Chimera Fields a crime so old as the sky and bone

The jilted tone of Cypress' question begged the question: did he want to see his O'Malley cousins off for his own closure, or was it simply an offer made out of support? He didn't want to exclude his raven-cloaked cousin from any farewells, but he also felt as if this was a conversation that would not come without a few painful goodbyes. Rian felt as if his head was full to burst with the potential possibilities, and the aftermath, that could occur in the next few hours—he wasn't really sure he wanted to commit Cypress to anything that could cause him further harm.

But Rannoch cut in, and waved away the sudden fear that gripped him. The earthy boy stole a look towards Cypress, then Rannoch, then to the woods where the meadow of his birth lie somewhere beyond the trees. "I, yeah, if you... if you want, but I don't think this is gonna be an easy conversation." He said softly and swung his muzzle around to bump Cypress' own with a tightness cast across his features. He wasn't going to push him away; Cypress always meant well, and maybe that was part of the problem. He didn't want to tarnish him any further than his shitty life already had, and he tried, desperately, to pass that thought through the intensity of his gaze.

When finally he drew away, he faced the woods and inhaled: "Better or worse, I'll see you guys in a bit." He said, before setting off in the direction of his family's thicket.