Spring is a welcomed sight though for one he wishes it could have stayed winter just a bit longer. Even though with it comes new adventures Alfred's last talk with the Prince weeks before still plays in his head as they set off towards the west.
It had only lasted an hour at best but, for both it had to be done. "You know you can still come along." Alfred said as he sat alone with the Prince in the small sanctuary off of the garden. "It's not all about mating; it's the adventure of it all."
"I know," Lovino answered resting his chin on his interlocked fingers. "It's not as simple but you know that."
"I do," Alfred said lowering his voice as he watched his newest lover ponder in the candle light. "Look," he started touching Lovino's knee after a moment of silence. "I know this isn't want you probably want me to say but, stay. We'll come back. I mean it's my fault anyway."
Carefully the Avian took the Omega's hand. "I really don't feel throwing blame around. Let's call it what it is."
"Starcrossed love?" It came with a weak smile but, neither could force more than that at the joke. "Just, one day promise me we'll go flying again."
With a deep sigh Lovino answered, "Don't treat this as forever. I mean shit, I'm not good at good byes as it is so this is just fucking sad." His gaze turned to one of the stain glass windows before finally he forced himself to meet the younger man's eyes. "I'll soar with you; we'll go anywhere you want too." As he said it he saw a glisten in the Omega's eyes. "And Leon too, though Clara doesn't seem to be as into it as you two."
"She's still young so it might change one day..." He trailed off already lost in thought about his daughter. "Who knows I mean she could be an Alpha or like one of the Hyenas." At Lovino's laugh he cockrf his head slightly. "What?"
"She's your and that fox bastard's kid so of course she's going to be a head strong little she devil." It came with a smile that left both chuckling. "And that boy, well I doubt next time I see him, he'll want to call me Birdy man."
"Ah yeah you're stuck with that one." Alfred shook his head as he stood to leave. "He's like his father, nicknames are what he does."
"Oh his father is the only one that does that now?" The Avian stood as well to see the man out. "Because I think it's a colorless thing really."
At the door Alfred looked back. "Would you ever consider that?"
"Being Colorless?" Lovino thought it over before he shrugged. "Not sure, it's what I've always know though tell me the truth do you miss being a Crimson?"
It was a question none of the others had ever asked so he didn't know what to say but, he inhaled slowly as he looked towards the horizon. "Don't get me wrong deep down I'll always be a Crimson but, it's different somehow. I told you I wasn't exactly wanted for most of my life but I'd love to...let him see them." He sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. "It's one of those stupid Omega dreams I guess, wanting the Alpha's approval but, damn I got off track so?"
Lovino leaned against the door frame as the sun rose higher in the sky. "Maybe one day."
Alfred sighed, "So a no."
"So a maybe. Don't go thinking you know me you wolf bastard so remember that." He pointed at the omega who once again smiled before he walked out of the garden. "Tall bastard..." It was muttered with a halfhearted smile. "I'll fucking miss you." Alfred was sure the Avian didn't mean for him to hear it but it still broke his heart.
As he mulls it all over as he walks on the lush grass trail, the wolf joins his side. "You okay?"
Alfred blinks pulling himself away from his thoughts. "Yeah completely," he answers with a smile. "Sorry I was zoning out there for a moment."
Gilbert takes his hand as the two oldest children run off ahead with the Neko not far behind. "You've been doing that a lot." He watches the Alpha change into a cat as the boys laugh wildly. "Does it have to do with him?"
"Him?" Alfred feels his heart start to ache again this time for other reasons. "Not exactly but, I know he's going to be disappointed." From behind his daughter starts to squeal as the older Hyena races towards the trio, Clara high on Irene's shoulders. "I'm not sure how to tell him." He says watching the group run ahead until they're far out of ear shot.
"Well don't let him think too long about it," Arthur says walking beside them. "It'll hurt him more." He stops looking back at his mate lagging behind. "Trust me on that."
As Arthur walks back towards his mate Alfred turns back to his other two. "I want to talk to him alone and I know it's not fair but." His face reddens as he turns away. "But I want to give him a chance like you two had."
A chuckle escapes Gilbert's throat. "Since when has our relationship been strictly about mating?" His smile instantly fades as his ears pick up on something faint in the distance. "Fuck." It comes with a growl as most of the others turn towards the screams echoing out in the valley. "Abel, Irene!"
Irene snarls, grabbing at Lei's hand as she backs away while Abel morphs into his human form. "Shut up Gilbert." He hisses back, picking up Leon in the process. "Just calm down..." Every hair on the back of his neck stands up as before his eyes a village only a few miles away is suddenly engulfed in flames with smoking billowing out into the blue sky. It's not a simple bush fire that's gone out of control but, something more ominous. With each scream the flames seem to grow higher into the air.
"They're burning them," Irene stops seeing Abel whip his head around. "They are."
"We have the kids. Don't say it out loud." He wants to kick himself for racing out so far from the rest, and even more for not sensing it sooner. All around them is the overwhelming smell of burning flesh and hair. "Back track and go up wind."
"And if they already know we're here?" Out of the corner of her eye the Hyena sees her sister running to join them. "Damn it..."
"Then we fight and tell the kids to run." Abel feels the child freeze in his arms as the fire starts to spread to the grasslands around the burning village. "You'll be okay, just get back to your Mommy." When Leon whimpers the Alpha swears knowing the child wouldn't get far. "Fuck," he says gritting his teeth.
"Yeah," Natalia says pulling out a long thin dagger from her pants leg. "My thoughts exactly."
