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 Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:10 pm
The weeks that had followed Thorne's return from Palisade had gone by dreadfully slow. Even with Valerian to aid him at home his shoulder ached most days as it healed, and even setting new snares had been difficult for a while. As evenings began to grow cooler and cooler he thanked the foresight of chopping wood well in advance; he'd have frozen to death by now, he presumed, had he not. The deer could only help in so many ways, and firewood was not one of those. He carried things to and from town for him, had helped him move furniture around to rearrange the cabin, and had even chased a boar from the yard last week. Thorne wasn't quite sure what he would have done without him.
More often than not his mind wandered to Caroline; he had finally accepted defeat and admitted to Valerian that he missed the woman, and the deer had since taken to shooting him knowing glances every so often. He had kept his promise to her and written her a letter not long after his return, enclosing a small diagram of which direction from town to go and what road to follow to end up at his cabin, should she choose to visit. The hunter had almost forgotten to advise more comfortable, practical clothing, but had scribbled it beneath his name at the bottom of the note. His home was not placed well for flowing fabrics and dainty dresses, as it were.
Thorne rolled back his shoulder gently, grimacing as it hit a sore spot. The wound had healed closed well without succumbing to infection, but now the arm suffered from disuse. It'd likely take him another two or three months to get back most of his strength, and by the way it ached when it rained he dreaded every moment of it.
It did leave a fantastic scar, though.
The sun was beginning to sink into late afternoon by now, shadows bringing a cool chill across the Wardwood. With his other arm he flung a few last pieces of wood onto the pile, a low crackling growing ever larger beneath it. He had hoped Caroline would arrive in time to celebrate the beginning of Samhain, had she been able to escape her parent's watchful eye. If not, well... he had a lovely fire and a pile of blankets to sit and watch the stars.
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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:44 pm
Caroline had not planned the visit, but the seed had been planted, and she knew she would be unable to shake the urge. Her only choice was to see the crazy, wonderful idea through.
The thought had struck her the night before, and she had laid awake in bed for the majority of the night, working it out in her mind. She almost couldn't believe the idea had come to mind; it was so bold, so daring. If she was caught...Well, it wasn't an option. In the morning, and through the afternoon, she had avoided contact with her parents as much as possible; she was a terrible liar, and feared that, if she spent to much time in their presence, she would crack, and reveal something that could damn her. It was Samhain, a day for feast, sacrifice, and a favorite among the rich; parties. Her parents were invited to, and would attend, a grand ball later that evening, and while Caroline had also been invited, she managed to tell her parents that morning that she had received a seperate invitiation, to a different party, and asked, with bated breath, if she could attend.
Some higher power must have been on her side that day, for they agreed to let her go with little question. She released a sigh of relief, though tried not to look to excited, least it seem suspicious. The rest of the day had been spent in preparation; she needed to ready Elowen for departure, and knowing she would be visiting the outskirts of Oldcastle, she would need to wear something more practical than her usual frills. She didn't have a lot of options, but was able to manage; a smaller, modest dress, void of lace and embroidery, and in place of heels or elegant flats, she wore boots, laced up to just above her ankles.
Late in the afternoon, her parents left, wishing their daughter farewell. They were in good spirits, excited for the evening, and so for once, paid little mind to their daughter, and didn't even consider she might be lying. The second they were gone, Caroline scurried to finish readying herself; she had a long ride ahead of her, and would need to leave as soon as possible. She garbed herself, pinned her hair up, and outside, she mounted Elowen. Caroline rarely rode Elowen for travel, or even for practice, but she didn't want to risk taking a carriage, and it didn't make sense to ride a horse, when she had Elowen. As they set off, it was a little awkward at first, simply getting used to it, but the settled in quickly, and were soon moving down the road fluidly, as if they were one.
They moved quickly, but it still took some time to arrive. She had brought his letter along, for directions, and encountered little problem in finding his cabin. When they arrived, the sun was setting, brilliant colors splashing across the darkening sky. Her breathing was slightly labored, from riding and from excitement, and her cheeks were flushed. As she dismounted Elowen, she patted her hair, and smoothed her dress, feeling anxious, her stomach twisting nervously. She had not had the time to send him a letter, to tell him she would be arriving, so she worried he might not be home, or that he might not have time for her. But she was here now; no sense in leaving before she found out. So with Elowen at her side, she approached the door, and knocked.
