An uncomfortable silence weighed heavily on the camp. Eric exhaled deeply, the haze of anger gone and replaced by worry and dread. He joined Noro, and realized for the first time that the gryphon wasn’t staring at the sky, but the mountains.
The mountains where Matheson had been taken.
“It’s a long journey by foot,” Noro said quietly. “But it’s one you must take.”
“I know that,” Eric muttered, a pang of sadness in his heart. “But it doesn’t seem like anyone else wants to join me.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Look around. No one’s mobilizing. We’re sitting around and moping, and fighting amongst ourselves.”
“Then be a leader,” Noro said firmly, his golden eyes glinting. “You are one, aren’t you?”
“They’re not my pack members,” Eric argued.
“Does it matter?” Noro asked, sounding angrier than usual. “Matheson needs your help. If I know my own people, he’ll already be under tight security. I’m not going to lie to you, Eric. I don’t know if this little band will be enough to save him.”
Eric felt a pang of frustration, but Noro didn’t let him wallow in it.
“Get Matheson’s parents. Get whoever will come. The gryphons won’t be intimidated by a small group, but maybe with a big enough army, they’ll think twice.”
“What about you?” Eric asked. “This is your own pride. Can’t you do something about this?”
Noro looked at him. Both their eyes shared the same grief and concern, and in that moment, Eric realized something--that Noro wasn’t just invested in Matheson as a friend. He meant more to him than that.
“Can I ask you something?” Eric began softly.
Noro nodded.
“How do you feel about Matheson?”
The question took Noro aback for a moment. “I think of him as a good friend, and a student.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Eric’s lips. “I don’t believe you.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I’ve seen the way you look at him sometimes, and it's the same waywelook at Matheson.”
Noro didn’t reply. He gazed back to the mountains with a melancholy expression.
“I won’t impose if I’m not welcome,” Noro murmured. “He already has a relationship with the three of you.”
Eric blinked slowly, taking in this new information that wasn’t really new at all. How long had he known? How long had Noro known?
And was Matheson even aware of it?
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned being with Matheson,” Eric told him a quiet voice, “it’s that he doesn’t divide his love among his partners; he multiplies it.”
Noro’s eyes flashed briefly with what Eric thought might be hope. “Do the others share this sentiment?” he asked hesitantly.
Eric scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Those two are bigger pushovers than me in the love department.”
As they spoke, a sound alerted them to someone approaching. Ramsay in human form and Colton, still a wolf, padded gently towards them.
“Hey, sorry if I’m interrupting something,” Ramsay mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. “I just wanted to apologize for earlier. For, uh, getting so rowdy.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Eric said. “It’s not your fault, either of you, and I shouldn’t have taken out my frustration on you. The only one to blame is the gryphons.” He winced, turning to Noro. “Er, no offense.”
