Damien
the urge to disappear into the forest
and become local folklore
and become local folklore
The scrape of sand underfoot and the jolt of Iskra’s leg snapping around nearly unseated Damien, and for a heartbeat he fought the instinct to tighten, to overpower. But the motion was precise enough, and the shift of weight just enough—suddenly the world tilted beneath him, and with a grunt, Damien found himself sliding free, the pressure on Iskra easing as they tumbled apart.
He landed hard, back pressed to the black sand, lungs sucking at the cold air, tasting grit and salt on his tongue. Goose’s enthusiastic intrusion, tongue darting and nose nudging, broke the tension entirely, and Damien couldn’t help the low chuckle that rumbled from his chest. “Alright, alright,” he gently shooed the dog's nose away to save his nostrils from the slobber.
He pushed himself up on one elbow, looking over at Iskra and letting the sand run through his fingers, letting the faint ache in his side roll off as part of the fun. “Not bad,” he said, voice low and rough, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You win this one,” he added, panting a bit to catch his breath, the faintest edge of a grin tugging at his lips, “but next time you try the fire trick, you bring it proper. I’ll be first to applaud — after I stop making you kiss the sand, that is.”
He landed hard, back pressed to the black sand, lungs sucking at the cold air, tasting grit and salt on his tongue. Goose’s enthusiastic intrusion, tongue darting and nose nudging, broke the tension entirely, and Damien couldn’t help the low chuckle that rumbled from his chest. “Alright, alright,” he gently shooed the dog's nose away to save his nostrils from the slobber.
He pushed himself up on one elbow, looking over at Iskra and letting the sand run through his fingers, letting the faint ache in his side roll off as part of the fun. “Not bad,” he said, voice low and rough, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You win this one,” he added, panting a bit to catch his breath, the faintest edge of a grin tugging at his lips, “but next time you try the fire trick, you bring it proper. I’ll be first to applaud — after I stop making you kiss the sand, that is.”
