Zavien
He watched Lena leave, giving her a soft smile as he sat with his back to a tree, relieved to feel the bond so strong again. The griffin was reluctant to approach, but the jerky helped, along with Sol's excited headbutts of encouragement. They bumped and roved around him, playing and eager to move in light of his arrival. It wasn't until they settled next to him that the Dragoon noticed something off.
Sol sat with his chin resting on Zavien's thigh, his eyes looking up, a golden depth to them that gave him pause. His head turned, trying to puzzle through the reluctance glowing there, the gentle brush of calm that the young dragon was trying to instill. Without words, it was hard to piece together what it might mean, and he narrowed his eyes. "Are you sad the griffin has to go home today?" He felt the disagreement, watching as Sol leaned a little closer to his new friend, like he had no plans of leaving its side, like -
Zavien felt a stone sink into the pit of his stomach, dread draining the color from his face. "Sol. You can't really mean..." He swallowed against the pain, hurt and rejection making his throat tighten. "You - you want to leave?" The moment the words left his mouth, he knew that wasn't the whole story, Sol's head came up in a low whine, feeling the distress. He tried to sooth and calm, a message of temporary flowing between them to mix with the feeling of important responsibility. Flashes of 'duty' and 'mission' pulsed like the beating heart of every dragoon, the purpose that drove them all somehow shining bright in the eyes of the gold dragon. It was strong enough to let Zavien focus through the increasing pound of his heart in his ears, resonating in his chest.
Running a hand down the smooth scales, he took deep, steadying breaths. "How - how long would you be gone?" There's a feeling of uncertainty wrapped in the warmth of compassion, an attempt to help Zavien accept what his companion knew he needed to do, the gentle breaking of the news. It didn't help with the coping, but it was enough to make the Dragoon reach forward, pulling his dragon into a tight, smothering hug. His eyes burned against the feeling that tugged and tore, the dread and trepidation that tasted bitter in his mouth. "You - Sol, you have to promise you'll make it back. Please." Sol nuzzled his head into the crook of Zavien's neck, a low whine joining the promise that reverberated down the bond - a promise to succeed, to return, to be the support he needed.
They stayed like that for a while, Sol reassuring Zavien in calm brushes of the bond. It didn't make the decision to let him go any easier, but it helped to know that the dragon was resolute in his choice, that it would be no different than a tactical protection mission. Out and back. Temporary.
The griffin finally stirred nearby, his head raising when Lena returned, an eagerness in the fluttering of its wings. Zavien hesitated before looking to her, a devastation in his eyes as he tried to find the words for what had been determined. He had to clear his throat twice before starting. "I - Sol is insisting that the griffin needs his help getting home. He - he wants to go with him." His hold on Sol tightened a little, finding it difficult to release him just yet, knowing the moment was fast approaching.
Sol sat with his chin resting on Zavien's thigh, his eyes looking up, a golden depth to them that gave him pause. His head turned, trying to puzzle through the reluctance glowing there, the gentle brush of calm that the young dragon was trying to instill. Without words, it was hard to piece together what it might mean, and he narrowed his eyes. "Are you sad the griffin has to go home today?" He felt the disagreement, watching as Sol leaned a little closer to his new friend, like he had no plans of leaving its side, like -
Zavien felt a stone sink into the pit of his stomach, dread draining the color from his face. "Sol. You can't really mean..." He swallowed against the pain, hurt and rejection making his throat tighten. "You - you want to leave?" The moment the words left his mouth, he knew that wasn't the whole story, Sol's head came up in a low whine, feeling the distress. He tried to sooth and calm, a message of temporary flowing between them to mix with the feeling of important responsibility. Flashes of 'duty' and 'mission' pulsed like the beating heart of every dragoon, the purpose that drove them all somehow shining bright in the eyes of the gold dragon. It was strong enough to let Zavien focus through the increasing pound of his heart in his ears, resonating in his chest.
Running a hand down the smooth scales, he took deep, steadying breaths. "How - how long would you be gone?" There's a feeling of uncertainty wrapped in the warmth of compassion, an attempt to help Zavien accept what his companion knew he needed to do, the gentle breaking of the news. It didn't help with the coping, but it was enough to make the Dragoon reach forward, pulling his dragon into a tight, smothering hug. His eyes burned against the feeling that tugged and tore, the dread and trepidation that tasted bitter in his mouth. "You - Sol, you have to promise you'll make it back. Please." Sol nuzzled his head into the crook of Zavien's neck, a low whine joining the promise that reverberated down the bond - a promise to succeed, to return, to be the support he needed.
They stayed like that for a while, Sol reassuring Zavien in calm brushes of the bond. It didn't make the decision to let him go any easier, but it helped to know that the dragon was resolute in his choice, that it would be no different than a tactical protection mission. Out and back. Temporary.
The griffin finally stirred nearby, his head raising when Lena returned, an eagerness in the fluttering of its wings. Zavien hesitated before looking to her, a devastation in his eyes as he tried to find the words for what had been determined. He had to clear his throat twice before starting. "I - Sol is insisting that the griffin needs his help getting home. He - he wants to go with him." His hold on Sol tightened a little, finding it difficult to release him just yet, knowing the moment was fast approaching.
The secret of happiness is freedom,
the secret of freedom is courage.
the secret of freedom is courage.
