As closed the front door, his creel tightly fastened over top of his coat, the opposite side bearing a satchel. The blindness from the snow hit his eyes, as it did every day the winter season. Being a diurnal owl, he had hunted during daylight as far back as he could remember. With the blizzard passed, he could now see see far sharper and at a greater distance than any human ever could. The winds were still fierce, however, pelting his face with numbness even through his flight feathers. The wind was dry and unrelenting, but As had larger responsibilities now.

  Following his usual route, As flew in complete silence. Perching himself in the various deciduous trees along the way, the plant life around him was blanketed in nothing but powder, specks of greenery, and anti-frondescence. The boreal landscape stretched seemingly infinitely, hills gradually pushing their way up through the ground as if the forest was tensile.

  Though the owl had called this place his home for nigh a decade, it hadn’t come without its hindrances; many predators also fought for survival. These lone creatures went under one term: “wilders.” Many wilders dotted the land, their only priority being that of a basic instinct. Not all of these animals, however, were alone, and many banded together to increase their chances of survival in this unfair world, having been molded into what it was now only two decades ago, when the three kingdoms had collapsed.

  Segen, the wolf, was among these creatures. Today, they pursued As.

  Three hours elapsed, and after having captured many rodents and two snakes, As was ready to retire his first chore of the day. Breaking away from his routine path, he glided to the forest floor. Reaching into his satchel, he withdrew the hatchet which his father had passed down to him long ago, and began his work, axing down a sufficient nearby tree. Removing an encased burlap sack, As bundled the small logs into it, hitching the sack onto his back. He would need to walk on foot after collecting firewood every day. Segen had made himself more noticable than he had been before, creeping behind As.

  “Out for your daily collection, As?” the quadrupedal wolf asked, in their usual self-entitled tone.

  As sighed, “Please, not today, Segen. I have important things to get done.”

  “I couldn’t help but notice that.” Segen sniffed the air, “I did notice, however, that scent on you. Quite extraordinary. May I ask what... creature gave it to you?” Segen licked their lips, as they began circling As slowly.

  “That is none of your business.” As paused, “Please leave me alone. I need to be on my way.”

  “How rude... I only want to talk with my most successful acquaintance. I don’t want to hurt anyone undeserving of it.” With this, Segen barred their dirty yellowed teeth in a snarling fashion.

  “Leave me be.” As repeated slowly.

  Segen let out a defeated sigh mixed with a chuckle, “Very well. My pack is getting quite hungry with all of the wilders having immigrated this year... I wonder what could have caused that?” His teeth morphed into a grin, knowing it would cause As to envision the memories of his parents. “I wish you well this season, As. I’ll respect your boundaries, most certainly.” The wolf quickly turned, sprinting into the nearby thicket with the sound of rustling leaves.

  As stood still for a few moments, scanning the area, making sure the area was clear and silent whilst listening for ultrasounds. With restfulness, As began his route once again. On this day, he opted to take the less circuitous way home. He just needed to stop by one more place.

  Wayne kept his eyes closed, with his eyelids droopy and his thoughts ambling. The diffused reflection from the snow outside had shown itself for hours now, illuminating every detail inside of the four walls of which he considered to be his prison. His body, a prison for his memories, of which twenty-four hours ago he wouldn’t have dreamed he would be longing for.

  His wife, Shayna, had made half of their income, while he just worked at a lowlife factory, taking as much overtime as he could get in order to provide for his daughter without the reliance of her.

  His daughter. She was the most he loved in the world. If anything happened to her because of him missing... He couldn’t calm himself.

  The one thing he enjoyed that could calm him had been temporarily taken, being active, and he couldn’t have been in a more aggravated mood. He remembered being an outgoing kid, always going on walks, hikes, and riding his bike around his old neighborhood. He turned his head, looking at the large books positioned on the shelf across the room. If only he could reach them. If only he could let his psych wander instead of being stuck in a cycle—he wished he would have asked his caretaker to do that. Wayne wasn’t a fan of asking for help, yet he didn’t want to risk making his bedridden stay even longer. A hint of something pushed through. He worried for himself and his future, but there was no one to listen.

  “I have to get up...” he told himself with a sigh. His body ached from having not moved. He was a mover. “At least sit up,” he continued in a whisper.

  Removing the sheets atop him, the coldness of the room touched his skin; it felt oddly refreshing. He sat on the edge of the soft mattress, the resting side lined with a layer of soft feathers. Leaning forward, his head fell into his hands, only mildly aiding his muscles across his body. Stretching, he allowed himself to fall backwards, sinking into the bed once more, this time horizontally. Instinctively, Wayne’s body relaxed, his body now cool.

  He thought of the music and songs he enjoyed. He wished he could listen to them. His phone was still tucked away in his backpack out of reach. Various verses from different songs came and went, in and out, thinking of lighthearted sentences that helped him relax:

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  How can I even know 

  What lies ahead if I don't go

  I see a chance, I take it slow

  And I know I just can't leave these things behind

  Trying to feel

  Satisfied

  In my world

  I'm looking for

  Hello down there

  The mooring made of sailors in the air

  Keeping the midnight stars held high

  We are captains of the sky

  Waving goodbye

  The will of the soul

  Like a peak so high

  You look inside to rise

  Searching out a dream

  Climbing, reaching further

  And the voices of the angels bring you closer

  Up all night and I'm waiting for you to come home

  Waiting all night, waiting all night

  My mind is racing and I'm wondering what I did wrong

  Waiting all night, waiting all night

  Where could you be

  I'm so alone

  Won't you please come home

  His facial muscles further relaxed, his chest dropped, and his breathing slowed. Hypnotic jerks seeped in, his body falling back head over heels, resetting, and falling again. Thoughts were nonexistent. Finally, he had drifted off into unconsciousness.