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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:16 pm
Thorne knew someone was approaching well before the knock at the door came. Valerian behaved strangely whenever someone came to the house, preferring to stand in front of a window with his eyes focused up the road from the house. His ears were pricked with interest this time, tail flagged upright behind him. The hunter had been settled in his favorite chair when the knock finally came. He hauled himself up and across the room, pushing Valerian out of the doorway. He muttered something under his breath at the over-excited animal. What was his deal?
Thorne answered his own question when he opened the door and was greeted by a slightly-winded Caroline, Elowen at her side. He caught himself staring in disbelief that she had actually managed to make it there, and quickly his face broke into the widest, most genuine smile he had ever managed. The boring drag of the last month suddenly seemed well worth the wait. His gaze followed the flush in her cheeks from her journey, noting that she had indeed heeded his warning for more subtle clothing. She looked wonderful even without the frills and extra bits that always seemed to get tacked on with the rest of her attire.
"You made it," he said, eyes alight. As if remembering his manners he stepped aside to allow her inside, offering his hand should she want it. "I had not given up hope, but I assumed you would be trapped at home. How did you manage that?"
The cabin was not huge, but managed to have the kitchen separated from his small living-room area. The hearth was alight with a smaller fire, a pleasant warmth filling the room. The far side of the room led to Thorne's small sleeping space and washroom, and what had previously been his father's room. With Valerian's support he had finally re-purposed the room to something different, storing the equipment he had previously kept out in the wood shed where it would be better protected indoors.
"I trust you encountered no trouble getting here," he added, turning to face her. A flicker of concern crossed his features before he flashed a grin. "I... am not the greatest at maps, I admit."
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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:37 pm
She didn't have to wait long before Thorne opened the door, and despite knowing he was fine, it was entirely different to see it for herself. Her heart warmed, and when he grinned, she smiled back, taking his offered hand as she crossed the threshold. "Of course! I did promise." She laughed softly, and did not blame him for his surprise; she was rather surprised herself. At his wondering on how she had managed to escape the confines of her house, she blushed, only slightly ashamed at her methods. "I uh...I lied. Told them I was attending a party." She explained shortly, and blushed harder. It was so much worse, saying it out loud! She hoped he would not think ill of her, for lying, but...well, she couldn't pass up the chance, and it had truly been the only way.
Inside, she slowly released his hand and paused, taking a moment to look around. Elowen entered after, joining Caroline to survey the inside of the cabin. It was far smaller and different from what she was used to, but nevertheless, she liked it. It was quaint, and cozy, especially with the fire going. Thorne was clearly a practical man, living simply, using only what he needed. It was a breath of fresh air, compared to the greed and excess that surrounded her.
He spoke again, and she turned to look at him, smiling. She still felt a little nervous, but still, was far more relaxed here than she had previously been at home. It was done; she had escaped. She would spend what time she could with Thorne, and with any luck, would return home without any trouble. She nodded, and then giggled. "The journey went smoothly. And you are better than you think; I was able to follow it just fine." Well enough, anyway. But maybe that just made her good and deciphering maps...Either way, she was here. She glanced around again, and then faced him fully. "I hope I am not intruding on any plans you might have had for the evening..." She said, brow furrowed with worry. Her gaze settled on the spot he had been shot just a few weeks prior, and her face fell slightly. She took a few steps closer. "Your wound...How is it?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:01 pm
Valerian was the one to snort with amusement that Caroline had actually lied to get herself here, but his face made it look like he could have almost been smiling as well. He moved to bump the door closed behind them, keeping the warmth locked inside before it could escape into the darkening evening. Thorne seemed to visibly relax that she had encountered no trouble along the way. He had tried to push all negative thoughts from his mind; wolves, spirits, the occasional highwayman... any of those things would have proven a threat to her. That she had avoided everything was a welcome thing. "And they believed that?" His expression turned puzzled for a moment, but he didn't press her any further. It had worked, and that was what mattered.
"It healed well," he replied, "My shoulder gets sore when a storm is on the way, but it could be worse." He tugged at the collar of his shirt, pulling it down far enough to reveal where the scar was. It looked grizzly the closer it was inspected, but it was smooth against his skin.
