Lion Head Mesa Within the garden gates

"because i gave my word." germanicus held himself reined, despite the whirling emotions offered to him in each minute by the shadow. 

the eagle's gaze sharpened at the mention of hunting. an inexplicable anger crept over germanicus, but he refused to let it show, to allow it the space where it might become something more.

"because if a saint will crush a smaller being when their enemy is nigh at hand, they will come for children. there are none here, but they exist in this region." he leant heavily upon his pragmatism but it did not help him now. 

crowfeather's words bounded along in his mind. germanicus did not fear death, but he found suddenly that the prospect of leaving the shadow behind was untenable. 

"that will be your decision. but i do not intend to die. nor do i want you to see a battlefront." equal wishes. he blinked slowly in exhaustion and some other unspecified thing.