Bird of a Flock (Bow 2) - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

"I don't want you to go," Cha'em murmured, from where he was cuddled into Herymi's side.
Once Herymi had gotten an answer from the Winglord, he had returned to his friends, who had promptly pulled him into the nest for what could only have been described as a puppy pile. They had done them all the time as younglings but once they were adults and sleeping with each other, they had stopped inviting Herymi in the pile. Now was slightly different and Herymi would admit to missing the feeling.
"I have to go," Herymi shrugged, cuddling Adar'y a little closer. "I made my decisions. Now I have to deal with the consequences of them."
"You only fought because you thought they were going to hurt a youngling," Ran'mosy grumbled. "I don't think it's fair you have to get whipped because of the Winglord fighting with his lover and the Winglord, the link best him, wasn't acting sane."
"That's treason," O'chetur scolded lightly, but not strongly. The whole nest was thinking it. The link acknowledged them but didn't quite agree with their assessment of the situation. It did also acknowledge that the nest was biased and not actually in danger of disobeying the Winglord's law.
"I hope the Winglord recovers soon," Cha'em murmured. "He feels better with Ryraso around again." Cha'em was the one of the nest who could have been a priest if he had ever chosen to go into the order instead of joining a nest. Still, being in proximity to the Winglord gave him some insight into the flow of the link around him.
"The more links that unseal, the stronger he will become," O'chetur said without a trace of doubt.
"This is true," Herymi nodded sadly.
"Hey," Adar'y murmured. "It will be alright."
"Will it?" Herymi murmured. "The Namya are going to lose and the D'mar are going to slaughter everyone in their path."
"We won't let them," O'chetur promised softly. "We are only home guards but I am aware there were procedures put in place to stop the slaughter of more innocents. Just how many villages since the k'nairi joined the war effort have you heard of being destroyed?" he asked, a hand running through Herymi's hair.
"Only one," Herymi admitted. "To my knowledge, no k'nairi were involved," he said closing his eyes. "Are you sure Warlord Loror is the right person to rule?"
"Doesn't matter," O'chetur said. "He will. It's safer for you here Herymi. Is there someone you are worrying about," he said almost hesitantly. They hadn't exactly gone into Herymi's life with the Namya. The brief outline of it, sure, but no real details.
"No one you need to worry about," Herymi snorted unimpressed. The wings and limbs around him tightened. Herymi sighed at the actions. "I need to go to talk to Guardian Fl'ex," Herymi said shifting but the nest held him tight. "Come on," he coaxed.
"Who are you worried about?" Ran'mosy growled.
"Come on, it's not like we will hurt him. Or at least, most of us," Cha'em teased. Ran'mosy snarled and jostled him slightly, making Herymi smile slightly and Cha'em laugh. The joke was understood and accepted for what it was.
"We won't hurt him," O'chetur promised. "But who is it?"
"None of your business," Herymi smiled.
"If it is worrying you, it is," O'chetur said gently.
Herymi exhaled and struggled a bit more. "Come on, leave it," he said starting to sound annoyed more than anything else. The wings reluctantly let him get up and crawl out of the pillows. Herymi pulling out his outerwear from where they had been tossed. Ran'mosy rubbed a hand up and down his back gently as Herymi put on his boots.
"We just want to know who you are close to," Ran'mosy murmured. "We would hate for something to happen to him because we don't know who he is."
Shrugging, Herymi turned and kissed Ran'mosy on the cheek. "He's a friend. He's not one of the men I have slept with but until I got assigned babysitting duty, we worked together. He's Namya, Ran'mosy. Something is bound to happen to him now," Herymi said lowly. "Nothing to be done about it now. I have bartered more deals with the Winglord than I was expecting to be able to, I can't expect any more."
"Once we are bonded, we can spread his face in the warrior circle. Offer a reward not to kill him," O'chetur offered.
"If we bond," Herymi breathed before leaving the hut.
"That doesn't sound hopeful," Cha'em said sadly, curling into Ran'mosy again. "He doesn't think he will stay with us."
"He's worried about his friend," Adar'y countered. "And about the fact, his side of the war is going to lose. Our man may not be close to the Namya elite like the Royal's chosen, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have people he cares about on that side. He will bond with us. He asked to come home."
"Not just for us," Ran'mosy murmured, a touch sadly. It was selfish of him to wish it was but Ran'mosy knew it was more to do with Fl'ex and the community than them. Herymi had missed his family and while they were a part of it, they weren't it yet. Some of the others around their age had already started giving Herymi second glances and flirting with him. If they weren't careful, they'd lose him again.
"No, but we can use the claim to our advantage," O'chetur said firmly, feeling his mate's concerns. "He will stay with us. Guardian Fl'ex promised us that," he added. "The Winglord has given me permission to join their party to Navat. I will watch over Herymi while he is in Navat. Can I trust you three to look after yourself while I am gone?"