"Plans?" A look of surprise crossed his face, "Me?" He wasn't good at bluffing however and the corner of his mouth quirked to give him away. "In my anticipation of celebrating Samhain I may have a bonfire on the other side of the house," he added, taking a careful step closer to her. The faintest hint of some kind of perfume hit his nose. "Potentially. You didn't have plans, did you? Perhaps... you could join me."
He was teasing now, and Valerian let out another low snort from beside the front door.
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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:41 pm
A smiled tugged at the corners of her lips, and she nodded. "I can hardly believe it myself." She murmured, the blush lightening to a dust of pink across her cheeks. Elowen shook her head, as if to agree that she to hadn't expected the Atwood's naivety. She turned her head toward Caroline briefly, conveying something only Caroline could feel, and then left her chosen's side to lie beside the fire. It was rare that Elowen ever strayed further than a foot from Caroline, but here, with Thorne and Valerian, Elowen felt little need to worry for her dainty and delicate chosen, and so took the chance to rest.
Caroline watched, eyes locked on the wound, as Thorne pulled some fabric aside enough to reveal the scar. She inhaled sharply at the sight, and without giving it much thought, moved close enough to tentatively reach out, and gently stroke the damaged skin with a bare finger. Almost as soon as her flesh made contact with his, she pulled her hand back sharply, as if she had been stung, eyes wide. She had assumed there would be a scar...but seeing it, how it marred his skin...Quickly, before he might notice, she blinked tears back, and swallowed the lump in her throat. Her heart clenched painfully, feeling terrible all over again that he had endured such an injury, but she was quickly distracted by his next words.
Slowly, she glanced up from the wound to meet his eye, the hand she had extended now limply cradled against her chest. He seemed surprised by something, and she had thought he started to say that he had had plans. Guilt shot through her heart. "Ah! I -" She had started to apologize, but paused, catching his smile. He stepped forward, and he was so close now that she had to crane her head back slightly to keep their gazes locked. Confusion muddled her features, but when he asked if she had any plans, she realized he was teasing, and she laughed, expression bright. Valerian too, seemed in on the joke, and even Elowen smiled from where she rested. "Oh! You..." She laughed again, shaking her head. Playing along, she huffed and tapped her chin, looking off to the side, as if in thought. "Well...I suppose I could..." She looked at him coyly out of the corner of her eye, and after a second, dropped her hand and giggled. "I would love to."
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Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 4:44 pm
Thorne grinned at her. "Good! Not to send you back outside..." He swept gently around her and tentatively touched his fingers to the small of her back, guiding her to the cabin's back door. Reaching above her head he pushed the door open to allow them to slip outside. The door shut behind Thorne, and he could feel Valerian's eyes burning into the back of his neck. He wanted to go out too...
The hunter had spent a good deal of time the last week clearing out the back area of his home, piling stones for a large fire pit and clearing the fallen leaves away. A bonfire roared in the pit now, just shorter than Caroline stood but giving off a lovely warmth that would last for hours if fed the occasional log. Nearby two up-turned logs sat in the glow, wide enough to sit comfortably on without risk of tipping over. A pair of quilts sat inbetween, neatly folded.
All in all, Thorne mused, it had been well worth the effort to set up. He leaned close, gesturing that she could pick which seat she wanted. His voice murmured low, just audible above the crackling and soft roar of the fire. "I am glad you were able to make it."
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Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:54 pm
Caroline blushed at his touch, but willingly moved with his guidance, exiting out the back door. Elowen perked as the pair headed back outside, and started to stand. Caroline shook her head once, smiling reassuringly, and after a second of hesitation, Elowen lowered herself back down, looking across the room to Valerian. He seemed anxious to follow, but it was clear, as the door swung shut, that they would not be permitted to join their chosen. With a snort, Elowen rested her head down on the floor.
Stepping outside, Caroline gasped softly at the sight that met them. The fire roared high, almost higher than she stood, and warmed the immediate area, chasing the darkness away. Given recent...developments, she was terrified to look beyond the edges of the glow, and so kept her gaze on anything but. He stood close, leaning down toward her, and her heart fluttered, cheeks warming. She hoped he would excuse the color in her face on the heat of the fire. She turned slightly to face him better, and smiled shyly, nodding subtly. "Me too..." So glad, despite the risks. She didn't even bother giving them any thought.
