"I'm…" Leena didn't want to disclose her real name, but she was a terrible liar, "Maya. Maya Hart. Is she," Leena pointed to Cadette, "Is she harmless?"
Capsien straightened, narrowing his eyes slightly but nodding "yeah, she's completely harmless. other than attacking you with kisses."
"Heh, yeah. Are you a good girl?" Leena asked to Cadette, holding out her hand to let her sniff. It was then that the limited sunlight shone against her hair, almost making Aileen wince. If he knows, he knows-you can run. If he doesn't… She didn't know what to do if he hadn't known of her. Become friends? Disappear? She didn't want to have to run anymore.
Cadette trotted up to Leena and licked her hand affectionately. Caspien watched the two with a small smile, glancing up as the sun came up. He glanced back at Maya and tilted his head curiously "your hair, it's silver."
"Um. Yeah. I'm not… I mean, I can leave if it… unsettles you." Please say yes, please say yes! Aileen had her left hand suspended in the air, close to Cadette, unsure of whether to draw back or pet her.
“I-I should probably go…”
Caspien shook his head "you've done enough running, probably enough for the rest of your life. I know a place where you can stay where it's safe." He suggested. Cadette nudged her head into Leena's hand and wimpered softly
Aileen yanked her hand back, clamping her hands together. She was flustered. Did he know about her? "R-running? I didn't run! I'm just…wandering. I've been wandering for a while now…"
"too long it seems. When was the last time you had a proper rest?" He asked with a tilt of his head
"I-Uh…" Leena shook her head. She didn't know…six months ago? No, she had only taken a short rest. "Doesn't matter." Leena concluded. "I'm what you call an insomniac." Liar, she almost cringed, her left eye twitching.
He sighed softly, not believing her "well either way, you can at least use a safe place to stay until you feel ready to move on." He prompted gently, looking up at her "unless you want the morning patrol to find you."
"I-um…This would be only for a night, yes? So I can get out of your hair sooner rather than later." Leena tried to convince herself that she was fine-that there was nothing to worry about-but she had her guard up.
Caspian nodded "for as long as you'd like." he said "and you're no bother, actually, you're the most interesting thing that's happened so far in this kingdom." he offered a charming smile and his hand
"Me? I-Interesting? I'm not…I'm not…I'm not interesting. Not-not to anyone." Aileen's blush was obvious. She shook her head suddenly, swallowing down her timidness. "No. I am a nobody, least to you. I'll accept the invitation, but that's it. I'll leave when night comes 'round, and I won't be a distraction in your life. Okay?" A hint of a smile was on Leena's face as her hand took Caspian's.
He chuckled softly "sure, not a distraction." He laughed and tilted his head towards the forest. Lead the Cadette." The dog barked happily and trotted ahead.
"So where'd you come from?" He asked "not to be nosy or anything."
"I…" No lies this time, Leena. "I came from a town near here. You heard of Wildern? It's rather quaint." Leena was nervous.
"You come from the Magic lands?" Caspian asked win wonder "That'd explain the silver hair." He chuckled lightly and led her through the trees and undergrowth
(boop)
(…oof, I thought I was waiting on you, sorry!)
"I…yeah. You're not…scared? I heard rumors of a real dangerous one…they say that the person is still out there." She was, of course, mentioning herself, but she wanted to know how much this person knew…and how he could hide her away. All the while, she was keeping a frigid posture, keeping her wings close to her back, close enough to not be noticed unless touched or if her back was explicitly looked at.
(you're good)
Caspien shook his head "not really, we've had so many attacks that it seems second nature to me at this point. Plus, if you really wanted me dead, I would hope that you kill me swifty instead of leading me on like this." He smiled softly and came to a stop near the edge of a clearing. A small cave large enough to hide a few people was nestled among underbrush and a small river ran through the center. "Not many know of this place. Yo should be safe here for now." He watched as Cadette ran about, happy to be in an open area and breaking out into a full sprint. "Just be careful of the wild huskies, they've been known to lick for days." He teased and wistled for cadette to come back
"Ha, yeah…sorry about that. I'm not that used to animals. Are you…leaving?" Leena had a weird look of suspicion on her face. Was this a trick?
He looked at her with a teasing glance. He shoved his hands in his pockets and flicked his hair from his brow "Do you want me to leave?" he asked
"I mean, you don't have to…but I assume you'd have things to do, people to see. I'm not the most interesting thing to see around these parts. I'm-I'm normal…" Leena's voice fell, letting the 'normal' all but a lie.
"Anyways, I doubt I'll be doing much here. Thanks for the hospitality…"
"At this time? no, not really at least no one of importance to me." He started walking around the clearing, glancing behind his shoulder with a grin "You normal? never." he winked and crouched down next to Cadette
"I-what? No. No, I'm just…me. Besides, you probably live a better life than me," You being able to show your face to people without them wanting to tell the Royal Guards, maybe even the King… Aileen shrugs as she shifts so that she sits in the back of the cave, her posture only dimly lit, her back to the rocks.
He shrugged "there's something special about all of us. And my life isn't as great as you think. Why do you think I'm here instead of back in there?" He jerked his thumb behind him. He glanced at her for a bit "you're safe here, I won't tell anyone I saw you." His blue eyes searching hers
"Okay." She trusted him…why? "I believe you. But I-" Leena felt a frog in her throat. "I don't think it'd be wise for you to know about me. But with that being said, my name's not May. It's Aileen. Leena-if you'd like to call me that-is the name friends call me."
He looked away with a smile, fiddling with the hem.of his sleeve, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "Thank you, for trusting me with that. He bowed to her in respect "I guess I'll go and leave you to sleep for now. He turned to go but looked behind him at the last second, "I'm not known for being that wise. But I'm not stupid. I don't care what or who you are. I promise to keep you safe for as long as you decide to stay."
Chills were sent down Leena's spine as she nodded. She needed sleep, yes, but Caspian reminded her of someone familiar, someone she lost due to herself. She decided to trust him, least for now.
Laying down with her back to the wall, Leena brushed the hair that was draped in front if her face.
"Thanks. You don't-" she yawned, "-have to do this, you know." But her voice was trailing off as she was already half asleep, Leena curling up on her side and using her arm for a makeshift pillow.
"Thank you. 'M gonna stay here a bit." Her eyes flutter shut as her breathing slowed, and for the first time in a while, her mouth rested in a soft smile.
Cadette licked caspien's hand before trotting over to Leena and settling herself beside her. Caspien smiled at the two "you're welcome, goodnight ladies." He whispered, turning around and heading back to the castle
Hey, could I join?
