Little Blue Strings

Little Blue Snippets III

The young wolf does not move. He only stands there, his ears at full attention and his eyes on the stranger. He has never seen this person before. Well, aside from those two little girls, Peace and...War, was it?, as well as that oddly unafraid boy, Life, he never interacts with any of the others in this garden-like land.

This newcomer is young, like himself, and has the purest grey eyes. His hair is sandy and brownish, and his face is soft and and gentle.

"Oh," this strange boy breathes, staring directly into the eyes of Death. "I... I'm sorry, did I disturb you? I can leave... If you want... I'm sorry."

Death flickers, unsure of what to say. "It's alright," he says in his whispering, monotone voice.

"Um... Ok, then. Should I...leave?"

Death shakes his head in the slightest.

The boy smiles. "Thanks... I'm not actually supposed to be here yet. Please don't tell anyone. They say if you pop up too early, you're often forgotten, so I don't expect you to remember me when I leave, but if, by any chance, you do... Just don't tell."

Death nods.

Looking relieved, the boy sticks his hand out. "I'm Love, by the way, but I call myself Ezzy...for some reason. I don't actually know that reason, come to think of it. It just came into my head one day. It does have a nice ring to it, though. But anyway, you're Death, right?"

Death looks at the hand for a good ten seconds before reaching out to shake it. "Yes."

"Nice to meet you. Say, could I stay until morning? I know it's a bit much to ask, but it's getting dark..." He pauses to look up up at the sky, which is obscured by the darkening tree branches all around. "...And I am terribly unnerved by the nighttime."

"Yes," is all Death can say. He isn't sure why he agrees to this. Normally, he shies away from others. Silence and solitude is better than contact.

"Thank you!" Love gushes.

Death isn't sure what to do when hugged either.

"Ah! I'm sorry!" exclaims Love, quickly pulling his arms back in. "You don't like to be touched, do you? Oh, I'm so sorry... I get carried away sometimes. I really like to be around people, but they forget me the moment I leave."

Death notices that Love looks a bit sad when he finishes his sentence.

"Why?" he asks.

Love shrugs. "They say it's because of what I am. Do you know what love is, Death?"

Death shakes his head 'no.'

"Well... It's...it's a little hard to explain. When you love someone, you don't care about their flaws. Sometimes, when you look at them, you feel light and funny and maybe a little confused, but happy. And... You'd do anything for them."

Death doesn't quite grasp the idea, but he nods anyway.

"The problem is, sometimes love can hurt. Or you don't even know you're in love. Not everyone has the capacity to love, either. I mean, at one point, they might have, but... Well, I think you understand."

He nods again.

"I think people forget me because they don't understand how to love. Not yet, anyway. They say that when I, you know, that I won't be like I am now. I won't be like you. I'll just be...normal. A 'human' who is completely normal. I'm not sure if it's true, or if it will happen when the time comes, but I sincerely hope not. I like how I am."

Love smiles at him, and Death isn't sure how to respond. He isn't used to such being around such a happy and expressive person, in fact, he isn't used to being in the presence of a person at all.

"Hm. Do you mind if I rest a bit? It is nightfall, after all, and I am quite exhausted. I've been walking all day."

"I don't mind at all. There's some grass by the hollow oak there," says Death, gesturing to said tree.

"Thanks again! I'm just going to...well, it's more comfortable, for me, at least, so..."

Death watches as he flickers, and is replaced by a wolfish dog with tan-brown and white fur. The coat makes his eyes stand out even more.

The dog curls up atop the grass, falling asleep almost immediately. Death watches him breathe for a moment or two before turning his gaze to the sky. It is completely black, with the only light coming from those tiny little pinpricks of twinkling white.

"Goodnight, I suppose," Death whispers.

In a flicker, a wolf appears. He takes the side opposite the dog and lays down, his head resting on his paws. He isn't all that tired, but he closes his eyes anyway. It is a peaceful, quiet night, and one of the only times in which he feels completely calm and safe; he is wrapped securely in the shadowy blanket of the inky sky. He is hidden and protected.

Up above, unseen, eyes watch over him.

...

He opens his eyes. Sometime during the night, he must have fallen asleep. Blinking, he yawns and stretches in an attempt to shake off his morning lethargy.

Death stands, and looks around. The place in which he has made his little home is empty. Well, what was he expecting?

He frowns, padding around his area. Something feels off. The ground is matted down, but there is no scent in the air or clinging to the grass. It's almost as if he's misplaced something...as if he's lost something. Or someone, perhaps. But that can't be right. He has no possessions, no friends, nothing. Yet... He just isn't sure. He cannot shake the feeling that he has forgotten something important.

Death circles the little clearing one last time before giving up. Whatever or whoever it was is gone now. There's no point in looking.

He turns and he leaves, disappearing into the thickly-wooded garden