[ P ] Seasons of Life

A

short distance from the famed College, there lived a little family. Their lives revolved around helping others, and learning was a neverending duty. Their garden was a source of pride, of healing. This was the world of Willow’s childhood, one that had ended as swiftly as the storms that did not come.

The lingering drought had changed everything. Now, where their herb garden once thrived, there lies broken earth, cracked and dry. What was once living had shriveled away; now only the gnarled remains of plants remain. Willow stood at the edge of adulthood, while her small paws stood at the border of the former garden, a frown tugging at her dark lips as she surveyed the damage. What would it take to start again? The thought was heavy as a stone.

Gone was the lightness of youth, replaced instead by a wilting posture and a tail that dragged in the dust. Twin ears folded backward in her disdain. It was then that she detected the sound of another, but Willow's focus remained intent, hazel green eyes fixed on the dead ground before her.



@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Gallagher moved through the trailing branches of a wisteria tree, making mental notes about the tree, the now wilted flowers. It saddened them to look upon the destruction that the drought and heatwave had caused, but they knew that eventually, whenever the rains and slightly cooler weather came that the world would come back to life for a short time before the harshness of winter arrived. Gallagher’s ears flickered back slightly in thought. The winter would be a hard one – many sources of food and healing herbs had died off in the drought, suffered because of the heat wave. It would be hard to keep things sustained during the winter, but life would persevere as things always managed to do. They knew that the population of the kingdom would suffer, but things would get better. Hopefully the coming year would bring easier weather and the lands would come back to their full strength.

They moved on from the wilted Wisteria tree, feeling the branches trail along the thick fur of their spine as they moved out into a meadow. The appearance of a figure in their periphrial caused Galla to look over, their gaze landing upon a younger wolf. The wolf looked saddened, distraught even. Galla wondered at what – perhaps it was the state of the world around them at the present time.

“Hello there,” Gallagher said quietly, coming to a stop, not wanting to encroach upon the younger wolf’s space. They did not know if they had accidentally wandered into the claimed plot of land that the other may have called home. “I’m not trespassing, am I?” They asked, tilting their head to the side.


"cinnamon and sage"
@Willow

W

hile the girl had not been anticipating others, she was not exactly surprised when someone did show up. After all, the garden had been a hub of learning only months before. Willow turned, without any trace of fear, to look at the wolf who addressed her, a wolf who seemed nice enough upon first glance, anyway. Her mothers may have been upset that Willow addressed the unknown without much hesitation or concern, when the unknown could be such a dangerous entity. ”Hi.”

Hazel-green eyes narrowed slightly as the youth tried to determine whether this stranger was indeed a stranger, or if they had somehow crossed paths before disaster had struck, when the College was still buzzing with ceaseless activity. Finding no distinct memories of the other, Willow attempted her best, most polite smile. But a bittersweet expression tinged her features as she shook her head gently in response to the stranger’s inquiry. ”No. All are welcome here.”

”This is – was - the Fritz family garden.” She could not bring herself to look back at the rotting plants that remained, focusing instead on the unknown wolf that had discovered her there. There was something a bit different about them… but Willow knew better than to be nosey. ”My mom teaches at the College, and this garden was…”

She paused, trying to find the right word, but the internal search seemed only to inspire more emotions, and her bottom lip trembled as she finished the thought: ”Important.”



@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Gallagher hadn’t visited the gardens before, but they had heard about them. Others had raved about the lush vegetation and the prospect of learning about herbs not often seen in this part of the Kingdom. Galla had made the trip, knowing that the vegetation would be destroyed by the heatwave, but… still, they could see some life within the garden, even if it was wilted and brown. They decided that it would be a good place for notes, for study, even despite the drought and heatwave that still plagued the area and the surrounding ones.

”Hi,” the other said simply. After the narrowing of eyes, in what Gallagher assumed was the youth trying to place if they had seen them before, the girl offered a small, polite smile. Galla couldn’t help the lifting and waving of their tail at this, unable to help the friendly look that touched their features. Without their focus on something else, it was easy to ponder the individual before them, easy to try to figure the youth out. Galla wondered, somewhat, what it was that the girl was doing here.

”No. All are welcome here.” She said. Gallagher dipped their head slightly, offering their own polite little smile.

”Thank you,” they said. ”I had hoped I wasn’t trespassing by mistake… although, I suppose it wouldn’t be the first time I’d done so by accident.” An awkward laugh bubbled from their lips, a front paw moving to tuck behind the other in a nervous manner.

”This is - was - the Fritz family garden.” Gallagher looked around, nodding slightly.

