Silver and Vermillion
by Eldanuumea

Part One

Frantic, the full moon at her back,
She tore through the briars,
Sharp pinpricks piercing tender flesh
As her eyes peered into the night
For a flash of silver fur.

The scarlet drops, trail of tears and blood,
Led her ever deeper into the forest,
And she trembled when she heard
His maddened roar of despair,
Form shifting despite his deepest groans.

Red and silver, colors of despair, colors of his night
Of outrage at the Soul-less gods
Who so shaped him.

Weeping, she thrashed further inside
The tangled briars and branches,
Searching, longing, wanting oh, so much more
Than the sleek fur, the pained eyes shining through the bleak night.

Part Two

A night full of sorrow
Silver-furred wolf thrashing
Deeper and deeper into the
Moonlit grove, leaving a
Crimson trail, hot blood
Fallen on the tips of leaves
On the fallen, dead, brittle leaves

She follows, her heart
Pounding on the edge of despair
Listening for the cries of pain as
Cruel briars, leaf-stripped branches
Rip into his thick, silky fur
Leaving beaded lines of dark red
Clotting, his fur matted
With blood and sweat

The moon sinks low,
The lavender dawn breaks
Slowly, awakened birds
Chatter and trill their
Greetings to the newborn day
She almost misses the
Reclining form of a naked man
Sleeping amid the trampled leaves
His eyes closed, breathing slowly

She stops cold, stunned by
The sight of the blood-drawn
Tracks violating his flesh, pale
And cold in the morning dew
Without a sound she drops
To her knees beside him
And weeps, hot tears falling onto
The cold ground, a few tears
Falling onto his wounds, the warm salt
Reviving the old blood, sending
It is narrow, pink rivulets
Down his flank.

What will he remember when he awakens?
Will the pain and fear remain
Etched cruelly into his memory?
Will he know she has followed him
Through everything, desperately
Seeking to offer solace, peace
To offer some semblance of joy
Where it has been all but killed?
She kneels beside him, watching
The rising of the sun,
Listening to his soft breathing,
Ready to offer life, warmth,
Benediction.

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