It wasn't that Emrik wanted to leave -- more that he did not know how to continue, and was afraid of where they might go. He was not certain that he was ready for deeper affections, commitment, passions, sexual intimacy. He did not know Aurelio well, either. His mind swarmed over an amalgamation of doubts; the things that could go wrong, the ways in which such activities could damage his resolve, weaken him. His own father had become weakened by much the same. Emrik... did not have the luxury of such strong emotions. Not yet. Not when he had so many duties to fulfill.
He had to think. Alone. Aurelio was a temptation that would misalign his thoughts. Emrik had known for a long time that the best decisions were made in solitude.
"Hot springs..." he muttered beneath his breath. It sounded so fantastical, though he was not opposed. The man tipped his head, reaching forward to interlace his fingers with Aurelio's, and kissing him on the lips. It was a reminder, perhaps, that he had not lost interest. He was already wondering what those springs might mean for them. A time of deeper intimacy, he imagined. He was fearful... but equally optimistic. "That sounds good, to me. I'll see you there in three days, then, Aurelio."
Standing, he pulled away from the other, leaning down to pick up his white linen shirt, slipping it over his head and back down his frame, before tying down the back to get it over his wings. Looking down toward the other with a faint smile, he chuckled faintly as the other spoke a final time. "You will," he said, as he began to take flight. There clearly was somewhere he needed to be.
Emrik arrived at the entrance to the Warrens within minutes, stalking from the tree-line. For hours, there, he waited, until the evening began to fall. Longer and longer... and finally one moment, a grizzled man emerged; an Avialae wounded, with torn wings and an exhausted complexion. The Kathar lurked at his side, prepared to strike, and when he was sufficiently secluded... he did. Barreling him beyond the brush, he butchered the man within the trees, bloodily claiming another traitor's life for his own, a contract fulfilled.
He had to think. Alone. Aurelio was a temptation that would misalign his thoughts. Emrik had known for a long time that the best decisions were made in solitude.
"Hot springs..." he muttered beneath his breath. It sounded so fantastical, though he was not opposed. The man tipped his head, reaching forward to interlace his fingers with Aurelio's, and kissing him on the lips. It was a reminder, perhaps, that he had not lost interest. He was already wondering what those springs might mean for them. A time of deeper intimacy, he imagined. He was fearful... but equally optimistic. "That sounds good, to me. I'll see you there in three days, then, Aurelio."
Standing, he pulled away from the other, leaning down to pick up his white linen shirt, slipping it over his head and back down his frame, before tying down the back to get it over his wings. Looking down toward the other with a faint smile, he chuckled faintly as the other spoke a final time. "You will," he said, as he began to take flight. There clearly was somewhere he needed to be.
Emrik arrived at the entrance to the Warrens within minutes, stalking from the tree-line. For hours, there, he waited, until the evening began to fall. Longer and longer... and finally one moment, a grizzled man emerged; an Avialae wounded, with torn wings and an exhausted complexion. The Kathar lurked at his side, prepared to strike, and when he was sufficiently secluded... he did. Barreling him beyond the brush, he butchered the man within the trees, bloodily claiming another traitor's life for his own, a contract fulfilled.
