Redsand Canyon vultus

germanicus should have stopped her before he left.

when fennec returned, his skin twitched under her touch. he remembered arsenio gritting a cold ultimatum into his face, the pull and pain as his son bound the imperator's wound.

suddenly he could not bear the thought of fennec touching him with such care, not when —

germanicus let out his breath and pulled away from his wife, out into the night between the trees which surrounded their den. "valiria has gone home to her mother." his voice was strained. "that is — all four children of mine are gone, fennec. it does not suggest i should be a father again."

the agony was immense as the last of antigone's bandaging fell away beneath a rivulet of blood. germanicus let the iron scent of it fill his nostrils and focused upon the moon. "mereo — i — am finished in the mountains."