Heron Lake Plateau she's so paris when we kiss

her words caused the boy's eyes to widen; her admission of love and of want. he hadn't expected it. he met her eyes and was silent for a long moment, and strangely, he found that Aria's desire was not returned in his heart. his time away from Donnelaith and the way that struggle had bound him to the Creek ... and Laika. 

Laika. there was a seed there, of something new, fresh. something Cas wanted to explore, something devoid of the anger and desperation that had always marked the interludes between himself and thr pale girl who stood before him now.

And yet ... he was loathe to let go. "how, Aria?" he murmured, his voice cracking. "you live in Donnelaith, and i'm not leaving the Creek. Saena needs me."