”I’d heard about it, but had never seen it. I… had hoped that there would have been something to remain here, but it seems that this heatwave has truly touched everywhere, I’m so sad to say,” they said, with a sonder look touching their features. Their pale gaze drifted to the side, noticing the gossamer strings of a spider’s web clinging emptily to a dead bit of brush. A small sigh edged its way from their nostrils, a flick of their ear bringing their gaze back to the girl before them.

”My mom teaches at the College, and this garden was… important.” The girl continued. Gallagher nodded.

”I assumed as much about the garden. I hate that this has happened to it. I suppose, however, there are still some points of study to be had here. Who is your mother? What does she teach? Perhaps I have met her before, or at least know her by name, even if not by face.” Gallagher said, their ears angling forward with a look of curiosity touching their pale-hued features.



"cinnamon and sage"
@Willow

T

he stranger’s little laugh seemed to hearten Willow a bit, and her response was a giggle of her own. What stories this stranger must have to tell, if accidental trespassing was part of it! The girl was intrigued – especially since the wolf had not offered their name. There was something different about this stranger, that much she could perceive. And whatever it was, well, that really didn’t matter much. She had already decided that this one was a good one.

Willow was not entirely accustomed to adults showing a genuine interest, beyond what was necessary for instructors to show their students. Of course, her own mothers were different, and had never lacked for attention and affection. But most grown-ups were so… stuffy. Only interested in themselves and their own business. Not to mention boring!

Questions about her mum inspired another smile on her darkened maw. ”Oh, she is the very best professor when it comes to herbs! She is only part-time but – but maybe you know her!” This prospect, it seemed, was very exciting for Willow, whose tail began to wag slowly as she continued. ”Kylar Fritz is her name! And my other mum, she is Nephele, but she isn’t a professor or anything. She does know about healing, though, and–”

Hazel eyes grew wide with surprise as she realized she had not even introduced herself! ”Wait! Wait a minute – I haven’t – I didn’t even–” She burst into laughter, the broken and dry ground forgotten, at least for now. ”My name is Willow!”



@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

It seemed the questions about the girl’s mother perked her up quite a bit despite the almost suffocating heat that hung over them. Gallagher couldn’t help the small smile that touched their lips and stayed there.

”Oh, she is the very best professor when it comes to herbs! She is only part-time but – but maybe you know her!” the girl said excitedly, her tail beginning to wag slowly. ”Kylar Fritz is her name! And my other mum, she is Nephele, but she isn’t a professor or anything. She does know about healing, though, and—” The girl cut herself off as some realization seemed to come to her. Before Gallagher could even speak again, words were once again tumbling forth from the girl’s darkened maw.

”Wait! Wait a minute –- I haven’t –- I haven’t even—” The girl said before she burst into a fit of laughter. Gallagher tilted their head to the side curiously, watching with a queer expression upon their features as they waited to figure out what the hub was about.

”My name is Willow!” the girl suddenly said. ’Oh! Now I understand!’ Gallagher thought to themselves, soon joining the laughter of the moment with their own.

”It’s a pleasure to meet you Willow –- I’m Gallagher. I don’t know your mother by face, but I do know her name! I’ve heard that name floating around, and I’ve been waiting for one of her classes to open up so that I can get in on learning about herbs. It’s important for my work, I believe, so I would love to be able to take one of her classes,” Gallagher said, grinning all the while.

”And healing is just as important as teaching –- it seems like you have two valuable resources to learn from, Willow. I wish I had had that as a child.” Gallagher said. Their own father had been but a commoner, who tried and tried again to make a name for himself, and their ‘mother’ had simply abandoned Gallagher and their father after Gallagher’s own birth. Their mother now though –- their father’s wife –- was a pleasure to be around, however, even if she didn’t have much to offer beyond trying to aid their father in his adventures.



"cinnamon and sage"
@Willow

T

he stranger’s laughter made Willow’s heart feel warm, and she watched the unknown wolf with blossoming interest. The stranger was intriguing – attractive features, an air of mystery, and a voice that Willow found to be very pleasant.

Gallagher. She repeated the name internally so that it would not be lost among the other monikers she encountered during her days. But it seemed unlikely she would forget this one, nor the face accompanying it. Gallagher spoke of wanting to take Kylar’s class, and Willow’s tail wagged with greater enthusiasm. ”Oh, yes! You would like her very much. Well, I mean – I don’t exactly know you, but you seem very nice, and –”

The girl stopped herself from rambling onward as she felt a warmth paint her cheeks beneath her fur. Her gaze averted away from Gallagher so that her blushing would not be detected by the other, and she felt a sudden shyness creeping in. Even more embarrassing was the giggle that bubbled forth and escaped from her maw before she could stop it. Now, she was certain she looked half crazed. This wolf was so – so kind, even to a silly stranger like Willow. ”I – uh, sorry,” she mumbled, still hoping Gallagher had not noticed.

