He’d been watching them from afar, this entire time. Not once had he abandoned them (though often it felt that way.) It tore at him, the feeling that he could be so close but he couldn’t do anything about it. The first week without her Zeik had remained solely in his predatory form, tearing through the woods and clawing at small animals in flushed anger. How he could have deserted her, he’ll never know. He didn’t even show face, couldn’t stand against the white terror that had torn his life to pieces. Zeik knows now that it was foolish to open his heart up, to try and experience life. Makai’s outburst suddenly made so much sense.

But it wasn’t enough to keep him away for long. He’d come back in the shadows at first, under the cloak of night. He’d watched Felinae grow rounder until his daughter had been brought to life, watched as she and the pale flecked mare grew a connection, even watched as the horned stallion had caused so much unrest. He was biding his time, waiting for the opportune moment to retrieve what rightfully belonged with him. Little did he know that there was someone else waiting in the rafters for the same moment.

The night Magnus had stolen them away Zeik had watched with his throat in his mouth. His blue-grey falcon body was tense the entire time as he watched Felinae slip from the mountainside with Minette and escape to the safety of the Gates. There was nothing to be done - Felinae had made her choice and she’d made the right one, she had Besra to think of now. But the ache that burrowed somewhere deep within his marrow began to seep out into his thoughts, and some nights Zeik awoke with a burning sensation to be near her again.

So he’d abandoned his perch on the outskirts of the meadow and shifted into his raptor form, wings pumping soundlessly into the morning light as he flew across Beqanna. He’d never felt such urgency before, and the fire that ignited his journey sent him spiraling into a mad haste that soon had him panting from the exertion. But Felinae could not wait, Besra could not wait. As the sun breaches the horizon Zeik crosses the border without so much as a blink. No one will think twice about an ordinary falcon and his concern was pointed for Felinae alone, the Gates be damned.

He screeches, the call intended for her and her alone. He knows that she will understand, that she will seek him out. He’d gone too long without her.

Z E I K

-everything we are and used to be is buried and gone-

He almost can’t believe it’s her. The small bluebird that flits through the sky and comes to hover near him is like something from a dream. She shifts, her mouth saying his name in a way that nearly causes his heart to leap from his chest, and Zeik hovers a few more times before rolling gently and shifting back to his original body. The form seems strange, its been so long since he’s been Zeik. But Felinae is there, finally there, breathing, whole, beautiful. He’s silent. He can’t move, can’t force himself to wrap her in his embrace because he’s frozen from the shock of it all.

A year. They had been without each other for a year. His dark head rises, auburn eyes flashing with a feverish excitement as he takes a hesitant step forward. “Felinae?” He breaths, almost like she isn’t real. His head drops, ears falling back before he retracts his step and squares, feeling the all-too-familiar weight of shame grow heavy on his shoulders. “Can you ever forgive me?” He whispers, teeth grinding together with the pain that sentence causes him.

There is so much more that he wants to say, so much more that he want to know. Where was Besra? Could he see her? Did she know about him? But they fall behind the one that lingers in the air between them now. For the first time in a long time, he feels helpless.

Z E I K

-everything we are and used to be is buried and gone-

Felinae has changed, so much so that Zeik’s eyes widen with her confident step forward. The mountain had shaped her, made her into stone, and then spit her back out with steel in her heart. Her teeth scrape against his skin and the sensation snaps him back into his hardened resolve. All this time and he’d never really known how much he had needed her in return. It was odd, to see himself so low and have her - his little bird - bring him right back to his senses. They really were meant for each other. Her fiery words elicit the dryest of chuckles and the roan stallion leans against her, into her. “You are certainly something of a wonder to me.” He whispers.

He can feel the way she tries to hold herself together, the faint trembling of her body as she inhales his scent. The worry, the pain, the shame; they all seem to fade the longer they spend together just reconnecting. He’d been an idiot not to fight for her, he knew that now. He knew that the moment the red-eyed asshole had held him under his thumb with a threat. Zeik was no power against magic, but he should’ve fought. Felinae was worth that. As she breaths against him, light, fluttery gasps, he swears to himself that he will never let her go again. Ever.

“I’ve missed you too.” He murmurs, trying his best to sooth her. His nose draws gentle circles along her spine, only stopping for a moment so that he can close his eyes and drink this moment in. “It’s alright now though, I’m not leaving you and I never will.” He promises, letting the words drift over her in a blanket of sound. His voice is rumbling now, he can hardly contain the joy that she gives to him. But still, there’s another bright star that looms over them both and Zeik can no longer contain himself.

“Our daughter, Besra.” He questions; yes, Zeik knew her name. He’d been hiding in the lofty trees of the mountain the day Felinae had given birth. It was a risk, but it had been one worth taking. Feli will never know how much that moment had hurt him and given him new life. “Is she here? Does she know I exist?” He questions softly, trying (and failing) to keep the strain out of his voice.

Z E I K

-everything we are and used to be is buried and gone-