"Of course," Cha'em and Adar'y nodded.
"Ran?" O'chetur asked, looking over at his mate whose eyes were still firmly on the door where Herymi had left from.
"I will behave," Ran'mosy nodded. "But if you lose him, I'm chasing after him," he warned.
"They are just concerned," Guardian Fl'ex smiled fondly as he listened to his youngest son. Herymi looking distinctly unimpressed with his suitors. It had taken a few well-placed comments but Herymi had been willing to tell Fl'ex just what was bothering him. Fl'ex extremely happy and proud that his human son was still willing to. "You are just nervous about the coming days. It will be fine," he reassured, reaching out to take his son's hand.
Herymi was pacing in his nest room but at the sight of Fl'ex's hand outstretched to him, Herymi moved over and took it, kneeling next to his father. Fl'ex pulled him on the nest and wrapped his arm around the man's shoulders like Herymi was still a lost child. "Herymi," he murmured, running his fingers through Herymi's hair.
"I know," Herymi sighed. "I just... I guess I am just worried about things. This all happened so fast," he slumped. "I went from being on a two-month assignment to the caw being recalled and being kidnapped to finding out they put a claim on me to seeing them," he rambled. "I really don't know what to do anymore."
"Do what you have to in Navat and come home," Fl'ex said, nuzzling Herymi's hair. "You are not expected to fall in love with them in three days. Especially not with your history. Use Navat to take a deep breath and take stock of what has happened. It's no wonder your head is spinning at the moment."
"There is a touch of dizziness to this all," Herymi admitted tiredly. He went to sit up but Fl'ex held him down. Herymi exhaled, but didn't fight. It felt strange to be like this after so long. Strange but it was a nice feeling to be in his adoptive father's arms again.
"You can stay a moment longer boy. I missed you," Fl'ex murmured. "And I'm still not impressed with those tattoos," he added sounding paternal again, a finger tracing over one on Herymi's forearm. It was of a bird, its wings spread wide. It was one of the more beautiful of Herymi's ink.
"I know. I missed you too," Herymi mumbled, turning into him and closing his eyes. There was no point trying to be an alpha male and reject the affection. It was better just to accept it and enjoy the hug. Fl'ex's smell surrounded him and made him feel safe. He felt at home in his father's nest. "I wasn't really thinking of you when I got them," he teased.
"I hope not," Fl'ex smiled. "Don't suppose you'd consider letting us try to remove some of them?"
"Nope," Herymi grinned looking at him and popping the 'p'. "They are mine, Pops and they aren't going anywhere," he said firmly.
Fl'ex snorted. "Just as long as you aren't either," he commented, kissing Herymi's forehead tenderly.
"He isn't," a voice confirmed as they entered the hut. "We won't let him," Tai'ray promised as he walked over to them. Herymi struggled slightly but while Fl'ex did let him sit up, the older k'nairi refused to let go of him.
"I'm glad Winglord," Guardian Fl'ex grinned, wrapping his arm around Herymi's waist and holding him close. "My boy has been wandering far too long. I want him home," he stated firmly. Herymi grumbled at being called a boy but leant into Fl'ex's shoulder. He was in his thirties, he was hardly a child but the k'nairi were very tactile even as adults. It was just something he was going to have to get used to again. At least with Fl'ex. The others would have to cool off.
"As soon as I can allow it," Tai'ray nodded, chuckling at the sight of the human warrior being babied. Herymi was calm and mature but like most parents, the k'nairi rarely saw the younglings they raised as complete adults. "But I will have to steal him away for a few weeks. Should be long enough for you to set things up here," he commented.
"As long as you bring him back," Fl'ex stated sounding pleased. "I assume you are here to retrieve him, Winglord?"
"In part," Tai'ray nodded. "Partly also to warn you. Jak asked to go to his hometown, I said he could, if you said yes."
Fl'ex sighed, not liking the idea but understanding why Tai'ray said yes. "Do you think he would mind if I sent him with a babysitter?" he asked, thinking over who would want to make sure Jak would return. A few people came to mind, Herymi snorted knowing the answer straight away. Fl'ex nudged his son in the ribs. "Hush you," Fl'ex murmured.
"I think that is a very good idea," Tai'ray smiled softly. "He'll hate it but I doubt he will complain too much. It took him a lot just to ask me to go home. He also said something about not having anything here so if he does have something here, I suggest showing him that soon."
"I will, Winglord," Fl'ex nodded "Take care of my son."
"Of course, Guardian Fl'ex. One other thing. O'chetur has asked to join us. So Herymi will have one friend in Navat," Tai'ray smiled, offering his hand to Herymi to help get out of the bed.
"Good," Fl'ex nodded as Herymi grimaced at the idea. "Bye kiddo, love you," he smiled warmly at his son, kissing his son's cheek before he could pull away.
"Bye Pops, love you too" Herymi smiled sadly as he took the hand. "I'll see you soon."