Sundrops

The next day, Sorin was already up before he could be woken up. Maven was the one to rouse him up today but she found him peeking over the edge of his blanket, hair wild as he squinted at her.

The sun was rising as Sorin rolled out of bed to get ready for the day. Bathing so early didn't get any easier though and Sorin quickly put on his clothes as soon as he was done drying his prickly skin.

He put on his trusty cloak and as he made his way to the main room of the cottage to eat his breakfast, his mother caught sight of him.

Her long flaxen hair was bound with a polka dotted scarf and she was already fully dressed. "Sorin, dearest, your hair's a bird nest, come let me fix that for you…"

And that was all she needed to snatch him close and bundle him into her room to carefully brush out his hair.

His mother was buxom and exuded warmth so Sorin instinctively drew closer to her as she combed his hair with a finely carved wooden comb, softly asking questions about how herding the sheep went.

Sorin was very careful with his answers, knowing that all it took was an off answer and his mother would stop him from herding the sheep. Insisting on taking him with her when she went to the town square for preparation of the Spring celebrations.

In her defense, he looked a little too much like her sickly twin sister who died when she was young so Sorin didn't entirely blame her for pampering him so. But sometimes, he wanted to remind her that he was all grown up now. She didn't need to carry him around with her like a toddler.

He managed to break free of his mother's petting when Maven came looking for him to eat his breakfast before it got cold. He would take Maven overfeeding him anyday, because when his mother got into moods like this, it was hard to snap her out of it.

To his relief, the twins, Sivan and Milan were walking by when he left his mother and she immediately snatched them up to help them comb their hair.

His older brothers' dreaded getting their hair combed especially by their mother because they had very thick and very curly hair and she went over every lock thoroughly. Sorin could only wince at the thought of it.

His father was most likely already gone to the square. Sorin hardly saw him in the mornings but they all had dinner together in the main room of the large cottage house that was their home.

Once again, Sorin walked a distance behind his brothers who were herding the sheep out to pasture. He paid no attention to them or the sheep, instead staring intently in the direction of the woods.

Usually, the thick green foliage was eerie to Sorin but today he was too occupied with searching out a familiar face to be concerned about that.

Sivan and Milan's hair were frizzy and they were too traumatized by it to tease Sorin. It was the little victories… Sorin would take it.

He managed to pretend to read for almost a full hour after his brothers' left, keeping an eye on the sheep while sneaking furtive looks in the direction of the forest.

By the second hour mark, Sorin was already beginning to get tired of his watch on the woods. Slowly, he got absorbed into the book in his hands, looking up to check up on the sheep.

It was during one of the moments when he had his head buried in his book that a large shadow fell over him. Sorin looked up, blinking in shock when he saw the very person that he had been searching for all morning right in front of him.

"Caspian?!" He exclaimed in disbelief, reflexively looking past him to check on the sheep.

The creature beamed and Sorin found himself checking his pulse again. "You remember me!"

Sorin couldn't help but roll his eyes. "It would be a little difficult to forget you." He muttered, a tad grumpy for getting jumpscared again. 'Couldn't the werewolf do without terrifying him as an introduction?"

"I scared you again, didn't I?" Caspian asked, sounding forlorn.

Sorin was caught off guard by this. "How did you…" He started to ask then remembered that he had started like a deer in the woods when he caught sight of Caspian. "...Nevermind, just take a seat." He invited him.

Caspian dropped gracefully down to the grass, his hair looking even wilder than it did the day before. It had Sorin mentally shaking his head, Caspian would do well to keep that head of hair far away from his mother.

"What are you doing?" Caspian asked curiously, staring pointedly at the book in Sorin's hand.

"It's a book!" Sorin sat up straight, eager to tell Caspian about it. "It's filled with written words that tell a story, some have painted on pictures…" He started to explain, trailing off.

'Caspian could speak articulately, he had to have been taught. There was no way he didn't know about books…'

"Caspian?" Sorin cut himself off to say.

Caspian perked up, looking from the book that Sorin had been showing him. "Yes, Sorin?"

Sorin fell silent, forgetting what he was about to say for a few moments before snapping out of it. "How did you learn to speak?"

