11-18-2018, 08:35 PM
the taigan
He was proud to find Aten's senses so alert, so attuned to his surroundings. He couldn't have been more thrilled, filled with more affection for this man that had been more a son to him than his own son.
As he spread his ice gently over Aten, the young man reacted in a way that hurt the wolf's heart. He bottled up his magic so fast, nearly regretting that he'd tried as the golden stallion reared and threw the sheen of ice off his back. God, he was sorry. That was foolish. Thoughtless. He knew better than to force magic on someone, especially someone he loved.
Aten seemed to wake from it though as his hoof crashed into the water, looking at him with those strong brown eyes. "Ruan? Is... that you...?"
A careful smile lifted the corner of his mouth, and he nodded slowly, cautiously stepping forward in case he was not so welcome after all. "Yes," he answered, solid and quiet. He had never been too afraid to offend someone, more than willing to be a lone wolf and make his own path through life, not caring to follow the norms set by others. But Aten, of all, he did care not to cause offense. He yearned for this young man back in this family's life.
"Magic," he explained simply. Magic had changed him. Magic had taken him away for what had amounted to years while only being a short while for him. The past is of little matter, though.
"We are home." Jinju had been there for most of the whole time, it seemed, keeping to herself and surviving as best she could. She was made young again, a death and a rebirth setting her back to childhood and now a two year old again. So young again. He hesitated. Because actually, Jinju was not currently home.
"Jinju has gone to the mountain for a cure for the plague. To care once more for those that choose to live within the Taiga."
He shifted on his feet, pausing a polite distance away though leaving himself open for any physical contact. It wasn't exactly like he'd ever cuddled the boy when he was younger, he'd been too old for that, but Ruan would welcome affection from family anyway if Aten still considered himself to be. He didn't want to assume that this attachment was mutual.
And perhaps, if Aten did consider himself to be family... Perhaps he would return home with them as well. He imagined Jinju might like that, maybe. And Ruan most definitely would.
