Dawnlark Plains in the blink of an eye

it was then, at her mention of a fight, that he noticed the half-dried blood that coated her tail; he'd been so distracted by everything that had happened--not to mention his own memories of death--that it had slipped right past him. shocked, adi pulled her closer still, making gentle sounds under his breath as she spoke. i'm tired, adi. and she began to sob.

"i know, mera jaan," aditya whispered, letting her cry. "i know." her grief was the stormy sea and he the cliffs; it smashed against him but he stood strong, despite little bits falling off here and there. it would take a lot to whittle him down to nothing, and he felt no shame in knowing he was stronger than she was at this point. it wasn't anything he'd wave in her face: he'd use it to help her, heal her, ride out this storm with her until she came out the other side.