[private] oh, these wings, they flicker; desire

[aureus]

Aureus

oh, these wings, they flicker and my feathers stir
'til I'm an ancient soul in a cascade world

It is morning when he wanders—a time when he is usually fast asleep.

He prefers the night to the day. Prefers the darkness when Astrum follows him. When his company is that of the star and the conversation they share between only the two of them. When the night begins to bleed away and the sun rises, he usually finds a place to rest. Usually closes his eyes and lets sleep take him.

But not today.

The night fades and Astrum takes her leave and he finds that it is only him.

He sighs softly and there is a piece of him that is not sad for the absence of the star. He loves her as he loves his own breath, but she can be stifling at times. Her opinions weigh heavily and he has found that she tends to drive him further and further from others, content to keep him all to herself.

Not that he seeks them out when she is gone.

Instead, he stays to the northeast outskirts of the meadow, walking away from those who would gather together. He walks slowly, fatigue settling into the marrow of his bones and his eyelids weighing heavily. He passes the trees, taking them in his peripheral and when he passes a large boulder and several trees more, he finally pauses, resting his hip against the bark. There is something like a sigh that escapes him.

A breath and then he closes his eyes for a moment.

Alone, at last.

and I'm quick with the bullet when it comes undone
I got a head like a turret with a mouth for a gun