Caspian's brows dropped low on his forehead, he had been found out. "It was a very long time ago, I was brought from a distant land by a Mage." He shrugged like it was a common tale. "The Mage fell in love with the King and refused to return, as a result I was brought to these woods to live the rest of my days."

Sorin's eyes widened in surprise, that sounded like a fairytale right from the pages of a book. "How long ago was this?" He choked out, exceedingly curious.

Caspian was literally a fantastical creature, he wouldn't make up a tale for no reason. It meant that he was being truthful.

"Truly, I've lost count." He sighed looking over the sheep and into the woods that was made his home after he was abandoned here. "It has been decades and decades and decades. I stayed on the other end of the forest to avoid running into humans…" Caspian trailed off like he had said too much.

Sorin didn't prod further, he had already been too nosy. He was aware that the strip of forest all the way to and past the creek was under the King's protection, now he supposed he understood why.

"Do you want to learn to read the words in the book?" He asked instead, trying to clear up the tense atmosphere.

Caspian tilted his head to the side, his furry ears flicking. "I'd rather you read them out to me."

Sorin gulped, fighting the urge to check his pulse again. "I suppose I could do that." He agreed, reading out from the book in his hands.

He remembered to keep watch on the sheep, only taking a break from his reading when it was time to move the sheep.

Caspian was such an attentive listener, although he never interrupted, it was clear that he was following the story. He just wished Caspian didn't stare at him so intently while he listened to him read. It made Sorin concentrate doubly so that he didn't stumble over his words.

He invited Caspian to lunch again and afterwards he got up to take his leave. Sorin felt his heart try to leave his mouth when Caspian took his hand.

"I'll take my leave now, Sorin." He said politely, waving again as he left.

Sorin absently lifted his hand to give a wave in return, only to stop himself halfway. He was half in a daze as he watched Caspian disappear into the forest.

He settled into his cloak with a sigh, wondering why he hadn't asked the polite werewolf to stay longer, they weren't even halfway into the book yet.

Sorin had been looking forward to herding the sheep alone because it was an excuse not to go to the square but now he was looking forward to it for entirely different reasons.

~*~

On the third day, Sorin didn't even pretend to try to read his book because he couldn't concentrate even if he tried. He spent most of the morning daydreaming and keeping watch on the sheep.

Cloud watching was a distracting pastime and the time passed peacefully.

By noon, it was time to move the sheep. Sorin had to move further and further away from home every day but he wasn't worried because the distance was still close enough to cover in a single day.

His thoughts were occupied with other things as he absently herded the sheep to a fresh patch of grass for them to feed on. He had been expecting Caspian to show up by now but to think about it, Caspian never said he would return.

It didn't stop Sorin from keeping a portion of his lunch for the werewolf. He stared into the woods as he ate, wondering what Caspian could be up to.

By the time the sun's strength started to wane, Sorin had already given up hope on seeing Caspian. It was disappointing because he had been looking forward to it.

He had even brought out a strip of cloth that he had weaved himself for Caspian to use in holding up his hair, it must be a burden to do things with his wild locks hanging free. He supposed that he would have to try again tomorrow and hope that Caspian would come the next day.

Sorin glanced down at the portion of food that he had kept for Caspian. Maven would be upset if he brought it back, he should try to eat it, his brothers would be back soon.

As he brought out the food, Sorin felt a familiar shadow fall over him and he looked up with a smile. "Caspi… Oh… Oh no…"

His words fell off when he looked up and saw a scratched and bloody Caspian. "Caspian? What happened?"

Caspian looked disconcerted, he didn't want to worry the little human but he also didn't want to miss seeing him. "A pack of wild wolves recently moved into the area, I had to get rid of them." He shrugged it off.

He kept to himself the fact that the wolves would have generally avoided him if he didn't actively stop them from coming after the sheep. But that wasn't important now.

Sorin already shot to his feet. "Sit." He directed, pulling Caspian down on his spread cloak.

Caspian obeyed, quietly watching as Sorin bustled around. He noted that in addition to the habit of tucking his hair behind his ear constantly, Sorin also jutted out his lower lip when he concentrated.

