the creature comes blundering into view. on the move. he knows not where. just away, he arrives at a pond. water.
felix is chopping lengths of wood, dulled by the task. the children are stacking the wood on a litter.
tracking felix and the children. they're laughing and joking, the kids playful and giggling. the creature shadows them, looming and darting among the trees, along for the excursion. happy as a kid himself.
the creature runs bleeding and sobbing, a specter sailing among the trees with greatcoat billowing like huge dark wings. running from the horrified screams of rejection still echoing in his mind.
a snowscape. stark trees. a figure in a greatcoat. head bowed with misery. leaning against a tree. trying to catch his breath. can't. crying too hard. he sinks to his knees, hands clutched bitterly to his heaving chest. wondering why the anguish doesn't stop his heart in mid-beat.