He lived his life quietly in the old hut by Moon-lit Lake, resting on the edge of a forest far older and wiser than he; the area cleared a bit to fit the man's needs. Scars of battles won littered his body, peeking out from under his clothing. Six foot nine, strong build with broad shoulders, long silver hair tied back, and a dark five o'clock shadow makes him the very definition of handsome and mysterious. Heavy thuds from his axe hitting his chopping block as he made firewood were all one could hear. The lake waved, yes. The wind blew, yes. But when one is in their own world, the one around him fades away.
Through the trees, a pair of golden eyes watched him work, following his every subtle movement. The brush around them shifted as the cool wind from the waters whispered through. The beast with gold eyes pushed past to the woodsman's territory, pulling him out of his world. Standing straight, he rested the axe against his leg as he wiped his brow; white and black fur held the eyes in place while the wolf slowly approached the man's mountainous pile of wood.
"Strange coat you have, friend. Don't mind me, just an old man with no ear to talk to." The wolf, seeming to understand him, padded to the lake to taste its cool waters and refresh itself from the journey. Ripples expanded as it drank, distorting the other side of the forest where a deer did the same. Locking eyes with the beast, the prey froze. "Of course, if you need a place to rest, my home is fairly furnished," the man hummed, his voice of silk and inviting, deep and gravelly yet warm and caring, a voice one could never forget. Turning to him, the wolf carefully followed the man, watching as he carried heavy wood as if it were nothing.
The hut was only a floor but had doors leading to other rooms. On the outside, it blended with the trees surrounding it but inside was a deeper wood, matching his décor of furs and pinewood nicely. A few chairs, a table, a place to cook, and a woven rug in front of a blazing fireplace. "Please, make yourself at home," he insisted, dumping the wood into a stone chest by the fire. With a huff and a puff, they marched to the rug and plopped down, stretching and yawning as to make themself comfy. "I see you have taste," he chuckled. Picking up the mug of herbal tea he had made, the man sat on the rug as well. "Kadal Balin. You seem out of place in this world just as I." Reaching forward, his calloused hand brushed through the smooth fur, a comforting gesture the wolf had missed by the way they rested their head on his lap. A faint glow began to grow in Kadal's chest as memories of old danced in his mind, the images of forgotten ladies with ale and men with swords.
Outside the hut sat the lake, drifting with little sound as the sun disappeared behind the trees and the night came into view. The deer that had once thought itself dinner now bolted through the trees in search of familiar fern, hurling itself into oncoming traffic as it tried to cross the grey river. A small green Toyota pulled to a screeching halt, unlocking its doors so the driver could step out and nervously look at the once breathing creature.
"Fuck! Oh god," a pale man of twenty-five muttered to himself. Looking around, he found no one else on the road. Puffing out his chest, he pushed and pulled the deer across to the other side where it couldn't be seen. "Just hid a body, how do murderers do it? My back hurts now," he exclaimed to Buggy, his Toyota. The moon rose high in the black sky above, giving the air an unpleasant chill once he remembered he was alone. Hopping back inside Buggy, he sped down the road again with determination and now caution in his search for a precious keepsake. A gift from his parents when he left for college years ago, graduating only six months to the day. "I'll find you, Vivian, I promise."
Stars covered the sky as hours passed while the familiar forest came into view, marked with a knotted old willow tree. The road, empty and wide, came close to the tree���s roots but not close enough to damage them; he parked just under the willow, gazing at the knots for a moment before running through the woods with his flashlight beaming in front of him. He called her name, whipping his eyes hazelnut eyes back and forth to catch any sight of her. The moon watched him scurry about, almost hitting a tree here and there but just missing it. A white wisp caught his attention through the dark, calling to him as it grew larger and larger. What he believed was a wisp had become a lake of pure white, shining more brightly than any other jewel in the known world. Astonished, he dropped to his knees, taking a seat by the white water to watch it move. Warmth spread through him as the light grew dark and his head rested upon the cool grass. No worry nor pain. No fear nor hatred could be found within him as his world faded.