DAMIEN
I know it's been a long time coming
I'm angry and I know that's weak
I'm angry and I know that's weak
Damien adjusted the strap of his crossbow, letting the hood of his coat slip back as he inclined his head. “That’s right,” he confirmed, voice steady. “And no need to apologize. Animals aren’t running thick this way anyway.”
His gaze swept briefly over the sled, then the unicorn and the peryton’s shadow against the treetops. “Looks like you’ve got enough hands and hooves for the job.” The faintest trace of dry humor ghosted his voice, but it was gone quickly, replaced by a thoughtful narrowing of his eyes at the fallen logs.
“Still,” he added, stepping closer and crouching near one of the larger trunks, gloved fingers brushing away a crust of snow to inspect the grain. “Some of these’ll need cutting to haul clean. Two pairs of hands will make that faster.” He glanced up at Deimos. “If you want the help, I’ve got the time.”
There was no push in the offer, no neediness. Just quiet pragmatism. His focus returned to the wood, but his words carried easily enough through the cold.
“The weather pattern's shifting this year. Snow came early, and it'll last. You planning to use this timber for something in particular, or just stocking the stores?”
His gaze swept briefly over the sled, then the unicorn and the peryton’s shadow against the treetops. “Looks like you’ve got enough hands and hooves for the job.” The faintest trace of dry humor ghosted his voice, but it was gone quickly, replaced by a thoughtful narrowing of his eyes at the fallen logs.
“Still,” he added, stepping closer and crouching near one of the larger trunks, gloved fingers brushing away a crust of snow to inspect the grain. “Some of these’ll need cutting to haul clean. Two pairs of hands will make that faster.” He glanced up at Deimos. “If you want the help, I’ve got the time.”
There was no push in the offer, no neediness. Just quiet pragmatism. His focus returned to the wood, but his words carried easily enough through the cold.
“The weather pattern's shifting this year. Snow came early, and it'll last. You planning to use this timber for something in particular, or just stocking the stores?”
And I'm longing out that open window
For whatever it is I seek
For whatever it is I seek
