Blackfeather Woods i'm wide-eyed and it's midnight

He swallows hard, heart stricken deeply by whatever is plaguing Phillip. I can't. The idea of not knowing eats at him, corrosive like acid against the softest parts of his heart — but Phillip's is far more important to him. He swallows the questions that bubble up within him, and simply holds the dark boy until he speaks again. When he finally does, the words bring the familiar prickle of tears back to Zephyr's eyes. He blinks them away, and answers quickly. Of course, He says it with conviction, without an ounce of hesitation. I want to stay with you anyway. Always. He shifts to lick his ears again, this time continuing, gently grooming him until he's ready to move.