“Oh,” he laughed softly, not with pointed intention to mock her, but only to lighten the mood and help assure her she hadn’t overstepped or made him uncomfortable. “I don’t think you’re bad at this at all. It can be terribly awkward meeting someone new for the first time.” Ramiel nodded agreeably and gave her a little smile before he looked away, at the sights around them. He’d rather look at her, sure, but he knew it might further ease her anxiety if she wasn’t being so closely observed. It’d give her the time, if she wanted, to study him without him knowing… so to speak.

He was, of course, occasionally stealing the fuzzy, out-of-focus glance of her from her peripherals. She was so lovely, he couldn’t help himself. But it wasn’t only her beauty that kept him wanting to watch her. Ramiel wanted to make sure he kept doing everything in his power to keep that sadness out of her eyes.

“But to answer your question, yes and no.” Ramiel gave her a grin before he explained. “I was born on Tinuvel, in the Bay. We left there when I was about a year old and traveled the Mainland for a while. We’ve just come back to the islands - myself, my brother, and our father. Our father is looking for an empty territory to claim. We’ll be going to the Prairie when we leave the Forest today.”

The Prairie, Zevulun had explained, held a lot of importance in their bloodline. Not only was it a place his sire had avoided, it was the place his grandsire had led successfully for years before leaving the islands. If it was empty, they may think of staying there.

“And you?” He asked her, voice curious. “Are you going to go back to the Badlands? Or are you staying here with Persephone?” Another question wanted to be asked, but Ramiel held it on his tongue. He looked at her… and couldn’t help himself. “I would like to see you again, wherever you go, if… that would be okay with you, of course.”

— ☼ —