Bird of a Flock (Bow 2) - Chapter 2: Chapter 2

A few hours later, Ryraso found himself watching his sons play happily with the village hatchlings. The young children enjoying having some new playmates to tease and tumble with. One hatchling did seem a little shy but Eyeri beamed at him brightly, getting the babe to play. The sight tugged on Ryraso's heart-strings. He didn't want to destroy the look in Eyeri's eyes. It was so rare to see Eyeri so openly happy.
"That's a good view," a familiar voice commented with a strange mix of amusement and sadness. Ryraso glanced over to see Jak beside him, his expression tired as he watched the human boy and the young k'nairi play. Jak had worked all night and all day on the pumping machines before someone had forced him to wash and rest. He still looked beyond exhausted though. His eyes shifted to meet Ryraso's and Jak gave a slight smile. "You alright?" he asked gently.
"I'm..." Ryraso trailed off. "Good, all things considered. Thank you. Just concerned for the future at the moment," Ryraso admitted watching as two k'nairi flew overhead, carrying materials to help fix something. One yelled a greeting, including Eyeri in it. Eyeri smiled and waved shyly back as hatchlings pounced on him.
"I'd say it was looking brighter," Jak chuckled as Eyeri was accepted as being human by the villagers.
"For the k'nairi, yes. I guess it is," Ryraso murmured rubbing the scar on his arm again. It had stung ever since the escape attempt. Ryraso wasn't entirely sure why.
Every caw had known from day one that the k'nairi would do a lot to get them back. The fact that the Winglord was ordering their return now was a dream come true for many and a nightmare for the caw and Namya. Without the k'nairi caw on their side, the Namya's air force would be completely destroyed. There were a few humans who could fly using magic but Tai'ray had dropped hints about capturing them as well. After all, Tai'ray was lord of the skies and everyone who flew in it, with or without wings.
Jak's smile turned sad again as he looked at the healers slumped shoulders, not missing how Ryraso was rubbing a scar. "The next few months are going to be hard," Jak murmured.
"How did you do it Jak?" Ryraso asked softly, almost scared to ask as he continued watching the children play. He felt like he was almost watching for confirmation that the k'nairi weren't all sadistic beasts. "How did you willingly get branded?"
"Willing suggests I wanted it," Jak chuckled darkly, his tone distinctly bitter. "I didn't want it, Ryraso. But I knew what would happen either way if I did not take it willingly. You are aware of how the Winglord got the unwilling to behave?"
Ryraso opened his mouth but closed it again. "I can guess," he closed his eyes, turning from the children and leaning against a tree. Tai'ray would have blackmailed, coerced and outright forced everyone who had rejected the brand. An order from the Winglord was something to be ignored at your own peril. "You took the easy path," he answered the question he had asked Jak.
"You could say that. I'm not like you or the rest of the caw. I'm not brave enough to rebel. No matter how much I would like to at times," Jack commented, an oddly wistful tone about the way he spoke.
"Or stupid enough," Ryraso said, his own bitterness coming out at that statement.
Jak burst out laughing at that, suddenly looking ten years younger as he beamed at Ryraso. Ryraso glaring at him but Jak continued to laugh for another moment. "I really think you lot forget sometimes. The caw, I mean. You are caw because you had enough backbone to go against the Winglord," he explained as he got himself back under control at the look Ryraso was giving him. "Have you ever wondered why the k'nairi pick strong stubborn humans to be theirs? For a race which views us as servants, it is very rare for a human who actually treats the k'nairi the way they demand to be treated, in a nest," Jak pointed out, a touch of bitterness in his voice again. A sore spot in his life. He was loyal but he was also meek.
"They aren't attracted by people who do as they are told like mindless sheep," Ryraso murmured.
"No, they really aren't. To be fair, they are just as bad at forgetting that fact as you are. The royal triad chose you for a reason, Ryraso. A reason which I feel you may have forgotten yourself," Jak said sounding strange.
"Where is this going, Jak?" Ryraso asked, sounding almost tired. He knew all this!
"You will be fine, Ryraso," Jak promised, placing a hand on Ryraso's shoulder. "You gave the Winglord a wake-up call when you and the others left. The order will only prove that the caw were strong enough to stand on their own two feet. They aren't crawling back, they are being brought back. That is a big difference. It proves that the caw are strong enough to stand on their own ground. Don't forget that, Ryraso. They fell in love with you. Now you need to make sure they get the whole package and not just the parts they want," Jak said with a passion behind his words which made Ryraso's heart beat fast for a moment.
Ryraso blinked surprised as the full meaning of those words came over him. Ryraso was the only human, barring Loror, who had ever stood up to the Winglord. If Tai'ray wanted Ryraso in his nest, if Tai'ray wanted to court him, Ryraso would let him. He wasn't about to change how he acted to suit how Tai'ray wanted him to act, however, not a chance in hell. "Don't worry, I fully intend to," Ryraso grinned ferally.
