Am I dead?
His heart lurched and he swallowed tightly before responding in a voice that was far lighter than he felt, “As angelic as you look, love, you’re still among the living.” He teased, hoping to bring a bit of lightness to the otherwise dire situation she was in. The smell of blood was thick, heavy. It made his dark-lined ears turn out as he snorted the smell clear, then gingerly accepted her weight as Parvati allowed him to guide her.
Take me to my cave.
Orphiel nodded and started forward, following both the scope of the land as it spread out before them and the direction Parvati seemed to automatically walk to find the proper direction. He was worried about her current state and cast quick glances at her now and again, cursing whoever had done this under his breath. His stomach rolled as he felt the hot pitch of anger raging in the bottom of his belly, but he snuffed it out in favor of his concern for Parvati. She didn’t need him enraged right now; she needed him here.
Please don’t leave me again, she whispered five words that broke his heart all over. Orphiel nearly stalled in his step, but the approach of the shadowed cavern entrance kept him on their path. If you are real please stay. Become my guard. Just please stay. He wanted to tell her he couldn’t, that if they had grown up knowing one another, if their families had stayed put rather than fleeing in the face of adversity, they wouldn’t have ever entertained this notion. Yet…
Wasn’t he tired of always being so angry? So lonely? So heartbroken? Didn’t he miss his shining, beautiful, dazzling queen? Didn’t he miss laughing as he ran alongside Devi after enticing her into a game of tag or a playful race? His life in the Lagoon was no life for him at all and never had been. He had seen paradise in his time with Parvati before, and with her weak and weary against him, he knew he couldn’t deny himself what he truly wanted. Orphiel sighed a warm breath across her face, stirring her hair before his lips sweetly brushed her cheek in a kiss. “I’ll stay with you, Parvati. Now shush,” when he started to admonish her, he made his tone light again, almost playful, “you need to rest, we’re at your cave now. Sleep, I’ll look out over you, and when you’re better… I’ll still be here.”
The shadows of the cavern engulfed them as their hooves made dull bangs and echoes against the cool, hard ground.
“Always.” He promised her, his tone resolute.
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