Bird of a Flock (Bow 2) - Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Orange eyes looked up, as a dagger passed over his throat. Blood dripping from the wound. Not enough to kill. Couldn't kill him. As much as he wished to. He sobbed and arms surrounded him. Strong and firm, reassuring from something that was not his feelings but something else entirely. "We never wanted to hurt you," whispered words, hands holding him close. His limbs felt weak and sluggish. Had he been drugged again? When had he been drugged the first time? "We won't ever again. We swear!"
It was the truth. Those words were spoken by someone who meant them. He let out a burst of hysterical laughter. Everything that had happened and they meant those words. If it had been anything else, maybe they could have been reassuring.
"You meant to kill me," he snarled, pressing his forehead against the man's shoulder, a slight dampness touching his cheek as blood spread from the other's neck to his cheek where they brushed.
"We did. Kill, not hurt. But you proved ..." Kind/caring/gentle. Emotions rolling in where words couldn't be spoke. Words were too hard right now in a matter so visceral. Only feelings could be truly expressed. Those feelings were quickly followed by fear, fear of him and then shame of what had transpired. "I wouldn't have let him stay with someone who forced him. But you were just as forced so we changed plans. If things had been different..." Oh, how he wished things had been different.
"Why now? Why do you want more now?" The word 'more' seemed to echo in the space around them. Feelings turning black and inky. The hands held him closer, gripped tighter making it hard to breathe or think clearly. Only they loosened as he felt pain. Regret filling the space. A second pair of hands rubbed his back.
Like/desire/fondness. Emotions flowing through again. He wasn't used to it yet, used to feeling them. They had done a good job of blocking him. He had been thankful for that. "We can't go on like this. Our people need more. We won't let it be like last time. We won't force it. But please. Give us a chance..." A whispered hope, a dream of sorts that they could turn something that had started cold and dark to something warm and light. "Give us a chance..." the words echoed again, resounding in the mind.
The world spiralled and a new image came. Of a young human man who was attractive and unafraid. Blood was still spread over his cheek and on his hands but the man looked up at him with fire in his eyes and a ghost of something within.
"You're late," he challenged.
"I had patients," the man bowed gracefully. Respectfully, despite words to the opposite. Amusement bubbled in his chest. He liked this one. This one was different.
"You like him," the voices whispered, shadows filling the air again, "We could..." take/claim/conquer. Humans were not k'nairi. They were weak but often beautiful, loyal and smart. Worthy of desire and respect. But respect from k'nairi was a double-edged sword. Skills were things which made people valuable.
"No! I won't let what happened to me, happen to him," he snapped at the voices. Guilt and shame travelled back. That had not been what they meant. "Hush now, I didn't mean it like that." Warmth/ love/guilt. "Stop it. I love you too. I love you both, but I will not force this on him."
Horror filled him as another image appeared. This time of the man packing. Leaving. Forever. A letter telling him his bloodkin was dead. Killed. "No! Don't go" 'Force him. Make him stay. He is OURS.'
"If you have any respect for me, you will let me go!"
Respect? Lots. But don't want to let what is ours go. Have to let him go. Hurt. Pain. Sad. Blood. The image turned red, washed in the blood of the war.
"You belong to us now," A cruel voice said, a hand forcing his legs open.
"We love you."
Ryraso woke up in shivers. He looked up in the dim morning light at the ceiling and tried to control his breathing. Slowly he sat up in the full bed and his eyes looked over everyone around him. His boys were sleeping peacefully, though Fetmar's grip on Eyeri and Aw'endo was tight. His face relaxed but it seemed even asleep he was unwilling to let go of his brothers so soon. He smiled slightly at them, frowning as his eyes went to Tai'ray's face.
Pain filled it. His arms wrapped around Eyeri's waist tightly, biting his lip to stop himself screaming out. Nel'os was no better, clinging onto Tai'ray for dear life. Dyn'ad's grip on him was fairly tight too. Which is when it clicked. The dream had been Tai'rays. A nightmare, one which was now spreading through the nest.
The man in it, the human, had been himself.
He gulped. Ryraso hoped it was because of the link's acceptance of him that he saw the dream and it hadn't been broadcasted across the link. Aw'endo didn't seem to be showing any signs of distress, nor did Eyeri. Breathing slowly, he reached over and combed his fingers through Tai'ray's hair. The result almost immediate.
Tai'ray's eyes flew open and a taloned fist grabbed his arm, cutting into his skin. Ryraso hissed, wincing at the pain and watched as blood pooled in between the claws. The k'nairi panted and then Ryraso stayed perfectly still, waiting for Tai'ray's mind to return to him. Moving too fast right now would be a very bad idea. It didn't take long. Tai'ray's eyes widened in horror and snapped to his with a slightly panicky edge at what he had just done.
'Ry!' Tai'ray called through the link, remorseful. 'Are you okay?'
'Mostly,' Ryraso smiled weakly, 'Care to let go?' he asked, his arm starting to really hurt now. Plus blood was starting to drip off it and he didn't want it falling on Nel'os who was between them. Ryraso vaguely noticed at this point that Nel'os' face had even out into a more peaceful expression and Dyn'ad's grip on him was no longer a death grip. It had definitely been Tai'ray's nightmare invading their dreams.
Reluctantness came across the link and Tai'ray leant in to lick some of the blood up before it could fall. 'I'm sorry,' he murmured, as warmth was spreading though Ryraso's hand.
