Then they went on, living the next hours as they came, packed with oxygen, warmth, fruits and freeing love.
They forgot what usually defined them to stranger eyes —their job, their clothes, their social behavior and even their intellect— shapeshifting into their bare and primitive selves through each other's eyes.
Setting aside their own burdens and burying under river sand worries and doubts that could and would wait for a while, they built a nest where to rest, eat and make love by a magnificent tree, its long branches full of nutritious and miraculous fruits. They'd found it a little further from the river after Scully had joined Mulder back, following a sweet and strong smell brought by a gentle breeze. They hadn't felt the need to discuss their course of action, agreeing and syncing their gestures with simple words, as they made a shelter with and within the vegetation ornating the foot of the big tree.
There, they surrendered to their primal needs without any second thoughts, both convinced they deserved the gifts Deep Valley had provided them: a bubble of peace and providential sustenance; a ripple in the line of time where they could lose themselves for days while the clock hands of the outer world would stand still; a haven in plain sun, far away from darkness, where to heal their past and strengthen their future.
As hours passed by, Mulder felt more alive and healthy than he had ever been despite the lingering injuries from his fall, the brain tumor in his temporal lobe vanishing into a bad dream he was not even sure to have dreamt of. On his side, Scully acknowledged the pleasure of letting responsibilities and reason go, glad to finally take time experiencing fantasies and expecting wishes she had only contemplated before in the sweetest of her daydreams.
XXXXXX
Many hours might have passed since the sunset, and the intrepid red fox was still restlessly exploring the maze of trails zigzagging across Deep Valley.
The fox was now following a scent discovered one hour ago, a mix of flavors rare for those woods that any fox should instinctively avoid, but nevertheless attractive and reminiscent of a previous encounter.
The smell became suddenly stronger and rawer, though almost indiscernible against the sugary and heavy scents coming from the majestic trees. The fox hesitated for a few minutes, sniffing in the air, discriminating and analyzing odors, then relied on its guts.
The animal knew it was always a risky move to approach a maleficent tree but the wit mammal wasn't the most maverick foxes of the whole area for nothing.
So, slowly and silently walking towards the source of the unusual scents, the fox reached an unexpected shape lying down the trunk of the big odorous tree.
Focused on its olfactive sense, the fox hadn't noticed the ruffled sounds when approaching the intriguing form. Now, standing still and all senses in alert, the fox could perceive repetitive movements through vegetation, hear increasing moans and slick noises, and smell heavy human sweat and a bunch of melted flavors characteristic of the bipedal creature.
The fox moved forward a little more, just to be sure humans were lying down there, two different and distinctive ones, one of them being the tall biped who had faced it not long ago. That wasn't a surprise to find him there, as if the fox had known all along this human was bound to enter its territory, as it had been the case for the other ones.
There was also half of a tempting fruit down its front paws, the thick juices leaking on the grass. The fox lowered its muzzle then lapped the aromatic flesh with the tip of its tongue. Two more laps and it was enough. As delicious as they were, the fox had learned, or intuited, they couldn't be trusted.
Then, the fox walked backwards, leaving the now deafening humans and their foolish attitude.
Note :
It's now summer and long vacation time for me, meaning I would be as lost as Mulder and Scully in the wildness of free time and random travels.
Then, maybe the next chapter will follow soon, maybe not at all, I cannot predict.
I can only say it's not the end of the story, even if I could stop just there, leaving M&S and their foolish attitude as an open ending.