D A V E N P O R T
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On the other hand, the words that followed only worked to sour his mood.
Simon's eyes found the bottle in a second, a sudden sinking feeling in his stomach, like he wasn't quite ready to let it go just yet. This feeling barely had time to register on his face, however, as he released a soft laugh and a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "No need, Ambers," he told the younger man, keeping his voice as casual as he could manage under the circumstances. "I'll take that back later, don't worry."
The prince's hands slipped down Ambers' arms until he reached his hands, then began to pull him forward towards the tent's exit. "Let's just go, 'ey? That stream sounds nice... peaceful," he added, pulling back the door flap for both of them to make their way through it.
Without needing to be shown the way, Simon - still keeping at least one of Ambers' hands in his own - made his way through the camp and towards the edge of the forest, where a small path had recently been formed. It became a habit over the past year for Simon to spend many a night mapping out the areas that surrounded the Rebellion's camp, no matter where they found themselves in this ruined world. Within the first two nights, Simon had managed to familiarise himself with every nook and cranny. Streams, lakes, clearings, caves, and whatever else he could find. Not much had slipped by his notice.
The moment they left camp, Simon had visibly relaxed, and he released his hold on the young soldier's hand. A slow exhale filled the silence, before his brown eyes settled on Ambers.
"How are you holding up?" he asked, as if he was surprised that he hadn't thought to do so earlier.
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She'd give her right arm for someone to step forward and decipher what was going on in her mind right then. Not that it mattered anymore, of course. Mycah was in her daughter's life now, whether she liked it or not.
In the midst of her thoughts, Eida was caught off guard when suddenly the young child was no longer in her arms, but instead had her own wrapped around Mycah's neck. Her eyes wide, part of her was tempted to snatch her daughter back, but something halted her. He daren't move in that moment; she could see the hesitation in his face, and in the way he merely held his arms out.
She stayed motionless for a good while, then set her jaw. Shit...
"Hold your daughter, Mycah," she told him, her voice so quiet it could be classed as a whisper, but there was no way he wouldn't have heard it. It took a lot for her to use those words, and they were not careless. Acknowledging Mycah as the child's father was a sign of budding trust, or at least some leniency with regards to her boundaries. "Her name..." she started, pausing momentarily. "Her name is Hotaru."
Eida pulled her gaze from the two, unable to watch as Hotaru cradled her father so lovingly, and took a moment to scan their surroundings. The women and children that had accompanied her on this journey were long gone; only the three of them remained. She didn't quite know if she was grateful for their absence.
With a flick of Eida's wrist, a wooden stool emerged seemingly from nothing and she lowered herself to meet it. She spared a glance to the sword that still lay by her feet, a sigh escaping her lips.