Ryraso's eyes widened as the cuts healed seamlessly, like he had never cut him in the first place. It was more smooth than any healing spell he had seen. 'Tai'ray?' He hadn't been aware Tai'ray knew how to heal. It was rare. More common than teleporting, but not by much. Which is why there were still healers and medics. There simply wasn't enough people with the skill to learn it, or rather enough k'nairi with the mindset to.
'It's hard. But sometimes I can. A gift from the goddess,' Tai'ray admitted. Ryraso getting a sense of embarrassment from him. As Winglord he was supposed to be perfect, and to the k'nairi he was but that wasn't always the truth.
'Thank you', Ryraso breathed, glad he wasn't going to have to spend the next few days in bandages. One of the risks of being a fragile human among birds with talons, occasionally you got cut. 'Are you okay? That was a pretty nasty dream,' he said gently probing.
Tai'ray was silent for a moment, a look of embarrassed horror on his face. 'You saw?'
'Some of it,' Ryraso allowed, feeling embarrassment and nervousness coming over the link from the Winglord. 'Tai...' he said with an offer to talk about it, rubbing a hand over Nel'os side. Nel'os feathers were puffing slightly before relaxing, suggesting his dreams had moved from the nightmare to flight. It was almost endearing to watch and made his current feelings for Nel'os even harder to deal with.
'We were going to tell you. We were. It just got lost in translation,' Tai'ray explained weakly. 'You won't, right? Try to leave us again? They are worried. We are worried that this will change things.'
Ryraso's heart hurt as he looked at Tai'ray. The man was so hopeful and fearful at the same time. 'I left for a reason Tai,' he murmured gently. 'Those reasons haven't changed. But none of them were that I did not like you. I will accept courting, and it will be courting. This," and Ryraso held up the arm with the Goddess' mark on it, "does not give you the right to bond to me so easily. I will promise I will not leave you again. I won't try to, provided you can keep the few people I would risk such an action for, safe.'
'The few... the dozen more like,' Tai'ray smiled weakly.
'You have the main two here,' Ryraso pointed out, glancing over at Eyeri and Aw'endo curled around Fetmar. 'Everyone else can take care of themselves.'
Tai-ray smiled slightly, his eyes looking over Eyeri and Aw'endo gently, before moving onto Fetmar. 'Your oldest son has been struggling to sleep. We've had to lull him a few times... Do you know what are the chances of Eyeri's other brothers making a rescue attempt?' he asked, his mind starting to make plans. He hadn't taken Ryraso seriously when he had warned about the brothers and now he had one trapped in his grips. Would the others follow suit?
'It's unlikely. Oira is on some secret assignment at the moment. I doubt he even knows. Makio's a scout. Low level, he doesn't have the resources needed. Yerir'o can confirm this. Makio's got a rival who's k'nairi as well. Might be worth getting a message through to him to let him know his brothers are okay,' Ryraso mused.
'That's two of three threats'
'Kanan... You have nothing to worry about there. He is not like his brothers. He is just a normal foot soldier. If you met him, he would attack you, but he won't actively try to rescue either of his brothers,' Ryraso admitted with a twinge of guilt for thinking that.
'Good,' the word wasn't spoken out of spite, but out of relief. Tai'ray didn't want to have to go through this again anytime soon. His eyes looked over Fetmar with mixed feelings. 'Yerir'o will be angry at me for not letting him join us tonight. Fetmar isn't his quite yet, but his instincts will think I'm moving in on him,' Tai'ray mused. Ryraso could feel the slight amusement and also understanding coming from Tai'ray. He could see Fetmar's appeal, but the Winglord felt no desire for Fetmar.
'No teasing him,' Ryraso warned, sensing something which was rare from Tai'ray. 'I'm glad Fetmar will be Yerir'o's first. It will make it easier'.
Polygamy had issues with humans. There were issues with the k'nairi as well, but their race was more built for it, emotionally speaking. Having a bond which let you know the truth helped people know your true feelings. Humans had no reassurance unless they had gained a link. For a human with no experience of the k'nairi outside of combat, being claimed would be a daunting thing, and Ryraso had no doubts Fetmar was nervous. Not nervous enough to back out, but enough that it was a concern.
'You're no fun,' Tai'ray pouted, before smirking as he felt what Ryraso was thinking, 'You going to do the traditional duty of the sire?'
Ryraso just smiled, the look making Tai'ray shiver and chuckle. Glad for once, he was not going to be on the end of that look. Technically, he was the one who was supposed to ensure Yerir'o was worthy of Fetmar. But he had only just met the man. Ryraso was already very much the young man's father.
Awen'do whimpered in his sleep, starling both of them from their thoughts. Tai'ray reached over and placed a hand on his head. Awen'do calmed, nuzzling into the hand. 'Nightmares of his own,' Tai'ray smiled sadly, 'This all has been hard on him.'
'What are you planning to do to him?'
'Ground him. Nothing more, nothing less. He is young and now he has you back, as well brothers, he should be settled. His fears are of abandonment. Of us all leaving him.' Tai'ray didn't need to voice they never would. Ryraso didn't either. Instead, he yawned.
'Go back to sleep,' Tai'ray murmured, 'I'll try not to have nightmares anymore.'
Ryraso hummed, but closed his eyes, letting himself fall back into the peaceful darkness of sleep. Able to feel Tai'ray mentally curling around him. For once not angry or desperate but content.