Present Struggles (Part 1)

Friya hugged Nalrond tightly, losing herself in his warmth.

She ran her hand through his hair, appreciating its soft thickness. Then, she caressed his back, following the line of his muscles. Friya took deep breaths, taking in Nalrond's natural smell and that of his cologne.

She clung to him, trying to trap all those feelings and engrave them in her memory as strongly as she could. It was the only thing she could do to fight the fear that it was the last time she would hold him.

***

Trawn Woods, Lith's tower, a few minutes later.

"What do you mean, almost die? Are you insane?" Lith said, his words matching Friya's.

Nalrond, Friya, and Quylla had Warped to the Verhen House and from there the Rezar had asked Lith to move to the tower to talk in private.