katia remained silent under the verbal lashing, the rise and fall of his growling and his words sending ripples along her tense shoulders, hackles pricking. her eyes squeezed shut, ears flattening as his words rose to a shout. the silence returned, broken only by the occasional dripping of water, and katia gradually opened her dual toned portals. he was shaking his head, his displeased glare matching her appraising look when she dared to draw his attention.

his reaction to her words was surprising - his expression went slack. she had never before caught her guard by surprise, and the show of his emotions was something she was pleased by. katia felt as if they were finally on equal footing - she could see his emotions as clearly as he could see her’s. she did not waste the opportunity, instead keeping her focus on the wreck of a man before her. and what she saw made her tender heart wail: the pain and suffering, the broken edges, and the darkness it all had caused to bloom. the desire to protect the man, to wrap herself around him until no one could ever hurt his battered heart, was almost overwhelming - had she not forced herself to continue speaking, she doubted she could have refused the urge to go and embrace him.

”But all that there is is shadows…” had the silence not been deafening, katia doubted that she would have heard akuji’s mumbled words, spoken in a trancelike tone. as she finished speaking, he swayed closer towards her, moving as if hypnotised. admittedly, weariness filled the young woman as he drew even closer, finally coming to settle his face into the crook of her neck. the tension flooded out of her, her own maw turning to rest against him. she knew not what had happened to him to draw the pitiful whimpers out of him, or what had caused the extensive damage to his soul, but she would be damned straight to hell if she ever something as horrific happen to him again.

and beneath the edge of protection and the desire to help him heal, her feelings for the warrior were tangled. she cared for him, perhaps more than any other princess would care for the knight who was supposed to guard her. before she could dare to touch those feelings, or her feelings regarding this state akuji was in, the male leapt away from her. the princess’ two toned eyes widened with surprise, ears lowering as his words flowed bitterly. ”Damn you…” confusion and hurt filled the girl as she watched him retreat towards the entrance of the cavern. ”We should go.” katia’s jaw clenched and she nodded. ”my father will be worrying,” she agreed, keeping her tone light. he would have to decide to come back to her - she couldn’t force him. she followed him silently, pausing a few feet from his side and waited for him to lead the way back to cold summers.