<font face=times color=D95831><i>the world is changed.</i></font>

I amar prestar aen. Han matho ne nen. Han mathon ned cae. A han noston ned gwilith.

.Haziel

Haziel stood in a blatant display of disarray, limbs stiffly holding their balance atop the uneven rocks as his body began to heave with quick, uneven breaths. He had forgotten himself. Focusing so hard on the earth beneath his paws, he had completely lost his defenses of scent and sound. It was wrecking to feel so secure, to edge toward confidence, only to have it all torn down because of your own incompetence.

No. He would learn from this. This would change him and, next time, this wouldn't happen. He wasn't inadequate. He could be saved.

Keep telling yourself that. You might start believing it.

There was a light touch, then, on his hip, a familiar, tender feeling. Forfax; how had he missed his brother's presence before? Maybe he was growing too accustomed to having his brother around. After all, it nearly seemed as if For had taken it upon himself to insure he and Ariel's survival. He was always there, guiding and protecting. Comforting as the knowledge of his presence was, Haziel couldn't help but feel a guilty seize in his stomach. Would Forfax always feel like he had to do this?

A tentative ear turns forward, slowly, at the stranger's answer. He hadn't known what to expect, but the sound that touched him was unusual. She was gentle in the way she spoke, a girl around his age, but... for one as young as he, her voice felt nearly ethereal. Perhaps it was the whimsical flare, but he could very nearly feel the wonder that misted her soul. Starry as her eyes might be, he could not see them. But he could feel the wonder and light of her being.

Elara. He would remember that. The name she gave him very much fit the soft timbre of her voice. He did not know what "Elara" meant, but he was beginning to put his own definition to the name already.

"H-Haziel," the boy answered, voice dry even as the tension began to ease and his dark coat smoothed. "And my brother, Forfax." He added his brother's introduction with a minute tilt of his muzzle toward the other boy, knowing For was not one for words.

She spoke again and, this time, he realizes something. There was a vacancy. Her words lacked a certain quality that he had previously heard in the voices of everyone else. It varied, but it was the same inflection. Soft or harsh, there had always been a weighted note on the words of those who spoke to him.

Did... did she not know he was blind?

Haziel's jaw fell open slightly as he hesitated on a response, unsure what he should feel at the moment. Before today, he had only heard words spoken from the mouths of relatives, only the royal family of Diveen. They all knew of his condition. They had all known since before he was aware himself. The boy had been raised around those who were well aware of his deficiencies, but were also invested in his survival... He did not know how to face another who was not.

Should he tell her? Should he wait for her to ask?

Would it affect that lilting, breathy voice of hers?

Before he could speak, the sound of sifting earth raked through the air, stealing his senses for the moment. The boy's head whipped in the direction from which it came, ears standing tall in alert and fur raising lightly along his spine. An exhale punctuates the end of the skid and he knew that there are now four present. Haziel waited, breath caught in his throat, wondering who or what had just dropped in on them.

Sage's scent fell over him just before she spoke and already he had begun to shrink. Disapproval was etched into her harsh tones and he ducked his head, ears flattened to his skull with a guilty conscience written all over his body.

"I-it was me, not Forfax," Haziel answered quickly. For was... just looking out for him. He couldn't let his brother take the fall. "I-I was just going out for a walk. What time is it? I didn't know it was late."

Liar.

He could smell the impending twilight, could feel the waning cool of night. But... Sage might not realize that. Maybe he could get them off a little easy?

speak think
- - - - -

The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it.

[male] [zero] [diveen prince] [no imprint] [no mate] [isolaXkane]

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LIGHTNING QUEENQUEEN OF DIVEEN

WHIRLWINDADVISOR

STORMFRONTROYAL GUARDS

QUAKEWARRIOR

HAZESPY AND THIEF

MONSOONHEALER

TSUNAMIDIPLOMAT

BLIZZARDSCOUT

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RAINBOWJOKER

GALESTORY TELLER

I amar prestar aen. Han matho ne nen. Han mathon ned cae. A han noston ned gwilith.

.Haziel

The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it.