Swiftcurrent Creek I got a bulletproof heart, you got a hollow-point smile

It was subtle—that intake of breath—but Akavir had known to look for the tiniest afflictions from his most youthful daughter, otherwise, he would be completely in the dark on any of her feelings, it seemed.

He swallowed—his own muzzle jerking in her direction, his pace halting. Had she not known? Had she missed Lilitu’s departing call—the sadness that had afflicted it.

His jaw worked, but nothing came out. And then, before he knew it, he was sitting—the world spinning—but it was Mae who he focused right now, as he felt that weight pull him

f u r t h e r

down….

“She was sick, Mae. She got… I don’t know. I don’t know what it is. Highly contagious… From a bite? Or maybe just touch… I don’t know. I don’t fucking know.”

The grit of his teeth. “I don’t even know if I can bring her to her mothers grave so they can be together. I just…”

I just….

I just…