[open] they say nothing good happens here when midnight rolls around; any

[Malik]

Glowing fissures and flashing lightning are the only indicators of anger that Malik recognizes; Raum’s stiff feathers and flattened ears read as neutrally to him as the happy little flick of his dark tail as he bounces down the mountainside. The griffon overhead, with his own feathery crest, is more suspicious. He remains quiet, keeping his observations to himself as he passes over the pair of boys in an ever-widening circle.

His circling keeps Malik’s father aware of the boy’s location.

Malik clatters down the rocky trail, knocking a few granite stones and sending them rolling down into the scree. Once he reaches the meadow he considers running across it, but Raum’s words make him hesitate, and he turns back to look at the other boy over his shoulder.

Raum seems confused, but the conspiratorial tone to his voice causes a thrill of adrenaline to race through Malik.

“Well, you’ve got to make the right sacrifices, I think. Did you make any? You’ve got to fight or steal someone. I’m gonna see if Anath counts but if she doesn’t I’m gonna steal someone.” He pauses, his orange and blue eyes narrowing, and inspects Raum once more.

“You could come and help if you want. Then I bet we could both get lightning auras.”


@Raum*