She stood awkwardly for a moment, looking around for somewhere to sit, but saw nothing aside from some logs and a pile of blankets. She caught his gesture, and she followed the line of motion to see...the logs. Brow furrowed with confusion, she looked up at him, head tilting to the side, and then back to the logs. Eventually, it clicked; he meant for them to sit on the logs, set up to serve as makeshift chairs. Immediately, her mind rejected the notion, and her mother's voice echoed in the back of her mind. You'll dirty your dress. Caroline frowned, eyes on the logs, debating internally. On one hand...she couldn't imagine sitting on that log; not because she was stuck up, but because of eighteen years perfecting. On the other...this was exactly the sort of thing she had been yearning for. Not to sit on a log...but freedom, choice.
Finally, she stepped forward, and approached the nearest of the two, but paused to stare down at it. It might have seemed ridiculous, but to Caroline...this was a big step. Inhaling slowly, she closed her eyes...and quickly, before she could chicken out, she plopped down on the log, and froze. The urge to spring back up and dust off the back of her dress was strong, but she resisted, opening her eyes, and exhaling deeply. Slowly, her expression brightened, and she smiled at Thorne. "Not so bad." She laughed softly, shifting to settle more comfortably. The urges to flee dissipated, and she breathed more comfortably, pushing her mother's voice from her mind.
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Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 8:28 pm
The forest did not scare Thorne, even these days. He had lived against it for his entire life, and it still had yet to throw something at him he couldn't handle. It was familiar to him, unchanging unlike the world around him. As Caroline debated over which seat she should choose he stepped just around the side of the fire to toss one more log onto it with a dull thunk (he missed her internal struggle as he did this). Flames lapped at the bark, and soon it joined the rest in the heated blaze. Noting that she had finally picked a seat he came back around and settled on the second one, leaning forward with one hand against his knee. For a moment his eyes remained intently on the fire, as if his thoughts were elsewhere, but he quickly returned his gaze to the woman sitting next to him.
"How is, aah..." he trailed off a moment, something similar to a smirk briefly crossing his face. "His nose."
Thorne skipped his name, although he knew that Caroline would know exactly who he was referring to. Aside from seeing her on his last trip to Palisade, he had been blessed with a perfect uppercut to Lawrence's nose, cracking it. It had been a satisfying moment to take him down a peg, although it had been a shame it happened after he had already been shot. He didn't want to discuss the man at length, but the hunter's pride hoped that the damage to his nose bothered him as much as what the man had done to him... perhaps not physically as bad, but he knew the man valued his appearance.
As if it knew, his shoulder decided to start aching at that moment. Although he hid any discomfort from his face well, his other hand reached on impulse to gently rub at the muscles. He still had a long way to go to regain the rest of his strength, but that wasn't something he planned on admitting to her. She had already felt so guilty that the fight happened in the first place, and he had no desire to have her worry even more about him. This visit with her would have none of that nonsense, at least. It was just the two of them this time... and the deer too, he supposed.
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Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 8:54 pm
Thorne took his seat, and the pair lapsed into a moment of silence. Caroline watched Thorne closely, wondering what he might be thinking about, as he stared intently into the fire. She tried to think of something to say, but feared interrupting his thought process. Before she could decide on whether or not to speak, Thorne turned back to her, and asked her a question she had not expected, but one she should have expected. She tried not to smile, but her lips curved nonetheless, and she turned her head, lifting a hand to her mouth. She tried to make it look as though she was brushing a loose strand of hair aside, but gave up, unable to shake the smile. "Very broken. Last I heard, it sits crooked; apparently, he is looking for a way to fix the problem. I..." She rubbed at her arm, , clearing her throat softly. "I have not seen him, since that day, so I can only repeat what I have heard."
She glanced away briefly, and when she looked back at him, she caught him absently rubbing at his wound. She frowned, watching the motion, but tried not to worry to much. It had only been a month; surely such a wound would take longer that four weeks to heal completely. But it did remind her of something, something she had been meaning to say.
