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Vespasien! <3

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The flowering branches that flooded these woodlands is what always drew him here, along with their decadent scent. It was a calming place to rest when he sought stillness and solitude, especially when wandering felt like too much for the day. On occasion when it was particularly barren, he’d even rest here for a couple days to recover before being on his way again.

The flowering branches of wisteria – which were now naked and covered in snow.

It was no secret that Mateo wasn’t particularly fond of the winter, nor was he used to it. He actually felt his body grow weaker as it shivered from the chilly winds of ending seasons. He should probably head back to the coast soon to seek shelter.

The young doctor would seek the dens he once inhabited, however, for any sign of leftover herbs he could take with him. Even the dried up ones could be used for a less-potent paste, after all…

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Winter.

Snow was quickly becoming his least favorite thing to see. And the resounding blame was cast on the season responsible. He’d already learned he was downright awful at caring for himself, almost as if he’d never had to before. It was in moments like this that he truly resented what his memory was hiding from him.

He crunched through the snow with a squint, head held level with his shoulders, the only thing in his mouth the thin tail of a mouse. It was all he could find, and even then it had been mostly an accident. He truly didn’t know how he was even going to eat it, but he was sure he’d find a way. Somehow. His shoulders shivered with every step, the cold driving daggers into his paws.

Hopefully, Rinon is alright. Vespasien thought to himself, ears laid flat against another tug of wind through his fur. He couldn’t find the boy no matter how hard he tried, chasing his own scent in circles for days at a time.

He stopped abruptly at the beige pelage through the snow, the mouse dropping from his mouth with the sudden stop.

Ah-hello? He called to the figure, hoping this was actually someone and not his own imagination and an oddly colored tree trunk.

The pace of his digging against the tree base came to an abrupt pause once someone called out to him. A tad startled, his head swiveled almost too quickly over his shoulder to catch sight of his company, chocolate-hued eyes blinking owlishly in the direction of the boy.

A tall, rather lanky one – though it looked as though it wasn’t by choice; the man was in a similarly malnourished state as Mateo was. While he’d been the embodiment of the coast, he was the embodiment of the snowscape that surrounded them. A porcelain coat layered with silver and ash alike – yet his eyes were a contrasting hue of deep crimson that could melt the frost beneath his gaze. Though Mateo found his gaze surprisingly gentle for their color.

May I help you, sir? Mateo asked, turning his body towards them with a curious look in his eyes.

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Oh thank goodness. The shape moved, and talked, and revealed a handsome golden man with pretty brown eyes. Vespasien could have cried. Thankfully, he didn’t, because he was fairly certain it would have froze, but he did laugh a relieved laugh.

I-I thought you may have been a tree! Thank goodness, I thought I was losing my mind! He quivered the entire time he spoke, the wind and snow slicing through his coat like it was made of butter. Gods, he wished he could remember what he’d been through to have such a shorn coat. It was a peculiar sight when he’d seen himself in puddles back during fall. Even now, it hadn’t fluffed out as it should.

I thought I was r-rather alone out here. G-G-Glad to see I’m not! His teeth clattered together with every word, but Vespasien tried very, very hard to remain cheerful.