[ P ] Seasons of Life

W

as she staring again? It was hard to tell, as the world around her seemed much smaller, and her focus was fixed upon Gallagher alone. Her new friend (as she had already decided) was unlike many of the wolves she had interacted with outside of her mostly-female household. Some of those others were so – it was hard for Willow to classify, exactly, what was so bothersome to her about their behaviors. There were lots of males who saw themselves as virile and dominant, determined to portray their power, whether real or conceived. It was like the king himself – it seemed that a male must be masculine to be strong, to be liked.

But Gallagher was wholly different from those. In fact, the smiling, graceful wolf before her was not like any she had ever encountered before. Just listening to those gentle tones of voice, the unceasing smile on their muzzle, made Willow feel… whatever it was, exactly. Why couldn’t more wolves be like this one?

The wolf spoke of a biological mother, an unknown entity from the past, and the even better mother that came to take her place. Willow’s tail wagged unconsciously as she thought of it – another family put together by chance and luck, much like her own. "Your family sounds lovely!" To hear him speak so lovingly of his parents brought Willow a sense of contentment, though she barely knew him and did not know his kin. In a world of turmoil and the perpetual threat of war, it was a breath of fresh air, and the other’s words inspired a soft sigh: ”I hope I have that kind of love one day.”

In one comment, Willow seemed to regain her awareness of how she had been watching Gallagher, and she stuttered, ”I – that – that would be…” Her words tapered off as she sought the right words, but they would not come. She was a romantic at heart, but what did she know of love? After all, both of the boys she had crushes on while in her youth ended up having crushes on each other, she considered with silent amusement.

As if to pull her from her trance, Willow could hear her mother’s voice calling for her. Disappointed to go, but still pleased to have met Gallagher in the first place, she said hurriedly: ”I gotta – I have to go, but I’ll see you around sometime, maybe–” she flashed a wide smile apologetically. "Hopefully? Have a good day!" Before she could embarrass herself any further, Willow darted away.

[exit Willow]



@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Gallagher was aware that they weren’t like many biological males within the kingdom. Others were hardened where they were soft, angular where they were curved. So unwilling to smile or accept any form of weakness where they were. Life was beautiful to Gallagher, something to cherish and study, whereas most others saw it as something to benefit them. Gallagher had never quite fit in, had never quite meshed well into the mold of ‘male.’ Hence, why they had chosen to be something of an androgynous thing, willing to embrace both femininity and masculinity. They enjoyed their middle place between the two perceived binary options, and they knew that not many in the kingdom shared the same space as they themselves occupied. Which, was okay, although that’s not to say that Gallagher sought to be different.

No, perhaps in some way, if they could fit the mold they would have. But, they didn’t so they didn’t much try. There was no use in being someone that they simply weren’t.

“Your family sounds lovely!” Willow said. Gallagher couldn’t help but beam a little, lifting their head slightly as their smile broadened.

“They are,” they said. “Yours sounds quite lovely as well.” They added, coming down of their momentary high place, settling back into that easy smile, and relaxed stance.

“I — that — that would be…” The girl stumbled over her words. Gallagher couldn’t help the slight tilt of their head at this, wondering what caused the sudden unease. Had they done something wrong? They thought back over their actions, and their posture, and couldn’t possibly come up with something that might have made the girl uncomfortable. Perhaps, Gallagher thought, it was something internal, some thought she had had.

A voice called rang out in the distance, making Galla’s ears perk up slightly. ‘That must be one of her mothers,’ they thought to themselves.

“I gotta — I have to go, but I’ll see you around sometime, maybe — Hopefully? Have a good day!” Willow said, the words tumbling out in a fast-paced torrent that almost brought a chuckle to Gallagher’s chest.

“It was nice meeting you, Willow. I do hope we can meet again! You have a good day as well!” Gallagher said, watching as the girl darted away, towards the voice of what they presumed to be her mother. Gallagher kept that easy smile on their features as they too, in turn, turned and began to walk away. It was such a lovely interaction, that they truthfully hoped that they could encounter Willow again, in time. Perhaps she would join the college, and Galla would see her there? Regardless, at the very least, Galla knew the best place to prompt an encounter with the girl.

[ exit, gallagher ]



"cinnamon and sage"
@Willow