that something so large existed, but she could not bring herself to meet it. To come close to the sandy shore and let her paws touch the stone and sand there. For her paws to dip into the water, how cold or warm or inviting it might be. It scared her, and thrilled her all at once. She swallowed as she ran, and came to a halt in a clearing catching her breath. She felt as if she was training, but she had no fight to prepare for, nothing in the pits, only to fight, the scuffle that would take place between she and her old master.
She would confront him.
She would teach him a lesson and show him what she truly was, and what he gave up and hurt so deeply.
Times had changed, that she knew. She felt the fire in herself rekindled, and she loved the feeling. The burning passion, the ever burning flame in her spirit flickering in the night like a star in the darkness of her stomach. But no, there was something more. JUst like the strange lights that drew and paint across the starry sky in her dreams, others were there to help light her way, and bring light to her internal darkness.
Cellen, Ai, Seven, they were all there, they would help bring light to the darkness within her.
She smirked, her fangs showing, fur bristling a little, yes, and even that male fighter, he would know what true strength was, once her business was finished. hough she wondered if she should confront him again before, learn his name, learn more about him, and find his weaknesses. Yes, perhaps that could be her scheme of things with the male. But, she shook her head, raised her eyes to the sky, and the glimmering shoreline in the distance and sighed. Soon is would be time to let it all go, let go of her inhibitions, the strings that attached her to doubt, and jump into the unknown. She wouldn't be able to do it alone, but herself, she remembered, reminded herself, was not only herself, not singular, there was Cellen, and he would be there.
Moving away from facing the shore, she peered over her shoulder, looked to the lapping waves, the foams that filtered in and out, push and pull, and she felt mesmerized. The expanse before her was beautiful, untamed, wild, free. Everything she wanted, had, in herself, was here, visible and tangible. The colors could vary from a muted, organic brown to a wild and vibrant orange upon the suits and flowers, but she still felt as if she were home. She walked away, marveling at the world around her, her home, her place of peace and solace.
Reisx came to one of her favorite spots, a pool of water where it emptied from the forests and towards the shore, the rocks and stones being smoothed beneath the surface. She laid at the edge, peering in, and let her paws touch the gurgling water. It swirled and bellowed around her touch, and as she pulled away, it seemed to reach for her again. It swelled and seemed to sigh at her gentle touch, the ripples soon fading into streaks as the water rushed by. She moved then to the shallow areas, where stones could tumble and get stuck in the small hole she had created beneath the surface. Leaning close, the water spat up at her, and she huffed and shook her face, water dripping from it. She smiled though, the water playful, as was her heart, and leaned in once again.
She saw a small collection of stones, varying in shades of gray to sepia tones, and she hopped in, the water crashing around her, enveloping her dark body against the clear and crisp water. She grasped them in her paws, once my one, delicately, and removed them and placed them on the bank. She tested each one's surface, to see how smooth it was once she was on the bank as well. If it was smooth enough, perfect, it stayed, if not, it was tossed back in to disappear downstream, or, if she liked the coloring, she brought it upstream, to tumble again and hopefully catch once more.
It was a game of luck, and she knew how to play, and rig the game with her manipulations on the stream bed.
Once satisfied with her cache from the day, she brought them to a secret place, one she had not shown Cellen yet as it was not finished. It was settled in a grove of raised trees, roots up and gnarled, but beautiful. Resting in a perfect spot was a bed of smoothed stones, and she placed each of the new ones in their respective spot. They were placed in a ring so that there was barely any earth showing beneath the stones, so that only the stones made the smooth, beaded-like surface of the bed she had created. It was art, beautiful, one of a kind, and a secret. It was special, her way to find a little peace and solace for the day as the smooth stones soothed her paws, and sometimes, she believed they smoothed the hard, jagged insides that were left behind from the cruelties she suffered in the settlement. Regardless, this was her spot, but soon, she wanted to share, but, she knew, she wanted it finished. She wanted Cellen to look upon what she had created in awe and wonder, and be able to share in the wonder that was this spot, and find it, find himself at peace and happiness as he would lay beside her upon the smooth stones.
Peering at them, she smiled, nodded and looked at her work. For today, she was finished. But as she walked away she knew there was so much more to be done, this was only the beginning.
