EXCOLO

Thursday, April 29th
Day 333
Late Afternoon


I did what my instincts told me to do, I left. Only Lucien knew, it was longer than I expected, but I promised I'd come back and now I have. No more looking over my shoulder and jumping at every strange sound. This actually feels like home now. Things smell the same, but different in some ways. I hope they're for the best. I didn't hear word in any of the towns I passed through but have a better lay of the land now. Didn't run into any crazy god's either. But I did miss home. Funny how after everything, I still think of this place as home now.

Found my clothes exactly where I left them in the woods. A little loose now, but not by much. Better than walking through town naked. Doing that sucked. Of course the first place I head to is Lucien's. I wanna see how he is and how everything else is. Don't want to walk into the tavern and see a crazy goddess holding a knife in her teeth and hanging from the rafters -- She's done it before --. It's been awhile and I think I can talk to her now, I want to know what she did and why.

I wonder how Glass is, Iago too. Hopefully I'll see them soon. She must be getting so big. I wonder if it'll be a pup? She is half one herself. Either way, I bet it'll be cute. Too bad it's granddad is a total ass. The closer to Luciens' I get, the more I smile. The weather has started to warm up a little and he did promise me a walk. Opening the front door quietly, I peek around the corner then slowly walk in. It sounds like he's in with a patient so I silently close the door and take a seat in the waiting room, picking up something to read. Its a kids book of riddles, some of them make me laugh...

Why was the belt arrested?
For holding up the pants.

Why are Teddy Bears never hungry?
Because they are always stuffed.

Covering my mouth to hide my giggle, I turn to the next page.

What is the cannibals’ favorite game?
Swallow the leader

NOT funny when it happened to you.

Scowling just a little, I snort, tossing it on the table and pick up another one. Puzzles and mazes this time. Much better.


After finishing half of the book, I set it back down. Hey, you try running away from people among other things in the dark alley's and woods, and then try these things out and tell me they're not easy. Wonder if I came at a bad time.

Things do smell different. Booze and salty sweat and the sharp acrid scent of antiseptic, or whatever its called. Not like I could expect him to wait around for me forever, life changes and does move on. Like that two ships passing in the night thing. I saw how it had changed in other towns. Neighbors suspecting neighbors, hangings, the smoky scent of burnt skin and charred bone. The suspicious looks I got as the newcomer. Which was my hint to not stick around for very long.

The world is moving on, not in a way that I like. Iago's scent was unmistakable outside too The scent mixed with booze and his usual heavy smelling cigarettes. Sniff again and sneeze, more than tobacco is my guess. Strangely, I'm glad that hasn't changed. I do wonder what has and hope Glass and him are okay. Maybe Lucien doesn't want to see me. Maybe he'd rather forget.

My fingers drum on the arm of the chair and I pause from biting the nails on my free hand. Wow, am I that nervous? Maybe I should just go. I've missed Verti too. The closest thing I've ever had to a best friend and I just up and left her. No wonder I've never really had a friend. Had enough time to think about Verdi too, I don't know what she did or what really happened or why. But I need to know. I thought we were friends too. Just not gonna talk to her in private, fuck that. I wanna go back home. Wonder if there's a way to keep her out unless I invite her in.

I'll come see him later. Slip out of the chair and crouch behind the empty desk. wriggle out of my clothes and shift. Shake out my fur and sneeze. Inside scents sharper now. Not so used to them anymore. Heading to the door, I groan to myself. I forgot to leave it propped open. Damn not having opposable thumbs! Giving the door a disgruntled look, I snort and jump up. Maybe I can wiggle it open with two paws. I've seen cats do it. I just hope I'm not as loud as I seem to be in my own ears.

[OPEN TO LUCIEN]

[CLOSED]

Monday, March 8th
Day 281
Basement of The Tavern

Candles, I think she'd like them. Fire seemed like a good idea at the time. So I set them around the once filled hole. It seems like I just did it all, but the candles are burned down to the stubs stuck in the ground and I'm a wolf again. Laying down at the edge of her grave, I notice she's smiling. I didn't notice that when I closed her eyes, or uncovered her and wiped the dirt from her pale face.

There's a twisting emptiness in my stomach like I'm hungry but I just ate. Now isn't the time for eating anyway. We haven't been down here long. Aside from the dirt, she looks just like she did ten minutes ago when she was alive. The blood has dried but I can till taste it on my tongue. I shiver and my skin twitches as I lick my paws. The fur is gone from them now, it must've been from the fight. Whatever was in that last bottle I drank was sweet and cool and better than anything I've tried before.

My stomach twists again and I growl in response. Maybe that's what she's smiling at. The thought makes me lower my head to look down at here again. Verdi, my friend, crazy goddess of apples, wonderful drinks, and lover of a good fight. We haven't been here long, but she'll wake up, I couldn't kill her, she said so, and I'm gonna be here when she wakes up. There are some things I know I should do for her, but I'm afraid if I shift back I'll see her smile, and I'll laugh until I cry.

That's not what I want to do so I lift my muzzle into the air and sing her a song. Not one of sadness, I don't think she'd like that, one of running and playing in warm fields with apple trees. A song of a place I hope I'll see her in again. I hope she can hear it in the hall of her fathers, wherever that is.

[OPEN TO GLASS AND LUCIEN AND ... VERDANDI]
[CLOSED]