Sorin gently wiped the scratches with a clean strip of cloth that was wetted, a troubled expression on his face. The scratches were not as deep as he feared though but they had to hurt.

"I'm fine, I'll be all healed by tomorrow." Caspian reassured him when he caught his expression.

Sorin was wiping a cut on his right shoulder and this brought their faces close. He was distrustful but he couldn't stand to have Caspian stare at him so intently while they were that close and backed down.

He cleared his throat to hide how flustered he was. "You should eat." He simply said, backing away to rinse the bloody cloth.

Caspian had shown up the first two days dressed in a dress shirt, pants and a pair of worn out work boots. They were in great condition but they looked a tad outdated but right now, he was missing his shirt.

At first, Sorin had paid no mind to it because of all of the scratches he was sporting but now it was becoming increasingly hard to ignore. He pressed an unsteady hand to his wrist, even though his heart was beating so loud that he was sure the sheep could hear it but Caspian was hurt, so he pushed that to the side.

Caspian ate the food that Sorin offered to him without complaint, drinking from his flask when he offered as well.

"Thank you." Caspian said when he was all done, his voice dripping sincerity.

Sorin however was distracted, the wheels in his head were turning around as he tried to figure out a way to keep Caspian safe. 'Would his family mind if Caspian came to live in the cottage?'

He eyed Caspian's very visible tail and ears, that would be a dead giveaway. It was one thing to bring a stranger down on his luck to live with them but it was another entirely to bring a fantastical creature.

"Could you put your ears and tail away?" Sorin blurted out without thinking, slapping a hand over his mouth in shock at himself.

Caspian's eyes widened in surprise, he had been wondering why the little human was staring at him curiously. "Could I…"

"Nevermind, that was presumptuous of me to ask…" Sorin quickly cut him off, picking up his cloth bag to ransack through it. "I-I also brought this to help hold your hair up. Here, let me help you." He added, quickly changing the subject.

Caspian allowed him, watching with amusement as Sorin busied himself. He had been leaning against the trunk but moved forward so that Sorin could get behind him.

Caspian had inherent magic so little things like clothes and haircut weren't a problem but recently he had let his hair grow out.

"Do you like it?" He asked out of the blue after a stretch of comfortable silence.

Sorin was startled by this, he had been engrossed in what he was doing. Caspian's hair was surprisingly well kept for how wild it looked, it was immensely soft too. "Like what?"

"My hair?" Caspian replied with a serene expression on his face.

Sorin froze momentarily, he hadn't been expecting the question to take that direction. He patted the knot he made and reluctantly pulled his hands away from Caspian's hair. "I do, it needs to be combed though…"

Sorin sat down comfortably on the grass, the sheep bleating solemnly a short distance away. "I'll bring a comb tomorrow." He concluded, leaving an open invitation for Caspian.

Caspian's serene expression fell off his face, replaced by a serious one. He took Sorin's hand, "I…"

Sorin blinked when Caspian suddenly cut himself short and looked off to the side.

"I have to leave now." Caspian continued, a furrow in his brows.

Sorin was at a loss for words and a little confused, he could only watch Caspian disappear into the woods. 'What was that all about?'

A few moments later, the familiar sound of his brothers coming made him sit up. Had Caspian heard them a long time before he did and left? That had to be the case.

But what was Caspian about to say to him that had made him put on such a severe expression?

~*~

Sorin was half expecting Caspian not to show up on the fourth day but instead, he came the earliest out of the other days. Mere moments after his brothers left for the square, Caspian came striding out of the woods.

Sorin had just gotten seated but he hopped to his feet in pleasant surprise, his eyes brightening at the sight of the werewolf. "Caspian!"

Caspian's previously troubled expression, fell away to reveal a small smile. He rather liked it when Caspian said his name in that careful, lilting manner.

He stepped up to Sorin and politely took his hand and lifted it up to his face. "Sorin."

Sorin turned his face to the side to hide his heated face, making no move to retract his hand from Caspian's hold.

Caspian lingered on Sorin's hand, hovering close enough to blow a warm breeze on the back of hand like he wanted to place a reverent kiss but was hesitant. He let go of Sorin's hand first, smiling politely.

