Meadow

The warmth and tenderness of her touch took Asche's mind on a journey backwards through time, back to a time when his muscles ached less, his hide was not marked with the scars from times he'd rather forget. Other men preferred to fight with teeth and hooves, press bone to muscle and clash fiercely - body to body. He'd had his own part in this - he always agreed that it took two to tango, but Asche much preferred outwitting his opponents with his cutting thoughts and silver tongue. He'd not often had this opportunity - and being back in Caesisis' embrace reminded him of the young man he had once been, the one who never would've imagined he would've turned out like this.

Daughter.

He felt giddy with delight at the thought of his child for a snap second, before the feeling was replaced with an earth shattering sickness that turned all the blood rushing through his veins cold.

Daughter. Children. You had children, Asche.

His mind began to race and his heart rate skyrocketed, and he found himself momentarily pressing himself further against his pale lover's pelt in an attempt to try and ground himself. He'd left. He'd left his lovers, and he'd left his children - ran away like the absentee father he vowed he would never be. His own father had left him the cove, and he'd disappointed that family, too.

Would he ever grow out of being a disappointment?

"She's here," he repeated, his words husky, audibly laboured. "Our daughter." he stated almost as if he were numb, the shock evident on his face. He'd tried to block it out - the fact he'd had children - it had been his only way to cope with what he had done. The last time he had seen their daughter, she had been so small. He wondered if she'd even know who he was now. Slowly Asche traced his muzzle from hers, along her cheek, towards the place where her ears were tangled up in her pale tresses. "Where is she? I think a reunion is long overdue," he cracked at the end of the phrase before clearing his throat, composing himself. "That is - if you think she'd want to see me."

He rolled his shoulders back, straightened his spine and moved a step away from her, taking view of her in once more. "You really are a sight for sore eyes, Caesisis." He chuckled, before his expression fell once more, unable to fight off his somber inner monologue. "Caesisis, I cannot apologise enough for . . . " he did not explain, for he thought excuses were vapid and nothing could justify his behaviour regardless. He just knew that this woman would read his mind - as she always seemed to. Their nights of passion spent together had always left a hoofprint on his heart. The memories tattooed there. And for a brief second, Asche forgot that time had passed, and that while his world of the isles had been temporarily frozen in his mind, that life had gone on here, without him. This meant that all the women he had had dalliances with, all those he cared for, all those he protected - they'd moved on. She was not his anymore. Not that she was ever truly his - Asche never wished to own a woman, they were all their own wild spirit. But a few, he felt, had given parts of themselves to him. And purposeful or not - he'd let them all go.

"Cae," he spoke her name again, almost like a hushed prayer. "I never wanted to leave you, I hope you know that."