"That doesn't sound too good," a voice declared from behind them. Ryraso turned to find Dyn'ad stalking towards them. Jak chuckled, before bowing at the Royal.
"I have duties to attend to. Good luck in Navat Ryraso," Jak smiled softly, patting Ryraso on the shoulder one last time before leaving them alone. Jak was not going to get in between these two with the look Dyn'ad had in his eyes.
"Dare I ask?" Dya'nd said dryly, walking up to Ryraso like he already had him in his bed and wrapping an arm around his waist and tugging him close. Ryraso only laughed at the possessive action, not fighting it for the moment.
"Nothing important, just a pep talk," Ryraso smiled at Dyn'ad, resisting the urge to chuckle at the look Dyn'ad gave him. This had the potential to be fun, he mused gleefully.
"Ry..." Dyn'ad said sounding worried.
"Dyn'ad, it's fine really. I was feeling upset and Jak cheered me up," Ryraso said in a softer tone, lifting his hand so it was on Dyn'ad's shoulder.
Dyn'ad still looked doubtful but knew better than to try to force it out of the stubborn human. Or at least not until they were bonded and Dyn'ad could see into the iron safe which was Ryraso's heart. Nel'os could slightly but how Ryraso truly felt at times was a mystery to them. Dyn'ad leant down and kissed Ryraso's cheek tenderly.
"Get a room," Aw'endo yelled from below, making Ryraso pull away from Dyn'ad. His cheeks bright red Ryraso remembered they were still in public and hatchlings were below..
Dyn'ad growled lowly not wanting to lose the warm heat of the human by him. He yanked Ryraso back to him, pinning him to the tree which was next to them. "Dyn'ad?" Ryraso said hesitantly as a knee forced his legs apart and his wrists were caught and forced to over his head. Dyn'ad grinned as he looked at Ryraso's confused and slightly nervous eyes. He leant in and kissed Ryraso on the lips. Ryraso didn't fight the kiss, nor the hand which wandered as he was kissed. The kiss was deep but gentle. Only struggling when he began to grow uncomfortable with where they were heading. Even aware that Aw'endo had moved the children away.
"No!" Ryraso growled into the kiss. Dyn'ad rumbled lowly back, but pulled back and released Ryraso's hands.
"Mine," Dyn'ad growled huskily into Ryraso's ear, making the man shiver. Dyn'ad wasn't obsessed with the healer like Tai'ray but he did care about the healer. The Royal was looking forward to the day when he could touch wherever he wanted on the man. The human had the backbone of a true warrior and Dyn'ad enjoyed how bold Ryraso could be. Even if Dyn'ad did want to strangle the man occasionally.
"No," Ryraso smiled, almost challengingly at Dyn'ad. "Not yet. Maybe one day. But until that mate of yours proves himself worth my time, I'm not yours. You're mine," he declared.
Dyn'ad growled playfully, a grin appearing on his face. "Guess I'd better get him to step up his game then," he hummed, leaning forward to nip at Ryraso's lips. "I love you Ryraso."
As Jak moved away from the couple, he couldn't help but feel slightly off. His chest was tight with jealousy. Or was it just envy as he didn't want exactly what Ryraso wanted. The Royals were attractive but he had no spark with them. Jak only hoped he had helped Ryraso out slightly. Jak knew Ryraso liked the Royal triad. Everyone did. The link's main concern was that the healer would be too stubborn to accept that.
Still, that comment Ryraso had made. 'The k'nairi weren't attracted to mindless sheep.' It rang in his mind as his chest burned. Jak didn't want the royal triad but he did want someone to like him. Maybe it was time Jak left himself. He was fed up of being on his own.
Jak walked forward and headed to the one place he knew he needed to go. Tai'ray was already waiting outside for him. Tai'ray looked him up and down and shook his head.
"I can't let you go Jak," Tai'ray murmured.
"I'm not asking you to let me go, Winglord. I'm asking you to let me go home for a few weeks. This is the perfect time for me to do so," Jak said seriously, his fist clenched, forcing himself to speak. "I am marked but the caw are not. People won't mistake me for a runaway."
"Even so..." Tai'ray trailed off. "Will going to your hometown do any good? Surely there is nothing for you there anymore."
"Arguably there is nothing for me here either," Jak pointed out softly, not missing out Tai'ray had spelt out that Jak would be going to his hometown, not his home. "My Lord, it has been eight years now since I last went there. I just want to find out if my family is well or not. My hometown is in D'mar lands. I won't be crossing borders."
"There is a lot for you here," Tai'ray murmured. Realistically, if the war had not been on, Jak could have moved back to his hometown if he wanted. Things were not so simple anymore. "If Guardian Fl'ex agrees, you may go but if you put on a seal, I will inflict the original punishment on you when I find you. Understood?"
"Yes sir," Jak smiled. "Perfectly."