Clarissa;

[Castile]

and underneath the layers, I find myself asking what's left
a hollowed out form, the skeleton of a ghost, the pitiful echo of what once was

Very little escapes his notice within the walls of Loess. His acute vision gropes to its ultimate maximum while his sense of smell latches onto every molecule, both familiar and non. It first came as a surprise to see Ghaul meander here so frequently after the confrontation months prior. With piqued interest, Castile observed, both from a rocky ledge and from the sky.

What surprised him most – and actually unnerved him – was when he saw Clarissa with the boy more than once.

A tide of uneasiness kisses the shoreline of his brooding thoughts when his eyes one day find Clarissa alone. An expectant sweep of his gaze searches for the strange boy, but finally, she is abandoned for at least the moment.

With skilled swiftness, Castile alights from a brief flight in front of her. His hooves heavily land, rolling pebbles underfoot while his draconic wings furl back into his sides. ”Clarissa, my dear,” he greets sweetly, always paternal and warm toward her. A smile softens the edges of his face as a final step is taken toward her to close the gap and touch her poll. With a playful ruffle of her forelock, he draws in Ghaul’s scent, forever recognizing it after their first – and last – meeting. Expertly suppressing the snarl that so desperately wants to split his mouth, Castile lifts his chin away from Clarissa and searches her delicate face. ”How are you? Anything exciting lately?” He does not expect her to remain confined within Loess for eternity, not when she is so young and vibrant. It’s now that she should explore the horizons and find her niche.

And yet, there is Ghaul…
And yet…

castile