Between Worlds

Chapter 31

The flames danced low in Malyn's campfire, casting flickering shadows across the small clearing. He prodded the embers with a stick, sending sparks spiralling into the night sky. The scent of roasted rabbit still lingered in the air. It'd been his way to force himself to eat, since he wouldn't waste a kill.

Nearby, a crude wooden frame held the stretched rabbit pelt. Malyn's hands had moved on autopilot, preparing the hide like he'd done countless times before. He had no idea what he was going to do with a rabbit pelt. It was a habit from a different life, when survival had depended on using every part of the animal.

Part of him wanted to just stay here and live a quiet life as a woodsman, but he already missed Finch and Adin. Every time he thought about seeing them again, though, he was reminded that he wouldn't have Tyla by his side, and that hurt. Sitting here on his own without him was one thing. Seeing his own pain reflected back at him in the eyes of his friends was another entirely.

The snap of a twig broke through Malyn's brooding. He tensed, hand instinctively reaching for his bow before he caught sight of a familiar silhouette weaving between the trees. As the figure drew closer, the firelight revealed dark skin and cascading silver-grey hair that seemed to glow in the moonlight.

"Hey, man," Malyn greeted, getting up to clear a low-hanging branch from Lyre's path.

Lyre was the only Talan who had ever ventured out of Nuuvatu to come and visit Tyla. After Tyla's recent explanation of the Talan approach to childrearing, Malyn now had a better understanding of what Tyla had meant when he'd said they'd grown up together. No wonder they were so close.

Lyre's hands patted down his pockets, searching with a childlike excitement that brought a hint of warmth to Malyn's chest. Finally, Lyre produced a small parcel neatly wrapped in bright paper, which he handed to Malyn. "I didn't have a chance to visit one of your stores, but Tyla always said you liked sweets. I hope you'll enjoy these."

Lyre had a very charming habit of buying them gifts every time he visited. Gift giving wasn't something typically done in Talan culture, but Lyre seemed to enjoy the novelty of it, even if he didn't fully understand when gifts were expected or what types of things were appropriate. Malyn had lost a teddy bear Lyre had given him in the fire. They'd also had a kitchen knife that he'd bought for Finch because Lyre had thought it was a weapon.

With careful fingers, Malyn peeled back the vibrant paper. Inside was a small paper bag of what looked like boiled sweets. Despite the weight in his chest, he found himself smiling. "Thank you. I'll have them for dessert.." He swallowed hard before asking the question that had been gnawing at him. "How's Tyla doing?"

The joy faded from Lyre's face, replaced by a carefully neutral expression. "As well as can be expected," he replied, each word measured. "He's getting no worse, which means he will pull through."

"Oh," Malyn said, the single syllable falling flat in the night air. "That's good."

"You don't sound overly enthused."

"Well, no, I mean, it is good. Obviously. I was just thinking that I guess this means I can just... leave. I was sticking around in case it turned out it was too late to break the bond, but I guess it's fine. I guess I'll just go on a sad little road trip all on my own until it's time to meet up with the others."

"Hm," Lyre hummed, his gaze piercing as he regarded Malyn. "Why do I get the feeling you were hoping that it wouldn't be 'fine'?"

Malyn let out a sigh as he turned to stare into the dying embers of the fire. "Because then he could just stay with me. I know that's bad to hope for because it'd mean he didn't get to choose, but it's not like hoping would make it happen, right? I guess when I imagine it in my head, he's not too sad about it either."