Aalyan
He’d dropped his clothes on the shore and dove right into the water, letting the shocking cold of the bottom slap him. For a few moments, it’d been enough to forget Ghian’s words. And then he’d put his head underwater again.
The pain in his throat and his chest had eventually forced him to come up and the memory had returned in full force. He wasn’t sure when he’d started to cry, his tears not that much warmer than the river water. It’d only become obvious when he’d dug his claws on the fresh soil on the shore and pressed his nose to the grass there, uncaring of the mud getting all over his face.
He had to hold on or the current of his emotions would overcome him and he couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t drown.
Ghian hadn’t meant to hurt him. He could see that much. He’d just not noti
