Meadow

fearghas

In a single moment, the orbit of his world had shifted, the axis tilting from one side to the next. It was not enough to change the big picture - the clouds still floated lazily through the sky and the sun still rose and set, but what kept him grounded had shifted. For so long he had felt pulled taut between allegiance to his father, and to Ally, even to his brethren in the Lagoon. There was even (though it shamed him) a tie to Cullen in his mind, a lingering desire to make him proud, even as his dislike of the man grew.

Now, however, all of that had changed. His first priority from now and forever, he had decided, was Seri. He still wanted the same things he did before - chiefly a brotherhood of likeminded souls to live with him and his mate in the Savanna while the Lagoon remained uninhabitable - but the reasons why had begun to shift in order. Never before had he considered how much more protection his brothers might be able to provide, nor how much more advice, or relief they might offer. As much as he adored Ally, their relationship had never been anything but rocky, and rather than solving it, Seri had thrown it into relief.

The one thing they could agree on was Seri and her importance to them both.

Today was the first time he had ventured from the Savanna and he felt like he had a beacon yanking him directly back home. Even knowing that she had a mother to take care of her, and an uncle to protect her didn't assuage his worry by much. The only thing that had driven him to the Crossing today was a determination to bring at least once of Seri's uncles back home.

Well, that and his heart had felt much less bright without Varanduil to accompany them.

Impatient as always, Fearghas did not wait to dry himself beneath the spring sun before racing across the meadow with his head up and gaze searching. It was all he could do to stop himself from shouting out for him, but he knew that there was a chance that his parting with Cullen had not ended amicably, and that calling attention to him now would only make things worse.

Luck, it seemed, was on his side today. A flash of gold, barely visible from where he stood, catches his gaze and for a moment his blood runs cold. They had survived this far by staying out of Cullen's radar, and the slim possibility that he had been found still alive by the one man he wished to avoid was disconcerting. Thankfully, it is not Cullen's hateful visage that greets him, but Varan's.

A smile, wide and unabashed slid across lips and he picked up a trot toward him. "There ye are Varan," he offers warmly, easily picking back where they had left off in the Savanna, albeit minus the emotional baggage. "I was beginning to think I wouldna see ye again, brother."

He stretches out to nudge him playfully on the shoulder, but sobers slightly as he tries to read the emotional mood of the other. In truth, even though they had discussed that it was dangerous for Varanduil to stay or continue to visit, he had still hoped for a different outcome. His brother deserved a better hand than the cards he had been dealt, and in Fearghas' estimation, now was the time to shuffle and re-deal. "How are you, truly?"

stallion . 3 years . 16.1 hands . smoky black blanket . loveinspired . credit