Lost Creek Hollow Butterflyfish

belen stared at him, her face carved from memory's coldness.

he had wronged her. his lips parted in shame and in guilt. and suddenly he hated arsenio more in a rush. now he would shoulder their association for belen. silvertongue.

his eyes were upon her in near-pleading apology. but then they moved inexorably to crowfeather, crowfeather with honeyed eyes holding a sheen of pain. the shadow on three legs, scarred in the battle that germanicus should have fought for him.

he drew a breath. surely he must be older before the shadow's eyes, more drawn. and now slashed by a cat, healing pink marks upon throat and chest.

germanicus could not look away. he could not move forward. a thousand things rushed inside him, made sharper by the edge of the woman's piercing scent.

"yes."

it was all he could say, yellowpaint eyes fixed in breathless wonder on crowfeather as the shadow began to weep.