it erupts like a volcano, then subsides.
And when it subsides, you have to make a decision.
Her heart aches inside her chest, her soft, russet eyes squeezing shut to block the tears that try to fall. He withdraws from her, as though unable to bear her touch. It brings a stabbing pain to her heart, a new hurt to add to the ones she can feel in him so clearly. But she understands. She understands all too well. Sometimes she wishes that she did not, that her past hadn’t been so filled with pain. Pain that she recognizes all too easily as it emanates from him.
When she opens her eyes again, it is to see him against the tree, scraping himself raw with the rough bark. Weir is already chasing after him, calling his name in desperate concern. But she knows it is already too late. They are too slow.
And suddenly she feels angry. Angry at him, at the world, at herself. Angry for everything bad that had to happen, will still happen, angry that he is taking it out on himself and Weir. On her. She hears his words even though she has not moved a stepped. Even though she remains where he had left her.
“No.”
She wouldn’t let him fall into this spiral of self-pity. She knows it all too well. The only places it leads are dark and awful. Perhaps she has no power to stop it, but she can at least try.
But more than anything, she wants him to realize that he is not alone. That he does not grieve alone.
In the heat of her anger and denial, she does something rash. Something that will probably come back to bite her in the ass. With a blinding flash, her light bursts from her, fueled by her anger and his grief. The tree he had abraded himself with, had hurt himself with, suddenly disappears, consumed by the light that explodes from her. A few remaining twigs and leaves rain down, scattering across the scorched earth.
It leaves her weak, but somehow satisfied. And, she hopes, she has gotten his attention. She moves to his side, moves to where he has lain in the crater. Her dark muzzle brushes softly against his neck, a light, soothing touch. She hopes he will not withdraw from her this time. Hopes that he will listen to her this time.
“Being immortal means immeasurable agony. I know. But it can also mean immeasurable happiness, if you but look for it. Let the pain happen. It is a part of life. Tiberios will always be an ache in your heart. But that doesn’t have to be all that life is. Please…”
She is pleading now, and she does not even care. She would fall to her knees and beg if that is what it took. She doesn’t wish to lose him. Not to this.
“Please let me help. Let us help.”
You have to work out whether your roots
have so entwined together
that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.
Because this is what love is.