To know love, allow such tumultuous waves to engulf a heart delicate in poor construct, is to welcome agony alongside. Cruel the very idea one may extend beyond time, occupy moments catalogued in dwindling memory, always present for each trickling grain of sand through glass figure. Torment of own creation such wanton desire, asunder torn in wake departure carves, a ceaseless cycle implored to end with a happy conclusion.

There was no truth in such false narratives, the hardship of the crafted end swept aside in favour of only the pleasantries pertaining to magnified joy. Easier to accept sugar coated lies, allow survival to continue, when the fantasy that pain may find a concrete end was supposedly within reach.

From ruin once more built a home, about the quiet din of background thought the structure central occupant. Known, if within terms simple and thus may be assured past speaker understanding a possibility, that which transpired, necessitated change in scenery. Quelled his prior worries, their idle words over her move offering rather demeaning when unpermitted was visitation, to know she at least swelled in safety enough for the moment. Disregarded it all, warning and bribery bearing no use, the structure of community, about enclosed expectation and law, secondary to personal desire. Broached the entangled woodland and path was drawn through poorly made mental map, one he may follow again even as prior expedition ended only a few days ago.

Disentangled the mess that lay atop solitary bedding, occupied a corner as life once more populated the underground hollow. From among taken one in particular, adored for blues of varying shades spread along the surface, about speckling points depicting stars. Poor the manner it was folded, corners hanging out of crooked folds, edge dragging when it was pulled upon his back, fidgeted with until it may settled in place he deemed suitable. Assistance once may have been sought, but, for the purpose intended for that which offset slow, stumbling steps, the notion must be disregarded. Well did Foam know the reception that met his wandering beyond the camp, in part accepted if given proper chaperone, the best one may hope for as staying was not an option any longer, and so hidden his intent.

Progression impeded before it had begun, the snow thickly layered only begun melting and so sodden the paws that halted, confusion alighting in pale green depths. Rare, and exceeding far between, the instances Drift broached the shallow walls sloping into valley, occupied with external objectives. Brief the joy that shifted the contours of visage, lightened beneath smile that broke with greeting swallowed, her words a ceaseless babble mind refused to understand. He must, however, distance closing as her voice grew defined, the message imparted if unwelcome.

Medusa was gone.

Possibly it had been the issue of prior abandonment, clung to this life that had promised the baseline necessities he had been robbed of, soft the heart bruised and beaten, close held so many. Between clenched teeth breath seeped, aching heat wound about chest for held too long that long exhale, edges breaking with the quiet notes of a whimper. Desire to speak lay heavy on tongue, withheld for shallow each breath next taken, departing in a moment after, head falling to observe manner claws dug into the frost and sand beneath. Denial there, a chiming bell ringing with a singular word, thoughts grown lax and heavy as they swirled in quickened tempo.

Forgotten all but her in that moment, behind fluttering the discarded gift, a field of stars supposedly carved from the sky well above, a dark covering of clouds shifting as though in silent laughter. Too soon may adrenalin that flooded hammering heart wane, still present the sickness that refused to respond to treatment, crushing stone against diaphragm, left wheezing as only begun his path. Harsh the fear that contored surface level thought, before arising the twisted trunks that spoke in hushed tones, the wind whistled through the needles with a promise only of heartbreak. Within did he plunge, given no time for second thought, clumsy on paws heavy, legs steadily grown stiff. Stopping may not occur and on was he forced, blood welling along lower lip held tight between clenched teeth, the agonising heat all he may focus upon, progression slow and looping as he struggling to make sense of the dense growth.

Hours seemed to pass before the ruin met vision grown blurred about the edges, sharp the copper note, soil adorned with shed blood. Hesitation marked his approach when destination was now present before, strangled the cry that slipped through, begun the free flow of tears. Blood he had seen, death inescapable for one must perish for another survive, known the once living state of that he consumed, different this. Family had been Medusa — was, she was apart of the family. Falsehood lingered in mind even as it seemed improbable she continued to live, trail cutting through the undergrowth attesting to this not being the site of her supposed attack.

"No, not real." Mantra repeated, again words spoken until it as all he may do, clumsy the paws that dug out soil and threw it, rather carelessly, over the blood that smeared the ground before the house. If no evidence existed such would mean no crime had transpired, she would be safe in her home and he may give her the blanket. Even as he hoped such a childish wish may be true some part of his mind, quiet yet persistent, contradicted it. She was gone and he was destroyed the evidence, the trail that may assist. Finally Foam could do no more, barely covered a small patch as he collapsed. No longer restrained the sobs that flowed freely, broken by dry coughs that grew more frequent, body on fire as he tore at the ground.