Hah, he loved the way she squealed. Loved how those brown eyes lit up all glowy and warm and laughing. And he’d won her agreement, she would go with him again today. So, he supposed he could agree too, with a roll of his eyes, that they would go around Taiga and not through it.
Fine. I can meet Uncle Roo some other time, I suppooooose. He’s probably old and boring anyway. He better be old and boring. And ugly, too. He damn-well better be ugly.
Kharon gave her a last little nuzzle at her cheek, then finally rose, waiting for her to follow. So, to the forest then, he said lightly, dropping a wing around her as usual and beginning their journey. Sometimes he couldn’t help but look at her, watch her face as she took in the sights in that eager, admiring way she had. And sometimes he’d be staring off, across the water. Far, far away where it had been like an entirely different world. A different reality where some things maybe weren’t bad things. Where nobody would care, or be upset, or even know about it.
What do you want to do when we get there? The same way he started their last trip, maybe. And he still didn’t care what they did, just glad to spend more time with her again. There was another river? Did you want to play on that one this time? And this time, maybe he didn’t take them on such a wandering route, though of course it still sounded nice. But he was at least trying to take her where she wanted this time, after having failed her miserably yesterday. Hopefully, they'd actually make it to their destination. Or, hopefully, maybe they wouldn't.