Reconnaissance

Mariah stood in the stillness, her heart beating so loudly she could almost hear it. Her eyes were fixed on Caedes, waiting for his response with bated breath. His usually stoic expression was now replaced by a distant look, as if he were lost in the deepest corners of his memories. Each passing moment seemed to stretch out endlessly, a never-ending void before her. But Mariah remained patient, periodically checking in with him as they worked together to restore order to his den. She straightened shelves, carefully picked up broken jars and trinkets, and gently mended the battered furniture. Despite the chaos that surrounded them, her hands moved with steady precision while her mind raced with thoughts of what Caedes might say. Finally, he began to speak, causing her movements to slow to a halt. But she continued working, straightening and repairing as she listened intently to his words.

But even then, Caedes eventually captivated her attention- her silver eyes filled with a profound sadness she did not try to hide. She had asked him for his story and he didn’t hold back. His words etched a gruesome, wrenching tale of suffering and endurance, of a child transformed into a warrior through pain and determination. Yet in his story, she also saw the strength and resilience that had shaped him into who he was. There was a raw honesty in his confession, and it cut through her heart like a sharpened blade. She paused then, her gaze locked onto his as she took in the enormity of what he had shared. She knew of his battles, of the physical trials he had endured. But this was different. This was a glimpse into the labyrinth of his psyche, a map of the scars that marred his spirit and echoed in the depths of his dull emerald eyes. The very ones that she admired for their beauty.

Her eyes remained fixed on him, studying the vulnerability that shone in his emerald gaze under the harsh clarity of his admission. He looked away, unable to meet her concerned gaze. The air in the den had thickened, every sound carrying the weight of their shared pain and understanding. She cautiously closed the distance between them with quiet steps, her paw reaching out hesitantly to touch his battered fur with a tender gentleness that seemed out of place in their harsh surroundings. "Even if you have nothing else, Caedes," she spoke softly, her voice as gentle as her touch, "you still have choices."

Working together they made considerable progress in a short amount of time. Of course, there was still plenty left to do, but her attention kept wandering to the site where Caedes’ friend had drawn her final breaths. She was torn, in wanting to deal with it herself- so Caedes wouldn’t have to. But also not wanting to take that task from him if it was part of the closure he needed. Allowing her attention to slowly return to him, Mariah offered him a saddened smirk, waiting to see how he wanted to progress.

"Mariah Mendacium"