Phoenix Maplewood well, now what

@Easy

he had slept restlessly beside easy that night, tossing and turning and fervently hoping he didn't wake the girl. when he awoke, he was groggy and irritable, and his chest felt heavy from what had transpired between him and his mate. he hoped that perhaps they could make amends in the light of day for the things they had said in the dark, and rose to find her--but she had vanished.

aditya swallowed down the panic that churned in his belly, threatened to rise in his throat like vomit. he knew dawn was a scout, that she drew her pleasure from wandering. hell, she had said so herself to him last night. perhaps it was a small mission, to clear her head.

damn him, despite the things she had said, despite her self-centeredness, he still worried about her. he still loved her.

as it was, he couldn't go on a wild duck goose chase anyway. he had easy to look after, had made a promise to grayday to do so. it would be foolish to venture beyond the maplewood with one member of their party missing; he didn't know how far dawn had gone, and he certainly didn't want to waste their energy by tracking her when she would likely be back soon.

so they waited in the maplewood, aditya desperately trying to find ways to while away the time with his sister-in-law. another hunting lesson, perhaps? should he tell a story, or sing a song? damn it, he was terrible with kids.