The Past and the Present

Walking out the bar I help Daniel walk as Dapple watches shaking his head, Daniel has always been the boasting type when it came to drinking which often leads to either Dapple or I Carrying him back to his bed. Handing him off to Dapple I wish him a good night before I walk over to the Festive Bonfire, there were 2 people left there and the fire had started to grow smaller from having no extra wood to feed on.

Walking over to one of the logs, I sit looking at the embers of the dying flame before I grab 3 pieces of firewood before throwing them into the flame. Moving the wood around I watched as the flame slowly grew to normal size, glancing around I wasn't surprised to see the last two people getting up leaving back towards their homes.

"This year's festival has been the greatest one so far, not only have I been ranked but ... I had someone there to support me, even if it was from the shadows...These past few weeks have been the best weeks of my life and I owe it all to Mourning, talking about Mourning where is he?"Standing up I slowly look around, trying to catch anything that could give away his position. Hearing a hard thump land behind me, I jump slightly while keeping myself from scream as I turn around to face Mourning. I walk over to him punching his arm with all my strength before I move away grumbling embarrassed when I hear his deep clicking chuckle.

Amari: That wasn't funny Mourning, I thought that you were another black serpent...

Keeping my back to him I go to sit down on the log again before I feel a gentle clawed hand turn me around and pull me into Mourning's chest, chuckling softly I hug him back before I giggle when I feel his tusks playing with my hair. Staying like this for a few minutes we finally separate before I motion for him to sit as I grab a bag of marshmallows from the table nearby. Tearing the bag open I sit back down before I spear the tip of a stick through my marshmallow, placing it over to the flame I offer the bag to Mourning.

Hearing his mask come off I risk a glance to him before I remain staring at him, he had a new scar over his left eye. Looking back to the flame I go to ask him how he got his new scar before an angry grunt meets my ears, looking to him again I laugh hard falling off the log while holding the marshmallow. The marshmallows had become very soft and because of that when he tried to poke them with his tusks they went straight through the marshmallows causing them to get stuck.

Slowly coming to stop with my laughing I look at him smiling before I get back on the log ignoring his pointed glare.

Amari: Keep glaring like that and I won't help you remove those from ur tusks, you will be left with them on ur tusks for the rest of your life!

I laughed hard as I miss the look of horror on Mourning's face, I turn to him once my laughter is over as I slowly reach to his tusks to start removing the melted marshmallows. Keeping eye contact with him I hand him the melted marshmallows once all of them are off his tusks. Smiling gently I look back to the flame.

Amari: U should eat them one by one, you'll avoid getting them stuck on ur tusks, Tiger.

Looking towards the starry sky, I smile recalling the first time I had gone hunting with my grandparents.

Amari: When I was 8 years old, my grandparents took me out into the forest to their hunting cabin. They didn't live there and the only reason we were going there was to get one last trip in before the winter when there would be no animals or food in the valley.

Turning to Mourning I smile seeing him listening, turning back to the fire I look up at the sky.

Amari: My grandma was the sweetest and kindest old lady but beware if u try to steal her pie then she would come after you with a crossbow, she was actually the one to teach me how to track and shoot a bow, and then u got my Grandpa who was one of those guys who looked to be very grumpy, but he was always so calm, caring and protective over the people he loved, he was like a friendly bear I guess.

Looking down into the flames I slowly think back onto the last time I saw my grandparents.

Amari: It was a cold morning when I woke up, we had driven all night to get here, and I had fallen asleep somewhere between the time at the gas station and the horse ranch we had passed, when I woke up a warm cup of tea greeted me from my grandma, she had this ability to know exactly when I was about the wake-up. After getting dressed and having my tea I sat down to have breakfast with my grandparents, the breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, jam and toast, another cup of tea and some bacon.

Chuckling I grab my marshmallow before I place it onto a biscuit to eat it.

Amari: My grandpa then took me and we went out hunting, it was the first time I killed anything and he taught me the codes that I stand by today. I had killed a small bird that had been wounded by another creature...When we got back my parents were yelling at my grandma because it turns out they took me without my parents knowing about it ... The last memory I have of them is the sad looks on their faces as my parents drove away with me ...

Mourning: They sound very honourable Amari... Why was that the last memory u had of them little blade?

Amari: Because that day was the day we moved to the city, a few days later I got a call from my cousin who had been taking care of my grandparents, she told me they had passed on overnight in their sleep...I never even got to say goodbye because the funeral was at their Hunting Cabin and my parents wouldn't allow me to go...I inherited all their stuff which includes all my grandpa daggers and my grandma bow, I will never forget what they have done for me.

Gripping my hand together I keep myself from crying as I look at the fire again before up to Mourning as I lay my head on his shoulder.

Amari: These past few weeks have been the best of my life Mourning and its all thanks to you, so thank you for all u have done...I love you Mourning and I wish to spend the rest of my life with you.

I giggle hearing his purring start and intensify as I gasp when he picks me up heading into my Hunting Tent at the end of the village...

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In the Mourning...

I groan slowly waking up to the soft rumble of Mourning purr and the gentle touches of his claws running through my hair, looking up I meet his eyes. I giggle softly as I reach up caressing his tusk slowly before I get up, groaning when I move my body. Looking down I slightly shocked at all the claw marks that lined my body now, chuckling I shake my head before I start getting dressed.

Amari: We need to start moving before the rest of the town wakes up, I don't want to have to sneak u back to my cabin.

I chuckle feeling his arm close around my waist as his tusks play with my hair before letting go as I keep getting dressed while I hear him getting dressed as well. Once dressed I motion for him to stay hidden as I go to open the tent curtains until they open by themselves to reveal Daniel in a panicked state.

Amari: Daniel what's wrong?

Daniel: Dapples wounded and needs your help but also Shadow has been captured!!