I don't have a choice but I'd still choose you; Contagion and Tyrna

[contagion]

There are things unsaid that echo in their hoofbeats – things bred or made, he cannot know. They are the children of a toxic, beautiful love, two who were as much in love with love as they were with each other. He does wonder if it bled over into him, these sensibilities, a weak and hungry heart planted into his glass chest.
He is happy that she follows, comes to the falls, his new and tentative home (he finds comfort in the crashing of the falls, comfort in Tyrna’s strength and the things budding between them, a thing both like and unalike how he feels for Adaline).

“Isn’t it?” he says.
He walks her a bit further, to the waterfalls. He finds it especially fascinating, how the strength of the water could fracture either of them. He watches it the way he might a caged tiger – something strong and deadly but beautiful, too.
“Stay here,” he says, “I’ll go find Tyrna.”
He touches her again, lightly so not to bruise. Inhales her scent, the one he’s known since infancy, so clearly hers. The one he’s missed.

He slips away, then, searches for the woman of steel. He’s missed her. He knows she was called away, her power needed by the font of magic that runs in Beqanna’s heart-veins. But he hopes she might be back. Hopes she might have missed him, too.

contagion

be careful making wishes in the dark

Sin I didn't know if you wanted to wait til after the quest or not -- if so we can just put it on pause and resume when it's over?? your call.