Ghost Lion Crag darling remember, when you come to me

painfully aware of the raw emotion that bucked in turbulent motions beneath dragomir's gaze, arcturus was stunned to silence. he knew his hand in that all too well, and regretted his part in it. dragomir had deserved a stable life in light of his beginnings, and just when normalcy had been established, arcturus had pulled the thread that strung it all together.

he was sorry to see dragomir go, but knew it was necessary. any longer, and he might say something awful or irreparable. any longer, and he might hurt the boy more.

"i hope so."  arcturus murmured to the wind, watching fondly as the boy's back turned and make for home -- well, his home, not arcturus'.

the guardian remained on that stony keep an hour longer, staring contemplatively into the distance while grey mist rolled in and out around him.