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Glen smiles as he gets yet another sandpapery lick from his new friend. It's rough, and it's uncomfortable, and he loves the affection. "Elen it is." He settles down into a comfortable position, curling his arm around Elen with his hand between the baby's ears. "Good night, Elen."
Glen closes his eyes, not yet meditating; instead, he just relaxes and enjoys the feeling of the warm, furry body curled against him. He doesn't fully understand the close kinship he already feels with the panther cub, but he did see mention in his book of some practitioners of natural magic developing companionship with the wilds through an animal like this.
Maybe it's just a coincidence that Old Hacari - presumably - sent Elen to him just as his magical connection to nature was continuing to grow. But he knows that even after just a few short minutes looking after little Elen, he won't again ask whether Elen wants to go home or find his family. This house has felt too empty for too long. Peaceful, Glen lets himself fall into a deep meditation.
Glen's memory exercises bring happy feelings. He sees his arrows getting purchase against the threats they encountered. He sees Sunrise blasting and cursing their enemies. He sees Jarek kicking people while holding a bag of cats. He remembers the lucky shot that might have saved Rik's life. He hears Quivyll's kind words in the carriage. He feels Thorn's hand on his. He remembers Luther talking to him like an equal. He remembers holding the baby. He remembers meeting and caring for Elen.
When the bad thoughts come, they are dispelled before they can even take hold, pushed away by a warm, wet, sandpapery tongue. Glen rests peacefully, for the first time in a long time.
Glen closes his eyes, not yet meditating; instead, he just relaxes and enjoys the feeling of the warm, furry body curled against him. He doesn't fully understand the close kinship he already feels with the panther cub, but he did see mention in his book of some practitioners of natural magic developing companionship with the wilds through an animal like this.
Maybe it's just a coincidence that Old Hacari - presumably - sent Elen to him just as his magical connection to nature was continuing to grow. But he knows that even after just a few short minutes looking after little Elen, he won't again ask whether Elen wants to go home or find his family. This house has felt too empty for too long. Peaceful, Glen lets himself fall into a deep meditation.
Glen's memory exercises bring happy feelings. He sees his arrows getting purchase against the threats they encountered. He sees Sunrise blasting and cursing their enemies. He sees Jarek kicking people while holding a bag of cats. He remembers the lucky shot that might have saved Rik's life. He hears Quivyll's kind words in the carriage. He feels Thorn's hand on his. He remembers Luther talking to him like an equal. He remembers holding the baby. He remembers meeting and caring for Elen.
When the bad thoughts come, they are dispelled before they can even take hold, pushed away by a warm, wet, sandpapery tongue. Glen rests peacefully, for the first time in a long time.
