we are crooked souls trying to stay up straight
The light continued to swell around him. Noah felt it brush against him like warmth from a distant hearth, gentle and persistent. The lynx's pupils narrowed against the growing brightness as he stepped carefully forward, ears flicking toward every subtle shift in the undergrowth.
There was something about it, enough to draw his attention again and again toward the glowing hollows ahead. The pulses lingered longer and brighter and more enticing to his feline curiosity.
Then Deimos collapsed, and the change in Noah was immediate. The curiosity vanished so completely it was as though it had never existed.
A sharp surge of alarm ripped through him. When the Sword was awake he was capable of protecting Amhran, himself, and Noah (and probably most everyone else gathered in the jungle, too). But down? Noah wasn’t interested in finding out the possibilities. His head snapped toward the Sword, muscles springing into motion. In two bounds he crossed the distance between them, placing himself beside the hybrid and the demigod. The light no longer mattered, it all disappeared beneath a far older instinct.
Protect.
His ears flattened against his skull as a low growl rolled from his chest. Every line of his body became defensive. His fur bristled along his spine, making him appear larger as pale eyes swept the glowing surroundings for threats. The jungle that had seemed merely strange moments ago now felt suspect and dangerous.
Deimos. The name shot across the attuned bond, carrying urgency and concern. His heart hammered against his ribs, feeding the protective fury building beneath his skin. Wake up.
There was something about it, enough to draw his attention again and again toward the glowing hollows ahead. The pulses lingered longer and brighter and more enticing to his feline curiosity.
Then Deimos collapsed, and the change in Noah was immediate. The curiosity vanished so completely it was as though it had never existed.
A sharp surge of alarm ripped through him. When the Sword was awake he was capable of protecting Amhran, himself, and Noah (and probably most everyone else gathered in the jungle, too). But down? Noah wasn’t interested in finding out the possibilities. His head snapped toward the Sword, muscles springing into motion. In two bounds he crossed the distance between them, placing himself beside the hybrid and the demigod. The light no longer mattered, it all disappeared beneath a far older instinct.
Protect.
His ears flattened against his skull as a low growl rolled from his chest. Every line of his body became defensive. His fur bristled along his spine, making him appear larger as pale eyes swept the glowing surroundings for threats. The jungle that had seemed merely strange moments ago now felt suspect and dangerous.
Deimos. The name shot across the attuned bond, carrying urgency and concern. His heart hammered against his ribs, feeding the protective fury building beneath his skin. Wake up.
NOAH
