Kintla Flatlands Open letter to hummingbirds

Peregrine wanted to move closer, to hug against Lasher and hold him. He resisted, savoring instead the simple pleasure of their clasped paws. He knew that physical intimacy beyond this would be bad for both of them, though it was a struggle to maintain his self-control.

He should have also been guarding his heart too, yet Peregrine found himself speaking before he could second-guess himself. "When I was visiting Fin, I realized how badly I've missed this place. I meant to leave last night but I just... couldn't. And..." It felt like a betrayal to admit this aloud, but after a hesitation, he did. "There's part of me that's imagining what would happen if I just... stayed. Or if I'd chosen you over Fox in the first place."

Only after the words left his mouth did Peregrine realize he might be hurting Lasher's feelings. "I'm sorry, I put my foot in my mouth. I just have so much on my mind lately and I'm clearly not handling my feels very well." Peregrine laughed dryly.