Anxiously, her fingers fiddled the fabric of her dress, and she looked away, debating. She wasn't sure he would want to be reminded, wasn't sure he would appreciate her bringing it up. But she knew it needed to be said, so she would do so quickly. Exhaling slowly, she shifted, sitting so that she faced him, as opposed to the fire. "Thorne, I..." Just say it, just say it. Why was she so nervous? "I wanted...to thank you. For...for standing up for me, when Lawrence...Well..." When he threatened her, when he moved to strike her down. It was difficult to voice; she trusted he knew what she was referring to. "Just...thank you." She had been avoiding his eye, but tentatively, met it now, and smiled.
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Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:19 pm
Thorne failed to hide the grin that crossed his face. "I could break it in the other direction, if he wants. That might do the trick." It was a joke, of course; he had no desire to start another fight with the man unless he was provoked first. He caught her eye, amusement plain on his face. The hunter knew he had bested him no matter what the other man claimed to have happened.
Silence ensued a moment more, although it was not uncomfortable. As Caroline turned towards him his face relaxed into a more calm expression, sensing her sudden change in demeanor (when on earth had he learned her so well?). His brow furrowed for a moment, trying to figure out what had caused the change when she finally spoke on her own. He felt gutted in that moment as the memory returned; she had lashed out at Lawrence in his defense and he had been perfectly ready to put her right back in her place. Thorne had acted without thought in that moment to protect her, despite his own injuries. He certainly hadn't expected to be thanked for something that had just felt so right for him to do.
He briefly hesitated, but finally reached over carefully to give her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I would... do it again if I had to." he murmured, dropping his gaze from her lest his eyes betray him (he knew they would). It wasn't his place to delve into the unfairness of their... arrangement, but his heart ached to. The more time he spent with Caroline, the more he knew it would hurt when she finally had to be wed to that awful man, and yet he couldn't force himself away. He wouldn't. Everything came so easily in her company, and he wasn't about to give that up so easily, especially not when he hadn't been able to completely sort his feelings out yet.
Threading his fingers through his hair, Thorne leaned his head back to gaze upwards. The sun had finally settled far enough back that the first few stars were just coming into view. A soft hmm rumbled in his throat for a moment. "This goes for any time," he said softly after a moment, finally returning his eyes to her face, "But you... are always welcome here whenever you want and however long you need." He'd love her company, of course, but his heart dreaded sending her back to Palisade to be trapped with that coward of a man.
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Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:56 pm
She blushed, and ducked her head, grinning like a fool. It wasn't necessarily something to be so giddy over; it was just something Thorne did to her. The way he moved, the way he spoke, his kindness, how patient and gentle he was with her...It wasn't 'right', by societies standards, the time they spent together, the smiles, the laughs, the subtle ways they touched. They were worlds apart; he, a 'commoner', and she, a woman of wealth and privilege. They lived entirely different lives, and if that wasn't enough, she was engaged; to a man she had come to despise, but nevertheless, she was promised to another. The way she felt...whatever it meant...it was inappropriate. It shouldn't exist. So they said. And yet...how could she refuse something that felt so...right?
For the time being, she didn't, and she wouldn't. She knew not of what might become of them, of how the future might unfold...But she knew the present. And as he promised his company and his home for whenever she might need it, something clicked inside. Something she had always known, but was now entirely resolved to uphold; she would make the most of their time. She would not, to the best of her ability, allow reality to ruin whatever it was they had. Right and wrong be damned; if it made them happy, that was all that mattered.
Suddenly, she stood, and without a word, grabbed the top quilt. Surveying the area, she decided on a spot; a soft patch of grass, halfway between the ring of stone holding the fire in, and the edge of the fire's glow. Unfolding the quilt, she held it out, and after shifting into the perfect position, shook the quilt out, before resting it flat on the ground. There. She smiled, clearly proud of her work, and the plan she had concocted. Admittedly, it was something she shouldn't do, but on that note, there were a lot of things she had done that she shouldn't have, and would never live to regret them. In her world, she would be perfect, but now, she was in Thorne's world. The same rules didn't apply.
Turning, she faced Thorne, caught his eye, and without much hesitation, sat on the quilt. Slowly, she reached back, and one by one, removed the pins from her hair, tossing them aside. They were hurting her head anyway. Unbound, red curls tumbled down her back, and with the final pin gone, she shook her hair out, sighing contently. Bold, but she already felt better. Looking up at Thorne, she patted the spot beside her, smile shy, cheeks pink. "Join me?" She inquired softly. "It is not every night I get to look up at the stars."
