Raven draws his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around himself. If anyone looked up and saw him atop the hill, they would have been surprised by how vulnerable he appeared. The redhead usually took care to hide any signs of weakness, but staring at the sky, dyed with a stunning spectrum of colours, it was difficult not to let his guard down. (Sunsets also left him oddly -foolishly- sentimental, for some indiscernible reason.)
Hmph. It's as if nature is mocking us… Even in these times, the world manages to unfailingly provide these lavish displays of beauty. A false sense of security, as if each sunset didn't have the potential to be our last.
Looking down, he can see the rest of their motley army, setting up camp hidden away in the foothills of the Bern-Lycian mountains.
If he unfocused his gaze a little, he could (almost) see a city bathed in the sun's last rays instead, a striking contrast of glowing gold and deep shadows. If he closes his eyes, he could pretend the crisp breeze carried sounds from the Keep and village below. He could pretend he was home, back on the hillside where he and Lucius had spent much of their time, looming shadows of mountains at their backs and a familiar horizon spread before them.
When he opens his eyes again, the absence of his best friend is all too evident.