Bird of a Wing - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

The journey was a long one and as the sun started to set in the distance, Nel'os landed. Ryraso felt as Nel'os landed, looking up and around a little dazedly. They had landed in a green clearing with a river nearby and no obvious reason as to why, but Dyn'ad and Aw'endo also landed. Aw'endo looking almost ready to fall to sleep on his feet, falling to the ground dramatically.
"No more," Aw'endo groaned pitifully, his wings flat on the ground. Dyn'ad looked down at the boy amused before gently putting Herymi down next to him.
"Is this where we are spending the night?" he asked Nel'os tightly as Nel'os put him on his feet, slightly nervous with how far behind Tai'ray and Eyeri were.
"Yep," Nel'os said rather cheerfully, nodding in a direction.
Following the movement, Ryraso was surprised by what he found. It was a k'nairi tree hut in the tree, mostly hidden by overgrown branches but still there. It wasn't big enough to be a permanent dwelling but instead was a place designed for travelers to use. Still it was strange to see such a thing while they were still a good way from k'nairi lands. Even with the speed Tai-ray and his mates could fly, it was going to take several more days to arrive in the border forest.
"K'nairi traders once flew spread far and wide Ryraso. You forget some did live on human land as well," Nel'os teased able to feel Ryraso's surprise. "It feels like rain tonight so we might as well sleep dry," Nel'os added, a hand running along Ryraso's arm before he tangled their fingers together. "Tai and your boy are safe," he murmured lowly as Dyn'ad started undressing Herymi to look his wounds over. "Why don't you look Herymi over while we set up for the night?" he offered, bringing Ryraso's hand up to kiss his knuckles.
Ryraso nodded, averting his eyes before moving over to Herymi, taking his bag off his back and kneeling next to him. Dyn'ad was sat on the grass, rubbing Herymi's back as the warrior leant against him.
"Aw'endo, come help me please," Nel'os called.
Aw'endo groaned again but pushed himself up of the grass and moved to Nel'os. Nel'os catching him by his armpits and started wrestling with him for a moment, Aw'endo laughing happily. It finished with Nel'os giving him a kiss on the forehead and a tight hug which had Aw'endo's bones creaking.
"Nel'os!" he complained but hugged close to his guardian.
"You ever run off again and I will hunt you down, regardless of orders," Nel'os growled roughly, but the worry in his cover was clear.
"Try not to," Aw'endo said cheekily before kissing Nel'os on the cheek and struggling out of Nel'os' arms to jump up in the air to fly to the treehouse. Nel'os was close behind, yelling in mock anger. The affect ruined by his laughter.
"Cute," Herymi muttered in pain having been watching them to distract himself from Ryraso looking over his injuries. They weren't bad, but they were sore.
"Aren't they just," Dyn'ad smiled sounding content as he lay in the grass next to them, the sun still shining brightly but low in the sky. "Troublemakers the both of them," he chuckled, before leaning forward to rest his chin on Ryraso's shoulder as he worked, an arm wrapping around his waist but not impeding Ryraso in any way.
Ryraso mostly ignored him, focusing on the work in his hands. They were trembling, Ryraso realised. He curled his fingers and nodded at Herymi, shifting to the side to try to escape Dyn'ad. The royal saw through his ruse however and tugged him backwards, trapping Ryraso in his strong arms. Ryraso breathed heavily, Dyn'ad humming a gentle song as he waited for Ryraso to calm down.
"Easy darling," Dyn'ad murmured into Ryraso's ear. His husky voice setting off conflicting reactions in Ryraso's groin which made him feel even more overwhelmed and confused. "I got you," he breathed.
Ryraso let out a frustrated whimper but didn't try to break out of the hold but instead went absolutely still. His entire body screaming that he didn't want this. Dyn'ad wouldn't let him go until Ryraso told him to however, and Ryraso knew that. Yet, he couldn't quite get the words out.
"Herymi, can you make a fire?" Nel'os asked as he reappeared with some blankets and a large pot. "Aw'endo and I are going to go hunting for dinner," he commented as he wrapped a blanket around Ryraso and Dyn'ad, kissing Ryraso's forehead and Dyn'ad lips.
"Rather hunt but sure," Herymi said calmly, eyes on Dyn'ad and Ryraso with their silent duel not unaware of what was going on. He was worried that he had something similar approaching him in the future. His friends were his friends, not his suitors but the k'nairi had similar ways of treating someone they wanted to repair a relationship with regardless of the type of relationship.
Ryraso leant back into Dyn'ad but only so the blanket would ride up and hide his face.
"I'm sure you would huntsman," Nel'os smiled softly, knowing that statement wasn't as simple as Herymi wanting a chance to escape. "For now, you are injured and unmarked. Rest," he ordered gently, running a hand along his shoulders in a friendly manner. "Aw'en!" he called again, already sounding like a parent again.
"I'm here," Aw'endo grumbled but moved over to kiss Ryraso and Dyn'ad on the cheek.
Dyn'ad moved one arm from Ryraso to tug Aw'endo close for a hug. "Soon we'll have quality time too," Dyn'ad promised. "Be careful hatching."
"I'll find us something good for dinner," Aw'endo grinned before bouncing off Nel'os waving at them before following after him again, the two disappearing into the forest. There was a laugh from Aw'endo in the wind.
