Ocean's Breath Plateau fire rabbit

the men that accompanied aapa opened like gates outside of moontide, and ghelan wasn't quite yet sure if he'd wanted to leave.

they took your eye? ghelan recoiled at the thought.
aapa is bad. but he was hurt. why take more from a man who'd lost so much already?
ghaden.
aaka.. she grew to love moontide, and chakliux.
the pale man who'd entered his life, who swept mother off her feet. the man who'd done everything to take aapa's place.

chakliux took aapa away so he could be with aaka. his father was robbed of his eye, and of his chance to be a father again after ghaden. he'd lied to her, lied to him. father always wanted him, father always loved him, father always wanted to be here with them. even with this useless, stupid leg.

convinced by the racing of his thoughts, ghelan follows the beckoning words of his father. joy to be loved made his pace brisk even with the weight of everything he'd been told.
but aapa still hurt aaka. though he'd paid the price, he could never erase what he'd done.
she would be happiest with moontide. with chakliux; he can keep his prize. ghelan never took him as a father anyways.

once far, the boy only glances at the ulaq. but never hesitates.