Firestone Hot Springs With this knowledge he will fall

< 3

Ambitious he was, disinterested in giving up on his self-set goals. To achieve them was important to him, and he’d allow for nothing to get in his way. And so, at her suggestion, his ears perked up. It was an interesting idea, but he wasn’t entirely sure if it was something that he’d pursue. The majority of the specialties were ones that he didn’t mind, but it was always the thought of obtaining a guardian title that stopped him. Xan couldn’t see himself as ever defending the borders or refreshing them like their father did; in all honesty, it sounded rather boring to him. Still, he’d ponder the idea later on. “Maybe,” he’d commented, his voice trailing off towards the end. Some more time would have to go into thinking about it, and so he didn’t act as if he’d decide right then and there. It was made known through the thoughtful expression that he wore that he’d consider her suggestion, but wouldn’t say anything more on the topic for the time being.

Desna’s features were adorned by a smile, which had shifted from seemingly sorrowful to… warm. It reminded him of someone—now a distant memory—but he couldn’t figure out the who, exactly. It was familiar, though, and made his stomach twist. Swallowing, the boy nodded slowly, wanting to believe that she had a point no matter how skeptical he was. “Maybe we should,” he’d come to agree, deciding that she wouldn’t leave. They’d experienced the same event, they knew of how it felt to be left behind, and so surely neither would do so to the other. Alexander allowed for himself to believe that she’d always be there for him, even if they weren’t physically next to one another. Solidified had his beliefs become once she’d approached, even if his muscles had tensed with uncertainty. He’d not known what to expect, but was quick to relax again once she’d nuzzled up against him. The sudden closeness had shocked the Inuit, but he’d not distanced himself. Acting against his near obsession with the concept of personal space, he’d leaned his head down to rest his chin atop her head, enjoying the closeness to another being for once in his life.

When she’d apologized, he’d had no problem with accepting it. Within his head, he’d viewed the apology as having been unnecessary, believing that he’d deserved what he’d received; this was not voiced, however. “I’m sorry, too,” was his response. “For everything—even from when we were kids.” Now that he was older, he understood just how wrong he’d been. Alexander knew that he’d acted terribly towards her, and regretted it. He was supposed to watch out for his sisters, he’d always been supposed to do that, but he’d always excluded her and that hadn’t been fair. He wanted to make it up to her somehow, but without knowing how he might do that, he’d ended up doing nothing other than stay there with her. For as long as she’d allow him to be near, Xan would remain there within the springs with her. And whenever the time came for them to part ways, he’d plant a kiss on her forehead—if she’d allow it—and then watch her leave before heading back towards Blackfeather.