Ryraso smiled fondly at the sound before curling in Dyn'ad's arms, this time going limp. Dyn'ad shifted the limp man so Ryraso's head was under his chin and held Ryraso tightly, rubbing his back and humming a gentle song. Ryraso pressed against him, using the hold as an excuse to pull himself back together. Dyn'ad was warm and strong, but it was Dyn'ad. He was D'mar.
Herymi quickly got a fire going and stretched out his legs and arms. "I'd forgotten how uncomfortable being carried for long periods of time is," Herymi said, not wanting there to be deathly silence or rather an incredibly awkward silence as Dyn'ad petted Ryraso.
"Ryraso never really had to deal with that but I guess you did," Dyn'ad mused.
"I went home once a year. I did have to deal with it," Ryraso growled lowly, shuffling slightly so he was more comfortable but staying under Dyn'ad's chin so he wouldn't have to look at the k'nairi. "Nel'os holds me in a more comfortable position, however," he murmured softly.
"I was pretty happy in Tayawge. After I chose the k'nairi over being a farmer, my family disowned me so I only travelled by air if the others," Herymi swallowed uncomfortably, obviously having a flash of his friends. "If the others wanted to take me somewhere."
"Have you ever been to Navat?" Dyn'ad asked, ignoring the squirming human on his lap.
"Once," Herymi murmured, eyes glazing over at the memory. "It was impressive but I preferred Tayawge," he teased. "Was never a big city boy," he said unhappily.
"You'll get used to it," Dyn'ad smiled at him. "I'm sure. Ryraso did."
"Barely," Ryraso grumbled, finally settling down and leaning against Dyn'ad chest. "The convenience you get used to but the voice can be overwhelming," Ryraso mused. He curled tighter as he realised he was shivering slightly, Dyn'ad tucking the blanket around him tighter. "How long will it take the Winglord to catch up?" he asked softly, making sure he was in a position where Dyn'ad couldn't see his face.
Dyn'ad snorted. "You're not exactly being subtle Ry," he commented before moving Ryraso so he could see his face, making Ryraso look in his eyes. "Ryraso, your boy is fine," he murmured. "Tai'ray won't let anything happen to him."
"I know," Ryraso said sheepishly, barely able to keep looking in Dyn'ad's eyes. "I just.." he trailed off not knowing what to say. "It's Eyeri. I can't let anything happen to him now I've gotten him mixed up with my past."
"Your future more like," Dyn'ad said dryly, "We aren't letting you leave us again."
Ryraso winced but nodded. "I know," he said firmly but sadly, turning his head again and looking at the fire. The dark had set in now and the fire was the only light source, Herymi poking at it occasionally. Dyn'ad bit his lip from saying anything else. Now was not the time to get into a fight.
A little while later, Aw'endo and Nel'os reappeared with some small animals now dead and ready to be cooked. Herymi had already filled the pot Nel'os had appeared with earlier with water and put it over the fire. Nel'os quickly sat down and prepared the animals, throwing the meat into the pot. Aw'endo threw some vegetables in as well and they ate well that night.
Yawning after dinner, Aw'endo curled into Ryraso who had finally been released from Dyn'ad's grip, and instead was sitting next to him. Aw'endo lay with his head in Ryraso's lap, Ryraso running his hands through the tufts of dark brown hair. His hair was still shorter than most k'nairi wore it but it was longer than it had been when Aw'endo had reappeared in Ryraso's life. Herymi was talking calmly with Nel'os and Dyn'ad was sitting silently but relaxed.
"Might be worth putting Aw'en to bed," Dyn'ad mused, watching the youngling's eyes stay closed for longer. Aw'endo had done well to stay awake as long as he had, unused to the amount of flying they had done plus he hadn't slept the night before.
"Want to wait for Da and Eyeri," Aw'endo moaned, not bothering to open his eyes.
Dyn'ad smiled fondly, tilting his head. "They should be here soon, why don't you head up and lit the torches," he said.
Aw'endo let out another noise of complaint but obeyed the suggestion. Ryraso watched as he took a branch from the fire pit they had created and moved to the hut. Light appeared inside the hut and Aw'endo was back, putting the fire back in the pit.
True to Dyn'ad words, moments later, Tai'ray appeared, a tired Eyeri on his back. Eyeri slipped off and yawned widely, moving over to Ryraso to hug him tightly. Ryraso hugged back, relieved beyond all measure that Eyeri was safe. "You alright sweetheart," he murmured into Eyeri's ear. Eyeri nodded, staying buried in Ryraso's arms for another moment before slipping out and hugging Aw'endo too.
Ryraso smiled at the look of pure delight on Aw'endo's face at the action before looking more warily at Tai'ray as he walked over to him. Tai'ray reached over and cupped his cheek gently, before kissing his cheek. Ryraso tensed as his face came closer and left feeling oddly cold as Tai'ray kissed his cheek and not his lips.
"I told you, your boy is safe with me," Tai'ray murmured in k'nairi.
"I know," Ryraso said calmly.
"Apparently not enough," Tai'ray said sadly, looking him directly in the eyes. Ryraso blushed and looked back at the boys. Tai'ray hummed before letting go of Ryraso and walking over to the younglings. "Come on, bedtime I think," he murmured softly to them. Eyeri glanced over at Ryraso before nodding and letting Tai'ray pick him up again.
Ryraso rubbed his arms, mentally agreeing with Tai'ray. It had been a long day, it was time to sleep. Nel'os appeared next to him, and gently swept him up to carry him up to the tree hut. Dyn'ad moving to help Herymi put out the fire safely.