Lin felt tense, lacking of the ease he once knew in the days he awoke. Yet the dying embers only served as a reminder that he had so little time left with the man he’d spent months traveling beside. It was…disappointing and a heavy weight sunk deep in his stomach. His fingers nimbly packed what supplies he had only to hesitate when he heard Kael’s warm voice behind him.
Always full of question but laced with the sort of gentle but firm point that Lin admired. The man might have been a ranger but he held about him a strange grace which the elf rather favored. He had become accustomed to waking up with Kael and they would savor breakfast, pack, and venture- all the while swapping stories or legends. Now it seemed, those days were coming to a close. A new chapter in his life was beginning but Lin did not feel as though he was truly ready to abandon the small prequel to his quest. Kael had proven himself a partner in hunting, for they’d stalked larger game together and Lin had explained to him how to salt and dry meats for their quests. They had compared the values of weapons- Elvhen over Human, Human over Elvhen- and Lin had spent many times laughing as the rugged man insisted his point was best. Lin hadn’t bothered to argue for seeing his companion graced with a smile brought something to the surface for the elf, great warmth that many times cursed his cheeks with the taint of blush which he’d quickly hid by turning away or rolling over.
“Sleep was not so kind to me, emma sa’falon. She did not welcome me gently as she has nights before this.” He didn’t look back just yet. He couldn’t, or Kael might see the longing in his eyes. “I worry now of our quest. It will be a steady trek and to engage other Elvhen is always seen as a threat in larger numbers.” Slowly Lin rose and turned so that he could gaze down at the ranger with those crystal hues, a warm smile dancing over his lips. Ever careful, he would settle beside the other male with a sigh- though it emerged more a sad exhale than he intended. “It has been an honor to travel with you, falon. I find I will miss your stories and your food. Perhaps, even, your company.” He chuckled as he teased the human, glancing to him with a sly smirk. It pained Lin to think that they might part ways in only a few hours and never find each other again unless the gods had woven a different path for them.