G A R E T H
The structure of the saurian woman’s tail was different from what the stallion had expected. He’d assumed that the mass was pure hair. To find that within there was a strong core of muscle, and the realization that she must have grown fabulous locks in order to so cleverly disguise it’s true nature, brought a chuckle from his chest.
“You say that like you don’t already embody a true heroine,” He nudged her shoulder, his vocals light and playful.
“Though I agree,” he said, stepping away, but only enough so that they are no longer touching. He found that being so close to her skin was a dangerous game to be playing with his heart. More importantly, it was dangerous for her. “We should test it against the elements to make sure it will hold up to the journey.”
The medic took a steadying breath, reminding himself that he was here to help her find her feet again, to make her healthy enough to carry on with her life, whether that included him or not. It was unwise to foster attachments while she was still dependent upon him. Gareth wasn’t privy to all the inner workings of psychology, but the thought that their circumstances might breed feelings that were false unsettled him. They had both agreed to save such affections for another time, if they were still applicable, and yet the longer they spent together the harder it was for them to do so.
Perhaps when they reunited with his bonded companion things would become easier on that front. Noor was safe, that much he knew. Though they were a far enough distance that he could not sense the elk’s presence or feel his thoughts, he could tell that his friend was alive and waiting. The brute had heard stories of those who had lost their bonded, of the wretched loneliness, the gaping hole left by their absence. It was something that could drive men to madness, in a desperate bid to join what they had come to know as their other half. A bonded was far more than just a companion- they were like an extension of oneself, and to lose them was nigh unbearable.
Gareth tried not to think about how close they had come to that very fate. How this mare he was growing so fond of would have had every part to play in that tragedy. Noor would have his hide for sure over this. Even when the stallion had spent the previous winter sheltering in this same cave, the elk had come to visit, to check on him, to lecture him on his choices. These things all came from a place of love, he knew. You didn’t chide people for stupid decisions if you didn’t love them, if you didn’t want to see them succeed. He missed the elk’s quick wit and sharp tongue now. Noor would have held no qualms about keeping the medic within his boundaries as a healer.
And yet, without him, it was far too easy to succumb to the beautiful lull that was Pangaea. If the brute didn’t know any better, he would have thought that the warrior had cast some kind of spell over him. “I’ll put you to work, alright,” he chuckled, bumping her shoulder just to touch her once more. “We’ll make sure that your legs are strong again.”
Before desire could overtake him, Gareth stepped away, turning towards the alcove that would lead to the main cavern. “Let’s test that bear hide,” He said over his shoulder, large hooves echoing off of the cave walls as he put a safe distance between him and the mare. “If you have any burning questions about Denocte, I’ll see what I can do to answer them today before we bed down. It wont compare to experiencing the court for yourself, but it should at least give you an idea of what to expect.”
“You say that like you don’t already embody a true heroine,” He nudged her shoulder, his vocals light and playful.
“Though I agree,” he said, stepping away, but only enough so that they are no longer touching. He found that being so close to her skin was a dangerous game to be playing with his heart. More importantly, it was dangerous for her. “We should test it against the elements to make sure it will hold up to the journey.”
The medic took a steadying breath, reminding himself that he was here to help her find her feet again, to make her healthy enough to carry on with her life, whether that included him or not. It was unwise to foster attachments while she was still dependent upon him. Gareth wasn’t privy to all the inner workings of psychology, but the thought that their circumstances might breed feelings that were false unsettled him. They had both agreed to save such affections for another time, if they were still applicable, and yet the longer they spent together the harder it was for them to do so.
Perhaps when they reunited with his bonded companion things would become easier on that front. Noor was safe, that much he knew. Though they were a far enough distance that he could not sense the elk’s presence or feel his thoughts, he could tell that his friend was alive and waiting. The brute had heard stories of those who had lost their bonded, of the wretched loneliness, the gaping hole left by their absence. It was something that could drive men to madness, in a desperate bid to join what they had come to know as their other half. A bonded was far more than just a companion- they were like an extension of oneself, and to lose them was nigh unbearable.
Gareth tried not to think about how close they had come to that very fate. How this mare he was growing so fond of would have had every part to play in that tragedy. Noor would have his hide for sure over this. Even when the stallion had spent the previous winter sheltering in this same cave, the elk had come to visit, to check on him, to lecture him on his choices. These things all came from a place of love, he knew. You didn’t chide people for stupid decisions if you didn’t love them, if you didn’t want to see them succeed. He missed the elk’s quick wit and sharp tongue now. Noor would have held no qualms about keeping the medic within his boundaries as a healer.
And yet, without him, it was far too easy to succumb to the beautiful lull that was Pangaea. If the brute didn’t know any better, he would have thought that the warrior had cast some kind of spell over him. “I’ll put you to work, alright,” he chuckled, bumping her shoulder just to touch her once more. “We’ll make sure that your legs are strong again.”
Before desire could overtake him, Gareth stepped away, turning towards the alcove that would lead to the main cavern. “Let’s test that bear hide,” He said over his shoulder, large hooves echoing off of the cave walls as he put a safe distance between him and the mare. “If you have any burning questions about Denocte, I’ll see what I can do to answer them today before we bed down. It wont compare to experiencing the court for yourself, but it should at least give you an idea of what to expect.”
"Speech" || @Pangaea |
