dreams of tomorrow
03-28-2014, 07:47 AM
For so long, he had felt nothing but fear and sadness. He had so few memories of truly living -- except the moments he had spent with Kangi. Even the images he had of his parents, of curling up beneath them at night, of romping in the grass with his siblings, were growing hazy and difficult to recall. Almost as though they were literally disappearing, and part of his life was ceasing to exist. But even now, despite the tears he had cried and despite the gentle sobs that left his throat, he felt alive. With Kangi, he was not plagued by insecurities. He did not fear her, or her judgments. And she was so perfect and beautiful that all he wanted to do was be the best he could be, to make her happy and make her smile, and to care for her as best as he could. He didn't want to talk about these sad things anymore. It was obvious she was happy to see him, and they both blamed themselves for what had happened. He had been so worried that she had grown tired of his company, and was trying to avoid him. But all his fears melted away as she leaned forward to lick his cheek. Inside his chest, he felt his heart beating strongly, a warmth spreading from his head all the way down to his toes. Softly she asked him if he would stay. A small smile played at his lips. "Yes." She explained where she had been living. An island. His eyes grew bright with interest as he followed her gaze, wondering if she would want him to go with her there, and if he could even make it across. He'd swam to an island once, when he had met Euphrosyne, and it had been exhausted but certainly doable. 'I'll go anywhere with you. Just tell me what you want me to do.' A happy sigh left his throat, his body pressing into hers gladly. Kangi fit perfectly in the crook beneath his neck. "Anywhere at all." It didn't matter anymore. They could go to Kangi's island. They could stay here, for all of eternity, and he was certain he would be content. Perhaps they could even travel the world together. The thought made him smile. It was a scary world, but he knew with her, he could climb the tallest of mountains. Suddenly he took in a deep breath, as though to speak. "I..." He suddenly felt dizzy as he struggled to form his words. His heart beat faster, pounding in his ear drums. "I really don't care where we go. I just want to stay with you. Kangi, I think..." Slowly he pulled away from her. Talon had never been brave, but something about his best friend made him feel so much stronger than he ever had been. "I think I love you." He'd never known love. He knew his family had never loved him -- they had abandoned him. Euphrosyne seemed to have loved him, but it was a different kind of love than this. His ears flattened on his skull as he waited for her reaction, and he felt nervous, worried that he had made some kind of mistake in speaking his mind. |
