Redsand Canyon I got a hankering for four wide tires

germanicus was not certain he understood. and furthermore he did not think fennec understood how very loyal he had always been to such bonds. he wanted to prevail upon her to this end. ruenna had left him. if she came back with words of love it would not shift him away from what he had done.

he saw what she asked: do not remain in misery with me. she did not want to live with his longing.

germanicus knew now he had grieved too openly. it had created a secondary problem where before there was only the issue of his lingering love. now fennec feared he lived for the day to leave her. or perhaps it was not fear. pragmatism bound them both.

the imperator let out his breath. he touched her paw where it motioned among the limp down of the dove he had brought. "something like this is worth more i have words to say." it had made him feel secure and given him stability during a great upheaval in his life. 

he no longer prized love over compatibility. and now for the sake of his wife he would begin to place his memories of ruenna into the vault of his mind. surely she lived without pain and, if she thought of him, she thought warmly of him. he would do the same. but he no longer wanted such doubt between fennec and himself.

germanicus knew now he must do as she had asked in the beginning: prove himself.