The Scientist

Lonely Winter Days

Xavier POV:

Waking up alone was always hard. I had gotten used to having someone with me. Last night, Gem was over, and we had a big bonfire. Her wild energy and laughter were always welcome. She spent the night in the guest room, and I didn't want to disturb her, so I decided to go for a walk.

I pulled on my boots and coat, feeling the slight chill in the morning air, then headed out. The weather was beautiful—gorgeous, in fact. It was almost perfect, almost. As I walked around the cabin, I noticed an unusual number of animal tracks scattered across the area. They were all different sizes and shapes, some from deer, others from smaller creatures. But living deep in the woods, I wasn't really concerned. It came with the territory.

I continued walking through the forest, the trees rustling softly in the light breeze. The sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dancing shadows along the forest floor. I found myself walking along the riverbank, listening to the soft burble of the water. The world felt still, peaceful.

Then, from the corner of my eye, I noticed a white fox watching me from the edge of the trees. Its pale fur seemed to glow in the morning light, eyes sharp and curious. It didn't move, just stared, as if waiting for something.

I looked at the fox and, unsure of what else to do, I bowed slightly in its direction. To my surprise, it seemed pleased with the gesture and nodded at me in return. With that strange interaction, I continued walking, noticing the fox trailing alongside me for a while. Its silent presence was oddly comforting.

Soon, though, I lost sight of it as the trees thickened around me. I glanced around, searching for any sign of the fox, when my heart skipped a beat—I spotted a wolf. I froze for a moment, caught off guard by its sudden appearance. I didn't expect to see a lone wolf, especially since they're known to travel in packs. But before I could process it, I noticed the white fox again, emerging from the underbrush nearby.

I blinked, puzzled. Could the wolf and the fox be... friends? They stood there, side by side, watching me. It was an odd sight—two creatures that didn't seem like they should belong together, yet here they were, calm and connected.

Soon, the sharp snap of a trap echoed through the woods, startling both the wolf and the fox. They bolted off, disappearing into the underbrush. Confused and on edge, I stood still, listening. I could hear the distressed cries of an animal nearby, and for some reason, my heart started pounding as I made my way toward the sound.

Maybe it was the cold, or maybe it was because this reminded me of how I had first met Wels, but the urgency to help gripped me tightly. I pushed through the undergrowth until I found the trap, and to my disappointment, it wasn't the wolf or the fox—it was a bird, its feathers a soft, buttery yellow.

My relief quickly turned to concern as I noticed the bird's wings were soaked with blood, the bright yellow now stained with crimson. The trap had injured it badly, pinning its delicate wings. I had always believed a downed bird was as good as dead in the wild, but something about the look in its eyes made me pause. There was a spark of life, a will to survive.

I crouched down and cautiously approached the trapped bird. It was terrified, flapping helplessly, and it pecked at my hands several times as I tried to free it. Despite the pain of its sharp beak, I managed to loosen the trap and carefully freed it from its hold.

Tucking the trembling creature into my coat, I could feel its rapid heartbeat against my chest as I started making my way back to the cabin. Its fear was palpable, but I couldn't leave it behind, not in this state. The cold air bit at my face, but my focus was entirely on the fragile life cradled against me.

As soon as I returned to the cabin, I could smell something delicious wafting from the kitchen. Gem was already awake, humming softly to herself while making breakfast. The clatter of pans and the sizzle of food filled the cozy space. I stood in the doorway for a moment, trying to shake off the chill from outside, the bird still tucked safely in my coat.