Sorin invited him to sit with him, he still had his cloak on as it was still early but there was soft grass to sit on. Now that Caspian was no longer touching him, Sorin could finally process how the other looked.

True to his words, his scratches from the day before were completely healed, there wasn't even a single scar to show that he had single handedly fought off a pack of wolves. He also had on a fresh shirt, his hair still tied in place as it was the day before.

Sorin hesitated, he wanted to ask about what put Caspian in such a sour mood the day before but at the same time, he didn't want to hear it, he was afraid of bad news.

So, he offered to comb Caspian's hair instead; he had brought some ointment to put on Caspian's scratches but it seemed like he would not need to use it at all. It made Sorin less worried for him, not by a lot though because above all, he would hate to see Caspian hurt again.

Caspian was patient, letting Sorin do as he wished with his hair. "How do you know the red-headed men?" He asked, watching the sheep since he couldn't look at Sorin.

Sorin paused, holding the strip of black linen that he had used to gather up Caspian's waves the day before. "Red-headed men?" He frowned and then his eyes widened in realization.

Caspian was already speaking. "Yes, they usually tend to the sheep…"

"My brothers?" Sorin blurted, interrupting him.

Caspian turned around to look at Sorin with surprise. "They are you brothers? I see…"

Sorin blinked rapidly, if Caspian knew his brothers, then that meant that they also knew about him. "Caspian, do they know you?" He asked quickly, already cooking up a new plan.

If his brother's knew Caspian, then they would also know that he wasn't dangerous and could vouch for him to their parents to let Caspian come live with them instead.

The thought of living with Caspian made Sorin a little bit too giddy, his fingers finding the pulse point on his wrist.

Caspian shrugged, "We have met a handful of times, they're quite friendly." He had been looking for the red-headed men to warn them about his wolf sightings when he ran into Sorin instead. It would explain why Sorin was allowed to tend to their sheep.

"You look nothing like them." Caspian added, sneaking another look at Sorin.

Sorin glanced down at his hands which were fiddling with the comb that he was yet to use. "I hear that a lot. I take my mother's features." He murmured.

Caspian's response was a slanted grin. "It suits you." He hummed, sitting up straight again so that Sorin could get to combing his hair. So he missed the soft expression on Sorin's face at his words.

Caspian's hair didn't only feel soft, it was easy to comb too. It was so calming to just slowly run the comb through Caspian's sun bleached hair that Sorin could have done it all day.

He had to stop eventually though so he reluctantly gathered Caspian's hair in a low ponytail, the tips of his hair reaching mid-back and then gingerly sat beside Caspian. He had taken off his cloak to better handle Caspian's hair and now he was too warm to put it back on.

The air around them instantly became tense, their interrupted conversation from the day before hanging over their heads like rain clouds. Sorin had hoped that he could ignore it till the end of the day when Caspian had to leave and was about to suggest that they pick up where they left off from reading.

"What did you have to say yesterday?" Sorin finally gave in after a moment of tense silence. Caspian had been staring intently at him the entire time and this made him avert his gaze, watching the sheep a little bit too much to avoid Caspian's gaze.

"There's a new mage at the castle, they have proposed to send me back to my home." Caspian said quietly, his words heavy.

Sorin's breath caught and he looked up at Caspian. He only met the werewolf mere days ago, why was he so troubled at the thought of him leaving.

Caspian had been left behind for centuries, Sorin should be happy that he had finally gotten an opportunity to return home. Who knows how many more years he would have to wait if he didn't take this chance.

He couldn't be happy though, no matter how he tried to force a smile. In a selfish manner so very unlike him, he didn't want Caspian to return. He already had lofty dreams of Caspian coming to live with them in their cottage and…

Sorin gulped, his cheeks going red. Why would Caspian pick his home over something like that? It was exceedingly selfish for Sorin to hope that Caspian would pass up on the opportunity of a lifetime just over a schoolgirl crush from a shepherd boy.

So he smiled, "That's wonderful news! So when do you intend to leave?"

