I don't know why it was relevant, but it was. There was a Token inside it. I saw her take it with her as she left. She's Marked now, for better or for worse.
I wonder which it is. Better or worse. The Forest isn't too keen on unnecessary killing, but it didn't feel to me to be that. The rabbit didn't suffer. She left the guts in the snow, for animals. She took it with her and I have no doubt in my mind she will use every part of it. It was no worse a kill than by any other predator in the Forest. It was a lot better, really, about as non-brutal as a kill can be.
I wonder if it was my fault. I made the door. That must have drawn the attention of someone. Was she Marked because of me? I wish I had some way of knowing, but the Forest never gives a simple answer and I am the only of my kind...
I sit in a tree, staring down at the splattered red on the fresh snow, until the smell attracts a fox who lives nearby, and then fly back home.
~x~
A few days go by. The Clouds keep hanging in the sky, sometimes snowing sometimes not, and I wish Wind would come back and push them away. She does, finally, having a moment to catch up, to rustle the leafless branches of the trees with strong gusts, before she has to leave again, ushering with her the Clouds, who giggle all the way. She says she'll come back soon though.
That night I lay awake on the highest branch of the Tree and stare up at the Stars. It's been days, and I've missed them, missed one in particular. I wait until through the whole night, until the Sun is almost ready to rise again.
"Hello," she says and I smile up at the sky.
"Hi," I say. "I've missed you."
She twinkles happily, the Morning Star.
"How have you been?" she asks me. I shrug.
"Bored, mostly," I answer. "I did see the Human, though, the one I've told you about."
"Yes, I remember." She blinks. "I sometimes see her right before Sun rises, but not too often. What did she do?"
"The same thing, sits on the Boulder and stares off the ledge. I found out her name, I think, or at least a part of it. And, uh..." I rub my neck, sheepish. "I... made a door for her."
She's quiet for a moment.
"Why?" She doesn't sound disapproving, just surprised.
"I don't know," I answer honestly. "I was lonely, I guess, and... and she seemed lonely too."
She's quiet again for a moment.
"Did she go through?"
"No," I sigh, look down at my hands. "I don't even know what would have happened if she had."
"Do you know about the previous one?"
"I know sometimes humans get into the Realm, yes obviously," I say. "Or are lured in. They usually get stuck, indebted, but... What do you mean by 'the previous one'? Someone specific?"
"Yes, someone from the house she lives in now. It's been quite long since then by now."
"What happened to him?"
"An exchange. Someone with a debt escaped and offered him in his place. Quite a selfish thing, if you ask me, but it was accepted."
I hum. "Is he still in the Realm?"
"Yes, I believe he is." She falls silent for a moment, distracted by something.
"What?" I sit up, look around.
Against the slowly rising Sun I see it: a silhouette. It's making quick way towards the Hill, breath coming out in short white puffs in the cold morning air. I blink, surprised.
Charlie has returned.
_____________________________________________________________
I'm hungry. The next topic is... "Decay" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Pie out.
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