Thankfully, the other wolf continued speaking, full of kindness and positive regard, regaining Willow’s focus. She sought the stranger’s eyes and nearly gasped aloud as she took in the bright azure hue of them. Like perfect, cloudless skies… The youth blinked hard to stop herself from staring as Gallagher spoke of their own childhood. Willow’s brows knit with concern at the implications of an unhappy youth.

”Did you grow up near here? Is your family -- um, are they still...?” She was not sure how to complete the inquiry.



@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Gallagher couldn’t help the smile that touched their features, an infectious thing as it was. Their gentleness shone through in that smile, showing the inherent softness of their kind, warm heart. Much like Willow, Gallagher would not soon forget this meeting and the things that they learn from it. More so, Gallagher would not forget the potential friend that they gained from this encounter.

”Oh, yes! You would like her very much. Well, I mean – I don’t exactly know you, but you seem very nice, and -.” The girl stopped herself short, having begun to ramble. Her eyes flickered away. Gallagher tilted their head to the side curiously, a little more so at the nervous giggle that bubbled from her.

”I – uh, sorry.” She mumbled. Gallagher shook their head slightly, that gentle smile still touching their lips.

”You’re quite alright, I see nothing worth apologizing for,” they said. ”I can see that you care for your mother a great deal, and are very proud of her. That’s admirable, I think.”

”Did you grow up near here? Is your family – um, are they still…?” Willow ventured. Gallagher dipped their head slightly.

”My father and adoptive mother are still very much alive. I do not know about my biological mother. She left before my eyes opened, so I have no true memories of her. Only descriptions of what she was like,” they explained, figuring there was no harm in the honesty of their situation. ”I do not see my father and true mother much though, not since I left to join the college. But they are alive and happy, so I cannot ask for more than that.” They continued with a wave of their paw.



"cinnamon and sage"
@Willow

W

illow did not realize she was staring again – had she been slightly more aware, she would have caught her rudeness, but the kind smile upon Gallagher’s muzzle was hard to look away from. Gallagher was just so… nice. But it wasn’t just being nice that Willow appreciated. The wolf spoke eloquently, and the young student hoped that someday soon, she would sound so smart, so sincere, and so – whatever it was about Gallagher that was so fascinating. Willow had not yet deduced exactly what that was.

Her expression was practically giddy as she listened to Gallagher speak of their family. She would wait until the wolf had finished (because that was the polite thing to do, and she was also keenly interested to learn more about this very interesting wolf), before blurting out her burning question: ”You have an adopted mum, too?” She danced on her paws with excitement as she announced with much pride, ”I have two adopted mums! And they’re the best. I don’t know who made me – you know, made me,” she said with a purposeful grin, gaze averting shyly. ”I used to think that I grew right out of the garden here,” she admitted with a sheepish giggle. ”But now I know better.”

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Gallager was aware of Willow’s staring, and admittedly it wasn’t a stare that they had ever received before. But, the more they thought about it, the more they realized that they didn’t dislike it. They found themselves almost… happy about it? It was a strange feeling, but one that they didn’t dislike at all. Gallagher couldn’t help the easy smile on their features, the sincere, kind smile that was almost always there. A small shuffle of one front paw occurred, before they crossed their front leg over the other, letting the tips of the claws of that paw rest gently on the dry earth below.

“You have an adopted mum, too?” Willow asked when they had finished speaking. Gallagher dipped their head slightly in affirmation.

“I have two adopted mums! And they’re the best, I don’t know who made me — you know, made me.” She said, averting her gaze for a moment, in a shy manner. “I used to think that I grew right out the garden here, but now I know better.” She said, adding a small almost sheepish giggle to punctuate her words.

“I’m happy that you have two loving mums, I know the feeling of parental love is one of the most rewarding things in the world. I too don’t know the woman that grew me in her womb, she abandoned my father and I before I even had my eyes open. But my mum now, she’s more than I ever could have asked or hope for. Her and my father are both loving, and very proud of where I’ve gotten. I couldn’t be more happy for them either, because my father has someone who loves him very much — I hope I have that kind of love one day,” Gallagher admitted. They weren’t always one for much talking, but they found Willow easy to talk to. They enjoyed talking to her, even in the short time that they had been acquainted with each other.



"cinnamon and sage"
@Willow