Caspian fell quiet, searching Sorin's face for something. He was supposed to leave after telling the red-headed men about the sightings of a pack of wolves but he had run into this little human instead.

Humans were his weakness, it was the reason he had stayed deep in the woods all these years. It wasn't because he couldn't blend in, on the contrary, it was because humans were so fragile and he was always drawn to particularly delicate humans.

When he was first sent to these woods, he had come to the town, then the wooden fence was yet to be built. A delicate human had caught his attention and he fell irrevocably in love, but alas, human fragility took them away and he had run to the woods for his own sanity.

He could only lose the one he loved so many times.

He had managed to stay away for so long but fate was cruel and now that he could finally return home, his one weakness had found him again.

Once again, he held Sorin's hands, marveling at how it could be so frail. Then he cupped his face, it was just as dainty and it made Caspian worried that if he touched him too roughly, he would bruise his soft skin.

"Would you like me to leave?"

Sorin's eyes were a deep amber when he looked up at Caspian in surprise, he hadn't been expecting a question like that. Did Caspian think him that important as to allow him form an opinion on something like this?

He gingerly placed his hands on both of Caspian's wrists, his skin tingled wherever they made contact and it was quite distracting.

"I… I…" Sorin trailed off, looking down. Caspian's deep green eyes were so intense that it felt like he could get lost in them.

"It would be selfish of me to give my answer." He finally responded, eyes still down. "Don't you want to return home?

Caspian chuckled, it had taken a lot of restraint to not touch Sorin and now that he had, he couldn't pull away. He gingerly trailed a hand up the side of Sorin's face, gently touching his hair.

"It has been centuries, I left as a young Were, there's nothing for me to return to." He said honestly, caressing Sorin's hair.

It was the first time Caspian was putting his fears into words, it took a weight off his shoulders that he didn't even know he was carrying.

He had been so caught up in returning to the distant kingdom that used to be his home to realize that he had also made one, right here.

Werewolves weren't immortal, so while he would outlive Sorin, he wouldn't live forever. Maybe the beauty in humans that drew him in was how quickly they died, it made him appreciate them more.

There were still many years ahead but he dreaded the inevitable passage of time.

Sorin couldn't hide his smile at Caspian's words, it gave him a bit of hope.

He glanced up with this hopeful gleam in his eyes, Caspian still cupped his face and he didn't want him to let go.

Caspian inched closer when he could look into Sorin's eyes again. "So, would you like me to stay?" He asked again, faces so close that their noses were almost touching. "I'm already being selfish by asking, you should be too."

"I…" Sorin trailed off when Caspian closed the distance between their faces. "Yes." He whispered, the response wrenched from him.

Caspian tasted his lips, gently, softly, because just like the rest of him, Sorin's lips were tender, easily bruised.

A loud bleat from a sheep tore them apart, Sorin immediately looking away to hide his heated cheeks. It didn't help that Caspian took his hand and held on to it.

"Would you like to continue our reading?" Sorin asked breathlessly, sneaking a look at Caspian.

That wasn't very good for his heart because Caspian always had his eyes on him. It always felt like Caspian was seeing for the first time whenever he looked at him, it made Sorin's heart race.

They both got comfortable, Sorin leaned against the trunk of the tree he chose today and to his surprise, Caspian laid down and placed his head on his thighs.

He had no complaints about their positions but Caspian staring at him was distracting enough, touching in addition to that was near torture for Sorin.

The sun got brighter in the sky to this and Sorin eventually fell into the rhythm of reading. He adjusted to the tingling sensation that touching Caspian caused him and was soon able to comfortably bury his hands in the waves of Caspian's hair.

The hours after noon were relegated to moving the sheep and eating lunch.

"Caspian, can you cook?" Sorin asked partway into the meal. He had always been curious about what the werewolf's diet consisted of, he seemed to have no problems eating what Sorin gave him though so he left it at that.

"Why? Do you want to try my cooking?" Caspian teased.

"I'd rather not be poisoned." Sorin quipped in return.

Caspian was momentarily stunned, Sorin was always soft-spoken and courteous that hearing him make a jaunt was unbelievable, he rather liked a sharp-tongued Sorin.

His surprise changed to a chuckle. "I'm hurt."

