Will you throw me to the ground like you mean it?
reach inside and wrestle it out with your bare hands?
reach inside and wrestle it out with your bare hands?
The first time they come across the shrine, Nate laughs it off and feels the strain of his grin a little too much. Snow makes the usually infuriatingly confusing hedges that much more frustrating, making it all too obvious when they start to walk in circles. Just when Nate thinks they’ve made some kind of progress, there’s the dead end and the circle of stones again.
It only happens once more before Nate doesn’t immediately turn around and walk away. He lingers. Stares into the centre of the stone ring. And then, slowly, deliberately, he steps closer, reaching back to tug Sunjata with him, lacing their fingers together. Nate is careful to stay a half step in front of his husband, staying between the Flood and the shrine.
“I’m willing to call one a fluke.” He addresses the empty stone circle with a laugh, his feet kicking at the ground and his shoulders rolling back. The fingers tangled with Sunjata’s tighten and squeeze, but not before a tremble can be felt, the strain of holding the mask up.
It only happens once more before Nate doesn’t immediately turn around and walk away. He lingers. Stares into the centre of the stone ring. And then, slowly, deliberately, he steps closer, reaching back to tug Sunjata with him, lacing their fingers together. Nate is careful to stay a half step in front of his husband, staying between the Flood and the shrine.
“I’m willing to call one a fluke.” He addresses the empty stone circle with a laugh, his feet kicking at the ground and his shoulders rolling back. The fingers tangled with Sunjata’s tighten and squeeze, but not before a tremble can be felt, the strain of holding the mask up.
NATE
