Oh hey, guess what? Another one!

De’Tearion chirped again when Jackie moved her hand away. His claw tapped the floor twice, then his leg moved again. A rumbling chirp came from his throat as his body slowly settled down again.

A few minutes later, De’Tearion’s thumb tenderly rubbed her knee, just before a hum started in his throat. It kept a steady rhythm for a while, then the rhythm changed into a sort of tune or song.

The tune was a Forestfolk nature song De’Tearion had been taught as a child. It had no lyrics, but it praised many aspects of nature. He was singing it in his sleep, but the hum slowly woke him with memories of his mother. She had died while he was still young, but she had been one of the few Forestfolk in his life that treated him like a pure blood, instead of an outcast. He missed her dearly.

As he finished the tune, De’Tearion simply stared ahead. Afterward, his ears focused on Jackie once again and he sensed something was off. He hesitated to move, as he was quite content, but he eventually sat up, looking around cautiously to be sure that everything was well.

When no dangers presented themselves, De’Tearion turned back to Jackie. His eyes lit with concern when he saw her wiping her face. He could smell the tears and hear the distress in her heartbeat. It bothered him, though he wasn’t sure why.

“Was my singing the cause of your tears?”he asked softly. He reached a hand toward her, offering comfort if she wanted it.

De’Tearion froze. How could there be a similar tune? Few of his kin were ever civil around other folk, and their nature songs were rarely shared even with other Forestfolk. Or… was it simply coincidence? He didn’t know enough yet to have a sure answer. But, that wasn’t necessarily what stunned him.

“My mother taught me that song when I was a youth. ‘Tis one of many tunes meant to praise nature. My kin revere nature, among other things,”he explained.

De’Tearion stared at Jackie’s head in confusion, not sure what she was wanting. Without knowing what else to do, he brushed his hand along her head, gently stroking her hair.

(Fuck, I’m an idiot! I didn’t even think that Jackie was a Catfolk. That explains a lot, lmao!)
(Though… is she like a DnD Catfolk, or more of a humanoid with cat-like features? My brain’s confused now, lol)

De’Tearion tilted his head, a dark gleam abruptly appearing in his eyes. He quickly took a deep breath to compose himself.

“My kin are warriors as well. The entire society be militant. They are the warmongering assassins of my homeland, and be one of many reasons why I will never return to the forests of home,”De’Tearion mentioned quietly, his voice shaking slightly.

He chuckled,”My preferred height, or my full height?”

De’Tearion smiled breifly, continuing his caresses of Jackie’s head. The temptation to wrap her in a hug was difficult to resist, particularly with her purring, but he somehow managed it.

(I hadn’t made the connection. I’m so used to making custom races that I apparently forgot a few existing races, lmao!)
(Ah, I see. Thumbs-up)

De’Tearion chirped.

“I was…”

He froze, realizing that he had been about to reveal his own past. But, the moment he realized it, the moment he couldn’t bare to think of speaking about it.

“‘Tis a tale for another time,”he breathed shakily.

He composed himself, then smiled a bit.

“I see now.”

He continued to stroke her head, letting Jackie decide when to stop. It was quite soothing, such a simple action, and her purr was so wonderful to hear.

(I noticed that, lol)

Her understanding made it much easier for De’Tearion to calm down. He was glad she wasn’t pushing him, very glad.

“Aye.”

De’Tearion retracted his hand when Jackie pulled away. He watched her, wanting to be sure she was alright. She then spoke, and he realized truly how long it had been since someone had said ‘thank you’ to him. It was shocking how rare that phrase actually was in his presence.

“‘Tis an honor,”he replied softly.

(Yeah, pretty much. Lol)

De’Tearion tensed when Jackie grabbed his hands. He slowly calmed when she just held him.

“I will keep that in mind,”he said quietly, an appreciative gaze in his eyes.

Her words surprised him a bit. He had been petting her? Truly? Was his caresses what was considered ‘petting’? He would have to research that later.

“I am always formal. ‘Tis the ways of my brethren, and furthermore, of my rank. And, I am always glad to offer comfort to those that need it,”he replied.

De’Tearion sighed, a sorrowful look entering his eyes. He looked down at their entwined hands, needing something else to focus on so he wouldn’t burst into tears.

“My ‘Brethren’ be one of the Forestfolk species, what I am. ‘Tis a common reference, because the entire species be a single army. ‘Tis a militant society. And, my rank…”he trailed off with a bitter chuckle.

“I was a noble. Truthfully, I… was the equivalent of royalty. My bloodline has led the species almost from the beginning of our time. Trust me when I say that the hatred be mutual. I would rather burn all the forests of the world, then to return to those hypocritical bastards. And, there be no pride in existing as a ridiculed leader, even after I earned my place as a worthy member of the Forest Council. What pride exists when the only thing you are acknowledged for be the blood on your hands? When one must destroy all that one be, to survive in a society that cares for you not, and especially for your kin not?”De’Tearion said, his shaking hands steadily tightening around Jackie’s as he spoke.

Tears welled in his eyes, and he shut them in desperation, but it didn’t help.

“I was banished not. I am an exile. I left of my own choice. And… aye. My… my sister. She… she… died in my arms. And… those bastards… those damned, cruel bastards never acknowledged her. I abdicated the night after,”he breathed, his entire body shaking now. Black tears poured down his face.

When she started to remove her hands, he resisted, desperate for contact. But, the moment her hands came loose, she wrapped him in a hug. Without hesitation, his arms wrapped around her tightly, and he hid his face in her shoulder, crying as the nightmarish memories of Agatha’s death haunted him.

“I failed her. I failed my dearest Agatha,”he whimpered.

De’Tearion snorted, shaking his head.

“What good… would that be? Agatha… be already nearly thirty human years dead. And, my… homeland be isolated from the mainland almost completely. If this Ōni individual… knows of it, he be extremely fortunate,”he said through his tears.

De’Tearion shook his head again.

“No. There would be no point, and there are too many innocents there that have no knowledge of my existence or misery. Leave it. I will never return,”he breathed.

Hiding his face in her shoulder again, he quietly cried. He didn’t want to talk anymore. He just wanted to be held.

(Little friend noise)

De’Tearion certainly did appreciate the tight hold. So few times in his life has someone else shown him comfort. It was a rare treasure for him to receive something as simple as a hug. And, it was enough to bring more tears to his eyes.

It dismayed De’Tearion when Jackie leaned back, but he didn’t fight it. He wiped the thick streaks of tears off his face, breathing deeply in a weak attempt to compose himself.

“Somewhat. Though, I am afraid a single hug will do little for me in the end. I need more than mere comfort at this point in my life, no matter how dear it be to me. I have long been aware of that, yet I know not how to solve my dilemma. Every opportunity of peace I find always seems to slip from my grasp just before I can truly hold it,”he breathed, turning away halfway through his words.

De’Tearion paused, glancing up at Jackie. He hadn’t thought of it like that.

“…Aye. Yet, that… that be what I meant not. I… I meant true peace. No more haunted memories and dreams. No more loneliness. No more…”he trailed off with a sigh, not sure how to adequately list all of his pain.