Great Bear Wilderness as the crow flies

the guardian's ear twitched as he heard his name. arcturus. between the rush of the wind and the soft gurgle of the creek, he had heard it -- arcturus.

he groaned, his face on fire. every nerve screaming. his gaze was swimming, a kaleidoscope of swirling colors and blurred edges of pooling black. ying.

a flood of emotions more raw than the feelings he had experienced when he first saw revui came to him. she had abandoned him. he had protected her, and she had left him. this misplaced blame welled up in him like a frothing wave, and his blood-matted face contorted into an unwelcome grimace. his throat worked roughly, his voice hoarse and barely more than a murmur: "you --" his lips strained, his expression lit with pain -- "you left me."