Title:           Vagrant Flame part 5: Fall's Flame
Author:          Anonymous
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/J0CbJvih
First Edit:      Saturday 4th of January 2014 11:10:52 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Saturday 4th of January 2014 11:10:52 PM CDT

Summer passed far too quickly.
 
It seemed like after the night you and Vagrant spent sleeping under the open sky together that summer had given you its best, and decided to hand the reigns over to autumn.
 
You and Vagrant wandered the outskirts of the town one afternoon, marveling at the change of colors the trees were going through and chatting happily about nothing in particular. Long had passed the period of introductions and learning the core of each other's personalities. These days you were just happy to have Vagrant, and she, seemingly, to have you.
 
The two of you had already eaten lunch before setting out. Both of you wore the scarves you'd purchased in town for the impending weather; Yours a fiery orange that she'd picked out for you, and hers a vibrant yellow to accentuate the pattern on her wings.
 
She floated beside you as the two of you wandered lightly forested areas without roads just outside of town. You had the feeling you were heading farther away from town on this slow meander.
 
Maybe that was the path she had taken when she left.
 
The trees there had been ablaze with orange and red colors, fighting against the coming winter in earnest before they turned brown and withered to bare branches. At the time, it was a beautiful sight. Vagrant had smiled happily, spiraling slowly to the tops of nearby trees, hooves spread above her, eyes closed, basking in the afternoon sun while surrounded by the beautiful autumn display.
 
You hadn't been able to keep yourself from smiling, seeing her so happy.
 
"Isn't it just wonderful?" she'd asked softly, floating back down and circling you slowly, "The countryside changing, displaying itself in a blaze of glory before the inevitable winter slumber. It just takes my breath away!"
 
"Haven't you seen it quite enough times before?" you had asked with a smile, "Being a wanderer, and all."
 
She had giggled, a sound like warm wind blowing through the trees, "I've seen plenty of every season. But fall is my favorite of all, and I'll never grow tired of it. The colors are too warm, too cheerful, to make me feel any other way."
 
She'd hovered to your side, resuming a walking pace beside you as you gently turned back toward town.
 
Even now you swear there'd been a hint of sadness in her eyes when you'd done so.
 
"What season is your favorite?" she'd asked as you wandered home.
 
You thought for a while about it, finally deciding and telling her: "Spring. To me, it symbolizes new starts, the return of life from the hibernating winter, and a kind of hope for good things in the coming year."
 
Vagrant had smiled and nodded her approval, "Spring has some of the best smells in nature, as well. Often did I once sleep in beds of flowers and beneath scented pine trees when I grew weary. Though I will say the spring rains make traveling a tad bothersome to downright impossible sometimes."
 
"I'm sure it does," you had said with a gentle laugh, causing Vagrant to giggle again as the two of you reached your home.
 
"Winter is my least favorite," Vagrant said as you both entered your home, hanging your scarves on a coat rack by the door before Vagrant darted to the kitchen and removed two mugs from the cupboard while you began to heat some milk for hot chocolate. She knew the drill by now, and made small talk while eagerly waiting for the milk to heat, "You can never make much headway in cold weather. Too busy sheltering from the cold winds and snow. On a nice day, though, the scenery out there is truly something to see."
 
You nodded, saying, "Maybe one day I'll see more of it."
 
You hadn't added the "With you," the words sticking in your throat like they were covered in honey.
 
Maybe that would have made all the difference.
 
Vagrant had nodded, smiling brightly, "I'm sure you will! Our walks get longer every day. I think you've got some wanderlust of your own, deep inside."
 
"Maybe," you'd said as you removed the milk from the stove, pouring it into the mugs that already had chocolate inside.
 
"MMmmmm," Vagrant hummed, sniffing the sweet scent of cocoa before flapping to the living room, letting you carry the drinks after her, "I will say that nature doesn't provide such comforts, even during the best season."
 
"The advantages of settling down, I suppose," you'd said with a chortle.
 
The two of you sat on your couch, setting the drinks on the table between you and the fireplace in your living room. You got up, piling a small amount of wood into the fireplace in preparation for the quickly descending night and its cool evening temperatures.
 
Vagrant hadn't replied, looking like she was deep in thought when you turned around. When she noticed you watching her, she smiled brightly and picked up her mug of chocolate, taking a gentle sip.
 
Humming happily, she flapped her wings once, gently, before setting it down and licking her lips.
 
"You make such wonderful hot chocolate," she said as you sat beside her, "You'll have to tell me what you mix in with the milk and chocolate to make it taste so good."
 
"That's a trade secret," you said with a wink, smiling as you teased her a little, "Only I know the recipe and it'd take some hard convincing to make me share it."
 
"I'm sure I could manage~," she'd said seductively, batting those eyelashes and scooting closer to you on the couch.
 
You just picked up your drink, taking a swig of your beverage as she scooted close enough to bump into you gently, her rump and leg touching your thigh.
 
Setting down your drink, you hadn't known what to do with your hands. Putting them in your lap felt weird, but it avoided any contact with Vagrant.
 
Despite the fact the two of you slept in one another's embrace every night these days, it still felt...strange, in any other capacity.
 
Until that night, anyway.
 
She'd touched your leg with her hoof, making you jump in surprise, which made her giggle that warm, lovely laugh of hers.
 
"Don't worry, I don't bite," she'd said, leaning up against you a little, "And I'll ignore the hot chocolate recipe for now, if it makes you relax a little."
 
With your heart in your throat you'd shared a laugh with her, before slowly reaching your hand out and clasping it around her hoof. Kind of like holding hands, but, well, you were the only one with a hand.
 
Sighing happily, she'd closed her eyes and rested her head against your arm, leaning her body against yours while you looked at the fire, then down at her. You rubbed her hoof with your fingers gently, before working up the courage to move your hand, placing it around her waist without crushing her wings, and gently held her to your side.
 
"That took longer than I thought," she said in a near whisper, making your heart race, before looking up at you, meeting your eyes with hers.
 
Eventually, she had smiled, closing her eyes and nuzzling her cheek affectionately into your shoulder.
 
"Thank you, again, for all you've done for me."
 
You stammered for a response, still not sure how to say what was on your mind. That...you wanted her to stay. That you enjoyed her company.
 
That maybe....
 
"What's wrong?" she'd asked, seeing the troubled look on your face, concern suddenly showing on her own, beautiful features, "Is something the matter?"
 
"No!" you'd replied, perhaps a bit loudly, before lowering your voice and saying gently, "No. Nothing is wrong. I just...I don't know what to say."
 
"Then don't say anything," she'd said softly, pushing herself against yours gently, gently raising herself on the couch, her face getting slowly closer to yours as she smiled softly, "Let me be thankful. For your kindness. Your generosity."
 
Her face mere inches from yours, she moved her hooves to rest on your shoulders as you turned to face her.
 
"For you."
 
You still remember the kiss that had surprised you so much. The softness of her lips, but the firm, confident way she had pressed them against yours. The taste of hot chocolate on her lips and the smell of freshly burning firewood hanging in the air of your home. The way you'd sat there, baffled, while she kissed you, before finally wrapping your arms around her and holding her gently as you returned the kiss with passion.
And yet, for all the passion that kiss had, it held that sweet innocence of being the first.
 
When your lips parted, and you stared into each others eyes, she'd smiled first, before resting her head on your chest and letting herself sit on her haunches again.
 
There were no words as you held each other. Just the smell of firewood, the taste of chocolate, and the soft warmth of your love.
 
 
 
 
 
The sweet memory too much to bear, you slam your book shut, throwing the pen against the wall as tears well in your eyes.
 
This would be harder than you thought.