"The truth is difficult to accept." Sorin replied importantly. "And where do you live?" He tried to ask nonchalantly but his worry was evident for all to see.

Caspian took his hands into his. "Are you worried for me?"

Sorin snatched his hands back, slightly peeved. "I do hope the rains wash away your roof." He grumbled, painfully aware of how deeply his cheeks were stained red.

Caspian laughed out at this. "So you do hope that I have a roof?"

Sorin shot him an exasperated glare, very close to smacking him on the face with a loaf of buttered bread.

Caspian's smile fell off his face. "Come," He beckoned Sorin, leaning over the spread of food in between them to cup Sorin's face.

Sorin was momentarily confused and Caspian took advantage of that, kissing him full on the mouth. He then pulled away and licked his lips, "You had some butter on your lower lip."

Sorin forgot to be upset, too flustered to do anything more but keep eating.

"I do have a cottage in the woods. Would you like me to steal you away to my cottage?" Caspian asked when they were all done eating and about to resume their reading.

Sorin could help the burst of laughter that escaped him, he felt a lot of little emotions. He was relieved that Caspian at least had somewhere safe to stay, flustered at his relentless teasing and unsure if he really meant what he said.

It would be the most romantic thing to live with a fantastical creature in the forbidden woods… Sorin could actually dream of that.

Reading was a mere ruse, the poor story was tossed to the side in no time to be replaced by little conversations about nothing and everything, and laughter.

As the sun's strength started to wane, a slight shower started. It was enough to have to seek shelter for the sheep, it was nothing but a drizzle.

The sun still shone, making the soft drops of rain look like they were made of gold.

Caspian got up at this time,taking Sorin's hand to pull him up with him as well.

Sorin was used to Caspian taking his hands before he left but he didn't expect to be pulled up to his feet, nor did he expect Caspian to kiss the back of his hand and step closer.

"I wish we didn't have to part." Caspian murmured.

The soft showers were starting to let up, the sheep happily bleating as they shook their coats out.

Sorin's eyes widened, he tipped up his head when Caspian closed the distance between them, placing his palms on Caspian's middle.

Now that they were standing, their height difference was more visible but it didn't bother Sorin.

Kissing Caspian was like tasting sun warmed dew, it was a little too addicting.

"Sorin!"

The sound of Rowan yelling his name from a distance startled Sorin terribly, even more so when Caspian all but disappeared out of his arms.

When he put himself together, the only emotion left was irritation. "Why do you have to yell like a barbarian?" He snapped at Rowan who had been running over.

The rest of his brothers were still a little distance behind him.

Rowan frowned, he had called Sorin's name because he had seen someone else with his brother… But where did the other person go?

"Sorin? Are you okay?" He asked in concern, looking around with sharp eyes.

Sorin's glare intensified. "Do I look okay?"

Rowan took his rhetorical question literally and looked his younger brother over. "You look… why do you look…" He kept trailing off, unable to voice his findings. Why did his youngest brother look ravished?

"Was there someone here with you?" He asked instead, still on high alert.

Sorin stiffened, smoothing down his hair that Caspian's hands had tousled. "Of course not, you just startled me for no reason."

Rowan was still doubtful but he had no proof and Sorin truly looked upset so he decided that it was best to just let the matter go.

"Well, mother decided that our help was no longer needed at the square and bid us to tend to the sheep." He explained, it was why they had returned early.

Sorin blinked. "W-What? I'm not herding the sheep tomorrow?" He blurted out, disbelief on his face.

Rowan gave him an odd look. "Uh, don't you want that? You can get back to your knitting now and you don't have to be up at dawn anymore." He pointed out.

Rowan was actually worried, it was evident that their youngest brother was frail, exposing him to the elements was the last thing he wanted. As fun as the square had been, they had been the one to tell their mother to make up an excuse for them so that they could tend to the sheep.

The rest of his brothers were starting to arrive now and Sorin was too flustered to handle them so he made quick his escape.

"Is he alright?" He could hear Tristan asking but he didn't slow down, almost running as he made his way back to the Barche cottage.

This was the worst that could happen, how would he get to see Caspian again?