more and more, aisling retreated to the woods, spending an especially big chunk of her time sat next to the lake. to outsiders, it would seem she was quietly reflecting, perhaps on her estranged father’s passing––that’s what had driven her out to the woods in the first place. however, aisling was doing everything she could to avoid that line of thinking. staring at the lake, watching the different fish and underwater creatures in water that would be too dark to see through for most. another gift from her father, she supposed. that line of thinking always made aisling flinch. after they piled up, aisling found a dip in the rapidly cooling waters as the seasons changed numbed her mind enough to quiet it. in a flurry of movement, aisling stripped her clothing and dropped off the ledge she’d been sitting on, sinking and sinking. when it finally became too much and her lungs were burning for air, she kicked her feet up and broke the surface. that’s when she saw the little wolf she’d met at this very lake, just in the opposite position they were in now. “oh,” she said, voice scratchy. “i didn’t know anyone was out here.” ( @elenaxrusso )