Losille waited as patiently as she could while Izotz made sure they had enough provisions for their trip and that their home was in a nice condition, leaving their bear familiar to guard while they were gone. He always worried whenever he left the mountain he was so accustomed to - which is why Losille usually made trips by herself (along with the fact that flight made the trip a lot easier and faster for her). Today, however, was different. Today was spring! While their mountain was always snow-covered, solely due to height - the world below them had thawed and now, finally, life was beginning to blossom forth and she was excited to venture down to explore and pick some flowers and ready her gardens for sowing. She always dragged Itzotz along - both for help carrying supplies and tending to the gardens and company as it was usually such a beautiful outing and not one they were able to partake often.
Izotz cleared his throat and interrupted her thoughts and she looked up at him with a smile, shifting to balance the baskets that hung off her back. "Ready to go?," she asked, sweetly - though there was the slightest edge to her voice that suggested the time to go was ten minutes earlier. He gently nuzzled his mate, a gentle brush of his lips against her cheek to calm her. "Ready, my love. After you," he gestured to the path ahead.
Losille needed no more instruction and headed down the path, the crunch of snow behind her indicating that Izotz followed closely behind - no doubt scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger though it was unlikely any trouble would befall them. Still - you could not take that sixth sense out of someone like Izotz.
A breeze rolled over the peaks of the mountain, disturbing the dusting of snow in a flurry that sparkled in the sunlight. Even this high up, she could feel the change in the temperature. The air was still cold, no doubt and if you weren't used to it you wouldn't notice the subtle change. The warmth that brushed against your cheek, ever so softly, as the breeze danced by - the way the sun hung in the sky a little prouder, a little brighter. Spring was indeed here and Losille's pace quickened, eager to see it in its full splendour.
The journey down was uneventful, but pleasant. They made small talk to pass the time but mostly enjoyed each other's company in silence. At the base of the mountain they called home, lay a dense forest of pines - their fresh scent filling the pair's lungs as they breathed deeply. They pushed further - weaving in and out of rows of trees that seemed to touch the heavens above them.
Losille stopped every now and then to gently harvest mushrooms of varying size and colour - their purposes not known to Izotz though he knew that they fell into three categories; food, healing or poison. When one of the many baskets was full - the mare pressed on more quickly - only pausing to collect tufts of moss.
They broke through the line of trees and sunlight beamed down on them - warm and golden. Losille stopped and closed her eyes, drinking it in as it spread through her. She missed this. As much as she loved the home they had made, she missed the sunlight at her finger tips. Still, she would never leave and she couldn't ask Izotz to leave, either - even though he would follow her anywhere. It was his home, his comfort and she wouldn't take that away from him. Sunlight was a short flight from her and she could take it whenever she liked.
As if sensing her thoughts, the Ulun'suti pressed up against her side - leaning his head on hers. "Perhaps we can spend a few days this time," he suggested softly, breathing in the scent of her hair. She turned her head to him in a quickness that indicated her excitement though she tried to hide it. "Really?" He nodded in response, a smile upon his lips. "Anything for you."
He continued on - knowing the way to her garden even though he had only made the journey a handful of times. Losille followed, relishing in the feeling of fresh grass tickling at her legs. Butterflies and bees buzzed around busily, already hard at work pollinating what growth had appeared. A lady bug landed on her nose and she wrinkled, breathing out to shoo it away.
The garden, when they arrived, was a sight to behold. Dead vegetation, brown and crisp, littered the grounds and the soil was still wet from where snow had defrosted. Losille unloaded her baskets and satchels on a flat rock on the edge and took in a deep breath before she started to get to work. Izotz needed no instruction - she kept a small garden in the mountain of useful herbs that could withstand the climate with assistance and he sometimes helped her work it.
First, they cleared away what had perished in the winter, now either dried or soggy or a combination of both. It took half the day and by the time they were finished, both were covered in muck up to their knees. Losille found some fruit nearby to accompany their lunch of dried meat (for Izotz specifically) and some of the mushrooms she'd picked earlier.
After a short rest, they tended to the soil, evening it out and carving lines for where Losille would plant her seeds. "I'm not sure what to plant this year," she murmured, mostly to herself and Izotz stepped up to her side to join her contemplation.
"Hmm. I enjoyed the beets and tomatoes last season," he suggested and Losille nodded to two small pinches of seeds with a smile. "Already got you covered, dear. You can plant them here," she nodded to a line in the soil and handed him a stick with lines carved into it. "To the second line for the beets and fourth line for the tomatoes. Two seeds in each."
As if on cue, a small squirrel appeared from bushes to their right and Losille gave her a nod and a smile in greeting. "Perfect timing as always, Bellemere."
"And perfect time management yourself, Losille. It's good to see you."
The familiar was a long friend and tended to the gardens when Losille was unable to - she also helped with planting and harvesting in exchange for a generous portion of the crop.
Their work continued until the sun had almost set and Izotz lit a fire to keep the chill that crept down from the mountain out of their bones. Bellemere made them dinner - a stew she made from roots they had pulled up, mushrooms and the leftover dried meat. It warmed them and they shared news around the fire before Bellemere said her goodbyes and returned to her own home.
A silence crept over them - crickets chirping as owls swooped down on their unsuspecting dinner. Izotz took in his mate in the firelight - marvelling at her beauty. She thrived down here - she was spring incarnate and she had come into his life like the sun and melted the ice he'd put up around himself.
"Do you miss it?" he asked, staring into the flames of the dwindling fire.
She didn't respond for some time but when she did it was soft. "I do," she started. "But not as much as I would miss our home together. I would never ask you to leave on my account."
Izotz leaned his head against her, pressing his body tightly against hers. "I will make the trip with you more often, if it would make you happy. We can spend more time off the mountain." He looked up at the stars, eyes clothing as he breathed in the fresh air. "Especially on nights like tonight."
Losille said nothing in response - only pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss, the flames of the fire dancing in the breeze that rustled the leaves and played a song only for them.
The rest of their time spent down the mountain flew by - they explored the lands around Losille's gardens, visited her family (much to their shock and delight). Losille taught him about the mushrooms she'd collected, as well as other plants he asked about. In turn, he taught her about the various animal tracks they spotted - or signs an animal had come through even if its tracks were hidden. They laughed and ran and swam in warm cricks that teemed with fresh fish they supped on.
By the time they returned to their mountain home - much longer than they had originally planned though neither were counting the days - Losille was already beginning to glow with the new life inside of her. Spring had blossomed forth and the sun had warmed their hearts, bringing them a little closer to each other than before.
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