Wapun Meadow I of the storm

The world stilled to the boy as words he dreaded to hear were murmured across his nape, whispered in his fur as if attempting to hide them; a guilty truth. He knew Valour was going to say it, he was foolish not to. But still, secretly, he had hoped for it not to be true. For Valour to choose him. To be with him.

It sullied him.

He breathed in, nuzzling into the darken fur as tears threaten to form at the corner of his eyes. He would not. 'I will not.' he repeated to himself like a mantra. He would not cry again. Not to Valour.

'They need me.'
'but I need you.'

'We have two mothers... kids that need someone'
'are they yours?'

'Please don't be mad.'
'i'm mad.'

'I'll visit you.'
'that's not enough. I miss you. I need you.'

'If you need me, i'm yours.'
'i need you,'

So many statements, so many answers. Clay wanted to respond to it all, to beg and plea, to lay his chest barren and open to the boy, to soak in his warmth and empty devotion. To even follow him.

'i need you,'

But he couldn't. He wouldn't. He just stayed there, nustled into the fur of Valour and breathing steady before whispering a soft, broken "okay," 'i need you'

'I need you.'
'I need you.'

"I need you." It slipped from his jaws without noticing. Three simple words. "At least stay with me, just a little more..."  'stay with me forever.'