Damien
"I never see you at the club!"
Okay? I never see you at the creek
Okay? I never see you at the creek
Damien came in from the road with his coat buttoned against the chill, steps steady and unhurried. The land here was softer than Halo, but even fertile hills could wear a man out if he wasn’t used to them. He wasn’t one for showing it, though—he moved like someone who’d made long treks before and would again.
A faint rustle shifted against his chest as the snow leopard cub tucked in his inner pocket decided she’d had enough of the jostling. Aria’s head poked out between the folds of his coat, pale eyes blinking at the strange new pasture as though she owned it already. Damien kept a steadying hand over her without much thought, the way you might keep a satchel strap from slipping off your shoulder.
He let his gaze sweep the ground, the outline of what had been lost. Ranch work he understood, at least enough to lend his back to it. More than that, though, he knew a rebuilt gate or shed wasn’t the end of the work; livestock and trade needed keeping, feed needed hauling. For a rancher, that meant steady need, and steady need meant steady work. His interest sharpened at that.
Colt’s greeting was met with a small nod, his tone even. “Looks like you’ve got it lined out. Happy to lend a hand.” His mouth tugged at the corner, just enough to soften the words into something less stiff. “I’m Damien. Good to meet you.”
Only then did he catch sight of a familiar figure near the drinks. It took a beat for recognition to settle, but when it did, his brow rose slightly. “Maea,” he said, surprise pulling warmth into his voice before he reined it back into something more measured. Of all places to run into her again, he wouldn’t have guessed here. “Didn’t expect to see you this far west.”
He didn’t press, though. Just shifted Aria higher against his chest when she gave a protesting chirrup, as if demanding her own introduction.
Damien arrives ready to work! He didn't bring much tools this time but he did bring a cute baby cub
A faint rustle shifted against his chest as the snow leopard cub tucked in his inner pocket decided she’d had enough of the jostling. Aria’s head poked out between the folds of his coat, pale eyes blinking at the strange new pasture as though she owned it already. Damien kept a steadying hand over her without much thought, the way you might keep a satchel strap from slipping off your shoulder.
He let his gaze sweep the ground, the outline of what had been lost. Ranch work he understood, at least enough to lend his back to it. More than that, though, he knew a rebuilt gate or shed wasn’t the end of the work; livestock and trade needed keeping, feed needed hauling. For a rancher, that meant steady need, and steady need meant steady work. His interest sharpened at that.
Colt’s greeting was met with a small nod, his tone even. “Looks like you’ve got it lined out. Happy to lend a hand.” His mouth tugged at the corner, just enough to soften the words into something less stiff. “I’m Damien. Good to meet you.”
Only then did he catch sight of a familiar figure near the drinks. It took a beat for recognition to settle, but when it did, his brow rose slightly. “Maea,” he said, surprise pulling warmth into his voice before he reined it back into something more measured. Of all places to run into her again, he wouldn’t have guessed here. “Didn’t expect to see you this far west.”
He didn’t press, though. Just shifted Aria higher against his chest when she gave a protesting chirrup, as if demanding her own introduction.
Damien arrives ready to work! He didn't bring much tools this time but he did bring a cute baby cub
