Desert

Anxiety caused her heart to flip within the confines of her breast. She knew at some point in her life, it would be expected of her to leave her father’s herd. Harlequin had told her of a time in her own youth, when it had been the sires who gave their daughters away to secure alliances from other kingdoms. The words have been ushered not as a warning, but merely to serve as a reminder for how much Cain cherished his children. It was their choice that he left it up to and Twinge was grateful for it. The idea that she would be forced to leave with a stranger seemed horrendous, the fact that Harlequin seemed unmoved by the thought equally as disconcerting. It was the way things are.

However even Twinge knew the stirrings in her mind and heart would not go away. Though now they were mere flutterings, soon, very soon, she knew without a doubt that it would become something stronger and more forceful. It must be her choice.

A warm smile filled her as Cain met her gaze with tenderness, his lips brushing gently against her skin as he often did. He was home. Everything she had ever known was here, everything she loved revolved around her life here in the desert. How could she leave it behind?

She does not miss the sorrow in his eyes when she begins the speech that she rehearsed over and over again in her mind. Her heart aches as she leans against him, doing her best to find comfort for both herself and him in the touch of father and daughter. He nuzzles her neck gently, his words gentle and the breath that had been held in her lungs is released in a heavy sigh. He was not mad. He was upset but not hurt. A small smile tugs her own ashen lips upward as dark eyes rise to meet his. ”I'm not going to leave forever daddy!” she begins, hoping her words would offer him some reassurance as her gaze once more drifts towards where the distant shores rose to meet the sandy dunes of the desert sand. ”I….I just want to see what’s out there. I want to see what momma’s island home looks like. I want to see how tall the trees are and the mountains… I want to see the mountains up close!” she breathes, excitement once more fluttering in her soul as she gazed back up at him with a grin.