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“Only this time,” he’d said, his eyes hard and his lips pressed tight. Then his eyes had changed, the red retreating before ruby irises stared back at me, face grim and lips still pressed tight even after the change had finished.
I’d asked Eon to take me to that tree, the one with its trunk flattened at the top to resemble a wooden floor and its green leaves thick like a ceiling. It was close enough to remind me of my old home.
And here he was, holding me in his arms, calm and at ease like this was the best sleep he’d ever had. He was warm against me, too warm, enough to make me mildly uncomfortable.
When I moved carefully, intending to slip from his grasp, the heavy arms around me squeezed. His grip tightened, pulling me closer, burying me further into his warmth as he trapped both of my legs between his. I squirmed, and his limbs squeezed tighter, like a snake curling around its prey to immobilise it.
I frowned, watching the skin under his closed eyes twitch. When I tried to peel his arms away from me, they grew heavier and tighter around me until our skin all but fused together. His warmth made me fidgety and restless. I let out a low whine to make my discomfort clear, but all Eon did was nuzzle my hair and continue sleeping.
“Eon,” I whispered, slowly stroking my hand along his left bicep. He twitched and held me tighter, this time a little painfully. I kept my voice soft and hushed as I said, “I need to empty my bladder. Please release me. I promise to return to you.”
His chest vibrated against me with a quiet, sleepy rumble. He buried his face deeper into my hair, seeming to hide from the light creeping through the gaps between the leaves.
“Let me sleep,” he murmured with a tired sigh, his lips brushing my forehead.
“I promise to return to you,” I repeated softly, pressing my lips against his chest where his heart drummed calmly. “I will not go far.”
He mumbled something I couldn’t hear, only felt it as his lips moved against my skin again. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he unwound his arms from my body, letting one drop to the ground and the other lifting just enough to allow me to slip away with a pleased sound.
“Stay close,” he mumbled, eyes barely able to keep themselves open.
I’d come to personally understand that Karru Spiders were a very playful, peaceful breed despite the threat they posed. The other breed I could think of was the Eluu Spiders, but they were not as playful or… mild. I assumed it was because, in terms of elements, wind had a gentler nature than snow. Since the Karru Spiders were milder, the Eluu Spiders were less friendly and more composed. The Vellis were the clever troublemakers, and then there were the brutal Cyrvas.
The most violent of all.
After quietly exiting the safety of the nest-like tree, I hurried to do what needed to be done, then paused by the waterfall pool to take sips of the cool, crisp water. The freshness of it invigorated my tongue and caused my stomach to rumble.
Pursing my lips, I dug my small claws into the tree bark and carefully climbed it. Once inside, my gaze sought Eon’s sleeping form before a soft smile bloomed on my lips.
He cracked one eye open, most likely having heard and sensed me, before he made a deep, low call in his throat.
Still smiling, I shook my head and turned to assess the leaves surrounding us, sniffing them. Deeming the pink leaves safe to consume, I tasted one carefully, instantly beaming at the sweet flavour. It baffled me that something edible that didn’t have flesh or meat or bones existed in this world.
Good to know I wouldn’t starve here.
After gathering a handful of sweet pink leaves in both hands—and some shoved into my mouth—I shuffled back to Eon’s sleeping form and sat with my legs folded to one side, my food bunched on my lap as I munched as quietly as possible.
Eon watched me through drowsy, heavy-lidded eyes. Lazily, he slid one huge hand and grabbed one of my legs, his grip firm yet careful before he closed his eyes again and exhaled a deep, quiet breath.
I made a happy sound in my throat before remembering to stay quiet. Still, with a smile on my lips and one hand raising food to my mouth, I placed my other hand over his. His hold on my leg tightened, and I saw how the corners of his mouth twitched into a small, lazy smile that flooded my entire being with warmth and delight. I buzzed with my emotions, struggling to sit still or keep the happiness down as it manifested itself into a low, soft hum.
And when I had no more leaves to eat and my stomach was somewhat satisfied, I stayed exactly where I was, legs folded with Eon’s hand holding my calf and one of mine placed over his hand, basking in his calm presence and comforting warmth until my entire body ached from holding that position.
Once again, when I tried to move, Eon squeezed my leg and cracked his eyes open with a tired glare. The expression didn’t unsettle me, not with how sleepy and delightful he was.
“I need to move,” I told him as I stroked the back of his hand on my leg with my fingertips, unable to erase my smile. “Unlike you, I am a creature of the day.”
He squeezed my leg again, his grip tight enough to be uncomfortable, tight enough to deliver his displeasure.
My smile widened, and that soft hum returned, almost like a purr in my throat even though I couldn’t purr like him.
I didn’t stop until he, once again, unwillingly broke his hold on me and rolled onto his back, his glaring expression more like a sulk.
“So noisy.”
My smile widened even more until it almost split my face. A small giggle vibrated in my throat.
“Stay close,” he grumbled, letting me know how displeased he was with his heavy sigh.
