Gaffriel 93

I didn't want to intrude on the moment. Niala was so excited to see Kiromir, and he went right for Revik. It didn't hurt her, but she needed comfort. My mind stuck on what we saw at the sentinels and the barracks. I don't know what happened to our elders… or my father. I didn't care too much about Yarrick, and that bothered me more than him potentially being dead. I hoped the elders made it out alive.

I found some picnic tables to sit at while they had their reunion, and it felt good to sit in peace for a moment. People went running past me to see Revik and Niala. It made me realize how little nobody missed me. I kind of wanted to pout over it, but I was just happy to be with everyone.

"Hey, kid." I heard a coarse voice speak. I recognized that voice, and it sounded sober for once in a long while. My gaze cut up at him in a deadlocked stare. He turned his eyes away. I had my mother's eyes, and they hurt him.

He sat across the table from me and sighed. His hands folded, and he looked at me like he had a laundry list of things he wanted to say.

"How you doing?" he asked.

"Been better, Yarrick." He winced when I said his name.

"Fair,” he said, looking around to come up with something else to say.

I didn't have anyone to say it to, and Yarrick was as good as anyone to test the waters.

"Found out something interesting about Niala," I muttered.

"Oh?" Yarrick looked genuinely interested, or at least just happy I spoke to him.

"So, her flock she comes from. They have to separate their kids when they're young… apparently, they bind different… and they attach to their bondmate at a very early age." I cleared my throat as I said it, and my cheeks flushed up.

"Oh. Oh no. Really?" He folded his hands together and looked from them to me. "Do you need like… advice or something?"

I gave him a look, and he recoiled from it. "Fair point. After your mom I… I'm not the person to ask for advice on keeping a woman," he said.

"Yeah."

"So what's her name look like on your binding mark? Is it in our language?" he seemed happy about it.

"We're not old enough to fully bind. It's just kinda locked in…." I explained everything to him, practicing for Kiromir.

"Oh shiiit." He breathed, covering his mouth with his fingertips. His dull silvery eyes turned away from me and ran his hand through unruly ginger locks.

"Kiromir's going to kill me." I sprawled out over the table and put my face down against the cool grain of the wood.

"Probably. You want me to tell him and give you a head start?" Probably the kindest thing he ever offered me.

"No. You're the last person I want to tell him. I'll do it myself. She's my bondmate… eventually… It's my responsibility to…." I sighed—worn ragged.

The crowd of them came wandering up to our table, and Revik looked like he wanted to crawl out of his skin. He shifted, uncomfortable over everything, and Kiromir just kept grabbing his shoulder and squeezing. Revik’s eyes moved from left to right, flicking back to Niala in a way that made me suddenly uncomfortable.

"Gaff! Boy, you did well. Thank you!" Kiromir rode a wave of excitement and gratitude. We saw the rough light off not far away. Thanus and his group arrived and stood staring at us.

"Well… Kiromir, we can talk later…." Revik tried to eke out but kept being interrupted. Finally, he moved over to Niala and grabbed her hand. She let her oblivion flicker for him, completely trusting. Every muscle in my body tensed.

NO! My brain shouted before I could react.