KORBIN
Gold hair melted into gold fur, and when gold eyes turned up to meet blue, the raven was still there. A shadow against the blazing backdrop of setting sun, the bird was merely a vestige of the boy that had once tried to laugh away his troubles. Solemn and quiet, he regarded the leopard. Moved not at all, and whether that was for good or bad, he had not yet decided. In this moment, it merely was.
That was how a human called Korbin had learned to endure. By shedding everything that was not strictly necessary to survive. Memories had been tucked away, friends discarded, duties and illusions of needs shed like so much down until only the raven remained. Living in the present, allowing instinct to take over and carry it from one heartbeat to the next.
But it seemed that this thoughtless existence was no longer possible. A hunter would not allow it... and this princess had been willing to fight him over it. Now she looked at him and the raven feared to read too deeply into that molten gaze. He didn't want to see the blame that no doubt would be there.
The raven blinked slowly, and averted its gaze.
That was how a human called Korbin had learned to endure. By shedding everything that was not strictly necessary to survive. Memories had been tucked away, friends discarded, duties and illusions of needs shed like so much down until only the raven remained. Living in the present, allowing instinct to take over and carry it from one heartbeat to the next.
But it seemed that this thoughtless existence was no longer possible. A hunter would not allow it... and this princess had been willing to fight him over it. Now she looked at him and the raven feared to read too deeply into that molten gaze. He didn't want to see the blame that no doubt would be there.
The raven blinked slowly, and averted its gaze.
Young and alone on a long road,
Once I lost my way
Once I lost my way
