[center][t]On The Way Home[/t][/center]
[center][i]by Erkhyan[/i][/center]

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The storm caught them still on their way, drenching them to the bones before they could reach the shelter they were aiming for. The thick canopy of trees above them didnt even really help, dumping rainwater onto them in sudden bucketfuls instead of a continuous downpour.

Haeyan looked over his shoulder at Aenjaar. He knew his companion was more used to this kind of travel than he was, but he still checked all the same.

The smaller Angaat saw him looking and grinned. My Lord ordered a shower to go?

Haeyan chuckled and flickered his ears to get the water out of them. Joke all you will, I actually cant remember if I thought to provision the shelter with dry wood last time.

Aenjaars tail flicked in amusement. My Lord is getting forgetful.

This time, Haeyan couldnt restrain a laugh. Will you stop that already? Aenjaar had started calling him [i]My Lord[/i] when the villagers in their last stop wouldnt stop doing so despite his insistence to the contrary.

What will you do if I dont, my Lord? Force me to sleep alone in my corner tonight?

Im thinking of it, you annoying creature.

Ill bet you anything you wish that Ill find you sleeping in [i]my[/i] bedroll before morning comes.

Getting pretty sure of yourself there, Sir Shroud.

This time, it was Aenjaars turn to laugh. Okay, that sounded ridiculous. Its Shroud, not Sir anything.

If you say so, Sir Whitefur.

Aenjaar raised his hands in mock surrender. Okay, I give up. So, are we there yet?

Its just a little bit farther, Sir Prettybum.

Now youre just asking for it.

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They reached the shelter a dozen minutes later: a small cave in a rock face, just deep enough to protect them against any kind of bad weather, but not so deep as to feel all gloomy and sinister. Travelers using this forest path would use it as a night camp once in a while, though Haeyan had probably used it more than everyone else taken together. It wasnt large enough to accomodate their mounts though, so they secured the two brangons in a more or less sheltered grove before entering the cave.

Well, lucky for us, theres no lack of dry wood, Aenjaar remarked.

Indeed, a pile of it stood in a corner, larger than Haeyan had remembered. Someone had obviously used the cave in the last weeks and thought of restocking.

Aenjaar dropped his bag on the ground and pointed at the caves entry. Ill go get the rest of our stuff. You okay with taking care of the fire?

Haeyan flicked his tail in mock impatience. Im not about to set fire to the entire place, Aen. Were in a [i]rock[/i] cave.

Well, I wouldnt put it past you Aenjaar had to duck to avoid the stick Haeyan threw at him. Okay, okay, going!

Haeyan let out an amused snort and set out to ready the fireplace. Within a couple of minutes, hed placed enough tinder and wood to start a nice fire. He then turned to his travel bag to get the firestone. While searching around, his hand met a pair of objects that had been stashed with the firestone. He frowned and withdrew the intruders from the bag.

They were a pair of solid silver bracelets with matching etched markings.

Haeyan froze. [i]What?[/i]

I didnt know how to broach the subject Aenjaar quietly said behind him.

Haeyan almost jumped. He hadnt heard the white-furred Angaat come back. Aen, those are

Aen smiled, looking unusually bashful and uncertain. Yeah, I had the blacksmith at the last village make them for me the last time we visited a few months ago. I told him Id come back to fetch them, and I made him promise not to let you know. His ears flattened behind his head betraying his uneasiness, he dropped the bags hed been holding, then put a knee to the ground in front of Haeyan. I got these for the two of us. I I dont even know what Im supposed to say now

Haeyan stared at the bracelets, then at Aen, kneeling before him. Of all the things he had expected In his confusion, the first words he could find were: My fathers going to really hate you for this

Aen let out a nervous chuckle. Id take that as one more good reason to do this, dont you think? Everyone but ourselves had already assumed

Haeyan didnt answer. Thoughts were running wild in his mind. Hed known Aenjaar for close to five years now, and had gotten close enough to him to have been his occasional, then regular bedmate in the last three years, on top of being each others confidants. Theyd been traveling together for little more than two years, officially with Aenjaar as Haeyans personal guard, but now that he looked back, things were indeed pretty evident.

He knew what Aen meant, and, deep down, he realized he didnt mind one bit.

Haeyan finally smiled and put a knee to the ground in turn, mirroring Aens posture. He reached for the white-furred Angaats hand and carefully slid it through one of the bracelets. He then handed the other bracelet to Aen so he could do the same to him. I hope you remember this was your idea, Aen. And I sure hope youll make sure neither of us will regret this.

Aenjaar smiled, took the bracelet, and slid it around Haeyans wrist.

Once they were done with those traditional gestures, they didnt move, didnt say a thing for a long moment.

Exchanging those bracelets hadnt made them husbandsnot officially, not until they got a proper ceremony with witnesses, but it didnt matter for now.

Haeyan finally broke the silence with a long sigh. I cant believe we just did this.

Aen smiled, his ears pointing back up. Regrets, already?

Haeyan laughed. Nope. Not a single one. Come here, you He rose and helped Aenjaar rise. He then took a step forward and took the smaller Angaat in his arms, gently nuzzling the top of his head. After a few seconds, he let out another amused snort. You smell like wet fur

Aen nuzzled the side of his neck. You dont smell like flowers yourself, husband mine. How about we get that fire going so we can get dry and eat a bit?

Haeyan smiled brightly. [i]Husband mine.[/i] He liked the sound of that, after all. Okay, youve got a deal.

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Aenjaar and Haeyan slept in the same bedroll that night. They didnt even think of having sex, as usually happened in this kind of situation. They only figured without a word that they would have plenty of occasions to do just that in the future, so they could as well enjoy something different and just cuddle to sleep for once.