Reconnaissance

Caedes felt Mariah's delicate fingers run through his coarse fur, tracing soothing patterns that momentarily eased his tension. Her soft words brought a fragile sense of hope with them, a begrudging wish to believe her words. Her empathy and quiet strength were truly a lifeline, he’d not forget it. Her understanding was clear, and it almost made him smile despite everything. The silence between them was heavy with mutual understanding, a shared burden they both bore. As Mariah moved across the den, tidying up, Caedes watched her. Her quiet work brought a sense of control to the chaos around him.

As he finished cleaning the stained ground, he stared at it for a while, eventually his eyes came to the needle he had used on Aurelia, and with a careful touch he grasped it and moved to begin to clean it. “Mariah,” He began, his voice rough with emotion as he worked with the trickling spring at the corner of his den, “Your strength helps more than I can say. But you must leave soon. Now, preferably.” The brute moved to place the needle in an intact jar, preparing to keep the item for the memory it held. He’d almost forgotten the danger she was in, being here. What if Sephiran came, what then?

Caedes took a deep breath, his massive frame still running ragged by his sleeplessness, his exhaustion as he stared at the jar. “I do not know how to handle the coming days.” He admitted, “My cousin. My work. This… It is a shame you are seeing my home like this, under such conditions. Quite the welcoming sight.” He glanced around the wreckage of his den, steadily coming back to order. His eyes met hers again, and he felt a surge of emotion, a mix of gratitude and regret.