☽ DTAE - - I Was Only Temporary

Instructions

"I missed her. I missed her laughter, her smile, the way she always marveled at everything around her… she was my world. However, I was ill. I told her to go, to explore the world for herself without fussing over me all the time. I did not know that I would deeply regret what I had done. She'd always worry, regardless of my reassurance, constantly nagging me like a persistent mosquito, asking if I needed anything, if I was hungry, thirsty, tired. I always brushed it off, but in truth, I was exhausted. This wracking illness that harboured within my body has been dragging me closer to the edge of death with each passing sunrise, clawing at my lungs, making it hard to breathe, to walk… to live. The little flame dwelling in my still-beating heart was a reminder of the curiosity I had always shown toward even the smallest of things. Despite my pain and struggle, the nagging tug for adventure and the longing to explore, to find, and to be in the moment was strong. When she took my words to heart and finally left, I began travelling towards the ancient peaks of Vallenhien. Hauling my frail, dying body towards those distant mountains–ones I've always yearned to explore since my childhood–I was challenged with fatigue, the feeling that I'd slump into the grass under my paws, but I pushed through. Two long years of walking, constant resting, and kind exchanges with strangers had passed before I stepped anywhere near the foot of the towering earth. Not even a day after my arrival, my condition worsened. I began coughing up blood. The way it stained the soft snow, a sharp contrast of crimson red against a pure, innocent white, made it easy for the watchful occupant of these harsh mountains to find me. Despite his rather intimidating stature, he was gentle and aided me. He offered me food, shelter, water, everything I needed. Just like she used to. He was the one to lay by my side for hours as I spent my last few days telling him of my life, my children, and… her. The way she took care of me regardless of her siblings’ choices to leave, or my persistence for her departure. Oh, how he reminded me of her. “If you ever come across my wonderful, albeit stubborn, daughter, take care of her as you did for me, will you?” Those were my last words, the last thing I asked of him before the sickness consumed me. Sometimes, I find myself wandering aimlessly, always returning to the same spot I used to lie on before I passed. During one particular evening, as my weightless paws silently glided over the snow, lazily being drawn towards where my body rested underneath the frozen soil, I saw her. My beautiful daughter, comfortably nestled in the snow, sleeping on the same stone where my heart fell still." --- Holy heck, this one was quite the challenge (especially those mountains. I spent like five days trying to get em right ;-;) Otherwise I had a lot of fun messing with the colors and moods for this piece! Thank you Decayinq for this opportunity, and good luck to everyone who entered!! ↳ Written by Rain