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:42 am
At first Thorne had worried she was upset; but as he watched her grab a quilt and survey the area at the edge of the fire's light he waited for her to finish what she had in mind. The blanket went down and she followed soon after. His eyes followed her movements as she delicately pulled each pin from her hair, half-aware that he was staring. He hadn't seen her with her hair undone, and for a moment wondered why anyone would want her to. If Valerian saw the way he was looking at her now he'd never let him live it down.
He stopped himself gawking finally just as she finished removing the last pins, shaking the expression off of his face. Her invitation caught him off guard a moment, but he cracked a smile for her and stood. Careful in his movements he crossed the distance between them, settling next to her with just enough distance to be comfortable. He leaned back on his good arm, peering upwards past the thin stream of smoke from the fire and scanning the sky. For a moment he said nothing, though he finally lifted his other arm to point at a seemingly inconspicuous clump of stars.
"That one there," he said, "The hunter."
He could name constellations all night long, but that one was his favorite. The evenings he had spent as a child on hunts with his father had taught him more than how to track, and although knowing which speckles in the sky belonged to which story had little value in his profession, it was a good way for him to pass the time when he had been stuck waiting for his quarry to reveal itself. Had Caroline been taught the stories, or had she been confined to printed literature? For a moment he tried to imagine the vast difference in their upbringing, but quickly pushed the idea from his head. It didn't matter now.
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:38 pm
She smiled as he approached, and as he took his place beside her, she fell back to lie on her back. Curls fanned out around her head, and her eyes focused on the stars above. They were quiet for a short time, and this time Caroline didn't search for something to say; she simply enjoyed his presence, listening to crackling of the flames, and the soft sounds of the woods around them. Normally, she might have been afraid, but instead, she simply felt at peace, fears forgotten.
Suddenly, he lifted his arm, pointing, and her eyes followed the line to the constellation he voiced. She smiled at the name, and turned her head to glance over at him. The hunter, his voice echoed in her mind, and she rolled her head back to look directly up at the cluster of stars, eyes focusing on a close line of three, bright stars. She tried to connect the stars, tried to see the image he could so easily recognize...Astrology was not something she had ever been made to, or expected to, study; for a lady, it was worthless. When looking for a wife, what man cared if a woman could name the planets and constellations or not?
"Do you know them all?" She inquired, genuinely curious. She rolled on her side, body facing him, and she looked him in the eye carefully. "Did your father teach you?" She would understand if he didn't want to talk about his father, but she realized that, while she knew him, she knew little about him. She'd heard nothing on his childhood, on how he had come to be; had only heard the story about his tattoo, and had known that his father had been ill for sometime before he died. What about his mother? She couldn't recall a time he had ever mentioned her. So many questions...she couldn't help but to wonder. If he was willing, they had all night.
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:45 pm
"Mm," he replied, leaning back on his elbows, "They shift a little depending on the seasons, but I believe I could name them all." He shook the hair from his face, scanning the skies for another he could point out. His gaze didn't move at her next question, and if it bothered him he was doing an excellent job at hiding it.
"He did," he said after a moment, "Before he was ill he taught me to track, to hunt, how to find my way back home if I was lost in the woods." A half-grin crossed his face, and he turned his head to her. "I think he left me behind a number of times so I had to figure it out on my own." He could almost recall in perfect detail those days, the feel of panic that set in when he came up from an animal's den to find his father completely gone from sight. Thorne had resented him for the act for some time, but once he had fallen ill he realized it had all been to help him hunt on his own.
"He meant well," he tried to reason, more for himself than for her, "And it certainly worked. I could probably navigate back here from almost anywhere in the forest." He was playing it off, but he knew he could navigate that well. Probably could do it drunk too, not that he had tried it. These days with Valerian it was easy to spend far too much time in the wardwood despite Gwyn's threats at the masquerade. Aside from the eerie glow in the wolf-stones the woods were peaceful and quiet, just as Thorne preferred. After the spirit's threats even the people he rarely caught sight of had begun to avoid them.
Threading his hand through his hair again, he fidgeted on his elbows a moment more before giving in and plopping down onto his back, arms up behind his head. Leaning like that only made his shoulder more sore.
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