  As arrived home, with his gaze cutting through the inside doorway onto Wayne, lying motionless. A faint grin curled upon his beak. Without a sound, As snuck into the bedroom, supplied the fireplace with fresh fuel and kindling, and set it ablaze. Grabbing a book from the shelf, he made his way to the living room couch, silently waiting for his guest to awake.

Wayne arose, sitting up facing the heat of the hearth. As’ head swiveled, immediately alert. Wayne had a subconscious feeling of uncertainty, their eyes glossy from the fire. To his right, a subtle light showed, with its small radius of light, a candle. There was As, focusing on him, the binding splayed open in his lap. It seemed in that instant As’ heart was also like an open book. Setting his bookmark, the owl stood, walking over.

  Wayne butted-in in explanation, “I’m sorry. I didn’t get to sleep ‘till...” When had he fallen asleep?

  “It’s perfectly fine, Wayne.” As said with a slight chuckle. “Sleeping in is the least of your worries. Look what I got you.”

  As motioned to his creel, revealing a rather large fish, a salmon, with large gashes along its side, similar to that of bullet holes.

  “I thought I could indulge you tonight! Eat as much as you like. I have my own food,” he said, pulling out his other catches of the day. “I also picked some mentua petals to make special tea with. I think you’ll enjoy it; it helps to calm anxiety.”

  Wayne stared for a moment, “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

  “It’s no burden to me, Wayne. I want you to be comfortable until you can move around independently. I’ll gut this and start cooking it. You haven’t eaten anything in a long while.” As placed a thin metal slab atop the mouth of the cauldron.

  Almost on cue, Wayne’s stomach growled. This reminded him of some important issues himself.

  “Um, As, do you have someplace I could use the restroom?”

  “Of course!” As was surprised. He had forgotten about this basic need. “Let me show you,-” yet immediately after, remembering Wayne’s handicap, added, “...Yes, how... foolish of me. Let’s do this..." his conversation turning into an external monologue with himself.

  As helped Wayne up, with Wayne himself very thankful for the change of scenery, even if it was to a toilet. As’ touch felt oddly comforting, albeit strange at first. After some struggle back and forth, Wayne eased. Wayne had more similar questions about hygiene, such as washing his clothes, as well as himself as a whole. To service this, As pulled out a large wooden half-barrel, which he often used to clean his own clothes. As explained that Wayne could bathe in this basin as well as wash their belongings. With slight annoyance, but nonetheless grateful, Wayne accepted.

  Following this handling of issues, the food had been fully cooked, much the delight of both of them. Wayne ate as much as his stomach could hold, feeling satisfied. As ate his mice and snakes, swallowing them whole, as owls do, letting their gizzard do the rest of the work. After eating, much to Wayne’s disgust and surprise, he learned that owls excreted waste at both ends, as Wayne thought they only expelled pellets through their esophagi.

  As made his anti-anxiety tea, whereas Wayne had lost his appetite due to the “fun” fact. As profusely apologized, realizing that he couldn’t have picked a worse time to reveal something so immature.

  The awkwardness having died down, Wayne spoke up.

  “Uh, thanks again. I wish I could, uh... repay you.”

  “Please, don’t worry about anything. I don’t need repayment, I insist. Your presence is enough.” As smiled. Wayne also grew a faint smile himself, now having relaxed fully around him.

  As had been right. He truly didn’t want to hurt him.

  “As, I want to ask a favor.”

  “Yes, anything.”

  “Tomorrow before you leave, could you set some of your favorite books on this table for me to read?” He motioned to the bedside table.

  “Of course I can. I think I have one you would really enjoy. I’ll make sure to put it on top. Do you enjoy history?”

  Wayne nodded. “I enjoy a lot of things,” he admitted. “I’m sorry I... freaked out earlier. I don’t want to sound mean, but you were... sort of a monster to me then. I don’t mean to be disrespectful.” Wayne repeated.

  “I understood your emotions then, and I understand them now. There’s an instinct in everyone to be frightened by something every now and then. It’s what makes everyone similar, as well as every other emotion we feel.” As patted Wayne’s back. “Sometimes our emotions reach us before our logic does, and that’s perfectly acceptable.”

  Upon hearing this, Wayne’s image of his family abruptly entered him again. He pictured their faces, his wife’s brown hair, his daughter’s smiling face. Wayne considered again.

  “Hey, I’ll have some tea, please.”

  A mixture of lavender and pseudo-lemon flavor graced his tongue. The effect was as quick as alcohol, and soon enough, Wayne did indeed feel calmed.

  Not much more was spoken of between the two. Another thirty minutes trickled by, and Wayne finally finished the verse which he had remembered earlier—that one song out of the hundreds he knew, one of the songs that made him happy.

  Sun's coming up

  And I'm rolling over

  But I'm holding on