April 10th 2026

Friday. And the first real full week after rut had finally finished.

Jeremiah had caught up on any chores he might have let slip despite his diligence all month, finished his supply runs and signed off any last minute paperwork he had left. It wasn’t really all that much but he wasn’t the kind of man to let his work pile up when he was capable of getting it done. By the time he had finished the sun had started to sink below the rocky hillsides and tree littered mountains that surrounded the area they called home, casting a soft pink glow to the sky as nightfall began to creep in. It was nice, he liked it.

He had been avoiding swimming like he wanted to though just because of how strong his scent was, there was an almost 100% chance that he would be sought out by someone. And not the person he was hoping would find him. But now that he wasn't stinky, not dealing with raging hormones and not busy he was going to go do one of his favorite little hobbies. Swimming in the lake. Fuck swimming in the pool down at the Ministry, with the chemicals and the fish man and having to wear at the very least something that covers his lower region. There was a small lake... really a pond a good ways out in the field towards the forests tree line. It was one of the few natural water sources that the critters could get to, fed by a small stream and surrounded by dry cat tails. He had a nice Desert willow that shaded the pond, and was a good place to hang his clothes.

So once he made the good... 45 minute trek out to the pond from the barn under the darkening sky, he shimmied out of the salmon button down and tight wranglers and underwear, hanging them over a branch on the tree he could easily reach. His boots and socks were placed together near the base of the tree and the naked cowboy took a deep breath as he stood in the free cool and open air. No one else would be out this far, his hands were all heading back to the main building, and the animals didn't care about a naked ghoul.

Picking across the stone and wet loam he stepped into the freezing water with a quiet hiss, tail flicking up into the air. He wasn't bother by the small fish that quickly darted by his ankles as he walked in deeper, or the reeds that swayed and tickled his skin. Being in a natural water source was a reminder really of years ago when the only real way he could wash up was by taking a dip in the river or lake. It was a simpler time when he just was a man on the run... a cowboy on the range, an outlaw, a ghoul who faced racism and put it down with a pearl grip pistol and a good hand who helped move cattle up and down the western plain. He wasn't important like he was now...

Swimming out towards the middle of the pond he floated on his back as he looked up at the sky, watching it darken further as the stars began to slowly creep out. His walnut hair soaked up the water quickly and sprawled out around his head as he lay there peacefully, barred eyes focused on the twinkling stars.