Stavanger Bay Smoking Embers

Andr's mind was cleared. The rest of the world had no place here between him and her. A blown glass sculpture. Both fragile, but metamorphosed into something strong and beautiful under the stress of flames.

That is until something threatened to shatter them. A shock ran through his body as his ear picked up the faint whisper of his name. He watched as his marbled ward looked onward and froze up. Gates shutting and hunkering down. Instinct took over and he took a step in front of her. A shield from whatever it was that made her draw back. He turned to face it, chest full, defensive, but...

"Fleurette...?" There were no flames of danger pouring out of the forest but sunlight brought to life. And the rest of the world came back, and guilt crept through his gut. It was Fleaurette. How quickly he'd forgotten her. Forgotten the entire reason he'd ventured out, the one he'd intended to find that day.

His stance softened having seen Fleurette. He knew she posed no threat. His head turned slightly to the side as he spoke over his shoulder to his charge. "It's alright. I know her. You're safe." - 'please don't spook... please don't run' - He gently pressed his side against her, like an assuring arm around a shoulder.

His attention turned back towards the sun. "Fleaurette... I thought you'd left, I... I was coming to..." It was then he realized the hare he'd been carrying was dropped the moment he'd been lured on his current path. But that's not what mattered. "I apologize for having run off like that. I was ill-mannered and offensive and though it was not my intent I suspect I've hurt you and for that I'm greatly sorry"