LOREN
When Chulane shifted, Astra immediately sprang into his lap. She pressed herself as close to him as she could manage. As she did, she bleated softly.
Loren watched his companion and the vet for a moment. However, when the other man spoke, the healer nodded, his lips twisting into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "No one expects you to. These things, they..." He shook his head and squeezed Chulane's hand again. "In a lot of ways you never recover from them."
Then he took a deep breath. "But you get used to the pain, as horrible as that sounds. It becomes sort of familiar, easier to bear." His eyes slipped past the vet's shoulder as Loren's gaze grew distant for a moment.
When the other man suggested they return to his place, though, the healer focused on Chulane again. "If you want." Loren gestured for the vet to take the lead. Astra hopped out of the other man's lap, but she pressed herself against his leg again.
Loren watched his companion and the vet for a moment. However, when the other man spoke, the healer nodded, his lips twisting into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "No one expects you to. These things, they..." He shook his head and squeezed Chulane's hand again. "In a lot of ways you never recover from them."
Then he took a deep breath. "But you get used to the pain, as horrible as that sounds. It becomes sort of familiar, easier to bear." His eyes slipped past the vet's shoulder as Loren's gaze grew distant for a moment.
When the other man suggested they return to his place, though, the healer focused on Chulane again. "If you want." Loren gestured for the vet to take the lead. Astra hopped out of the other man's lap, but she pressed herself against his leg again.
look at how a single candle can both
defy and define the darkness
defy and define the darkness
