He wonders if it’s palpable, his grief. He wonders if Magnus can taste it on his words or can see it in his dark - albeit welcoming - eyes. He wonders if the golden stranger, ticked with scars and an air of mystery, has felt this kind of brokenness and emptiness. Warrick wonders if he understands.
But of course, it’s only their first conversation. Warrick is not the type to put that kind of pressure on anyone, especially since he is basically an outsider to Tephra. He sighs decidedly, matching Magnus’ charming smile with one of his own (of course, it wasn’t as convincing as it could have been). As the golden stallion mentions the idea of Tephra as a home, Warrick’s dark gaze turns from him and ventures along the horizon that was laid out before them. It was overwhelmingly quiet and still, besides their low voices and the breath of vapor parting from their lips. Perhaps he could make a place for himself here, maybe even go so far as to make a name for himself – he doesn’t need to be known as the son and brother who was left behind.
This thought made his smile seem more genuine and when his gaze falls back to those of Magnus, he dips his head in a slight nod.
And then he spoke of the glimmer of light he had seen only moments before, and Warrick’s smile wavers momentarily. He won’t remember, but his lips had curled ever so slightly – a mere twitch of dissatisfaction - at Magnus’ comment of the resident. Of course this was in no way in direction to Magnus or even the stranger in the distance that aligned herself to the stars (much like Warrick thought of himself previously). The sour taste that had crawled in his mouth at the mention of ‘stars’ and ‘nebula’ would become quite normal as Warrick’s grief ebbs and becomes replaced with thoughts and feelings that he could not ever imagine himself thinking or feeling.
But one day at time.
Right now he feels hopeful, as he stands with Magnus in the ever-growing darkness of Tephra.
“I do need a change of scenery,” he admits with a chuckle, though Magnus could have no idea what he truly meant by his statement. He tosses his head and snorts softly as his forelock and mane fall back into place over his auburn neck and face. “Can you tell me about this place? It seems as mysterious as it is welcoming.”
warrick.
like the sun swallowed up by the earth