Second Time's the Charm

He would know her delicate gait anywhere. Though he had requested that they leave him be as much as possible, he didn't expect them to listen completely. Truthfully, he missed them. All of them. Aliana most of all. The woman soothed him like no other could and when she came to lean into him, he couldn't bring himself to chastise her for it.

Sweet words met his ears and, though his eyes were closed against the light, he could hear a smile in her lyrics. "Tired. Head still hurts. Improving," he tumbled in response, shifting to nuzzle her own jaw in return. "And you, my love? What's the news?" They knew one another well enough to catch the subtle inflections in tone and mood. He was curious.

After they spoke he would ask after the others, but here was content with this time being just for them. Lifting once foreleg, he gently pulled the clouded beauty against his chest. Then he waited.