Declan and Crow returned to their campsite at the same time; Declan on the back of the silver stag covered in earth and Crow with the violet eyed dragon born. Their two mares still stood tied to a tree and eyed both of them warily when the two boys returned. For several beats, they stared at each other. Then, Declan threw himself off of the stag and rushed to Crow. He didn't think about what he was doing, he was just so excited and the sight of him made his head feel like it was filled with air and throwing his arms around Crow's neck was the right thing to do at the moment.
To his surprise, Crow hugged him back. The other boy's arms around his waist made him feel secure, just adding to the wonderful feeling that lingered in his belly since arriving in the Hollow. He loved the sound of Crow's breath against the back of his neck as he lowered his head down to settle his chin on Declan's shoulder.
"Where the fuck were you?" Crow demanded, shoving Declan away suddenly. Declan frowned.
"Where the fuck were you?" he shot back, the blissful feeling in his stomach fizzling out.
"I left you here asleep," Crow growled.
"And then I woke up. Alone," Declan retorted with as much force as he could muster.
"So you walked off with the beast that nearly killed you?"
"I only got hurt because you scared him by charging towards him with a sword out."
"Excuse me for not wanting you to die."
"I didn't ask you to save me."
"I'm not saving you for you. I'm saving you for me. If anyone finds out that you died while with me, they'll lock me up without question. Or maybe that step brother of yours will give me a bloody medal," Crow shouted. Declan shied back, as if his words physically struck him. Crow's anger crumpled.
"I'm sorry Declan," Crow said in a rare moment of softness. "I just came back here and you weren't where I left you and I panicked."
"Yeah. So you could save your own skin," Declan grumbled, feeling like a disgruntled toddler. Like he did much of his life. Declan's hooded eyes shifted over to the stranger that had come with Crow. He was beautiful, inhumanly beautiful, and Declan felt a surge of jealousy. The stranger silently watched Declan and Crow argue.
Crow sighed heavily and shook his head, choosing to give up the battle.
"So I'm guessing you don't remember what happened last night?" He asked as he picked up a stick and poked at the golden embers. Declan's blood froze.
"No."
Crow harrumphed.
"What does that mean? What happened last night?"
"Don't worry about it," Crow grunted. He cast the stick down and straightened up. "But I found your sister."
"You did?" Declan gasped at the same time the stranger let out a surprised yelp.
"You did no such thing," he hissed at Crow. Crow shrugged.
"Okay so I found Rickon and Rickon knows where she is," Crow amended. The stranger turned his violet gaze to Declan
"It's a pleasure, Your Highness," he said, winking at the prince. "I've heard so much about you."
Declan gulped. If it came from Crow, it probably wouldn't be good.
Crow watched Rickon get lost in Declan's grey eyes and felt his stomach drop.
"So what happened to you, princeling?" Crow said, disturbing the silence. Declan snapped his attention back towards Crow.
