"If you please," Pitambar said, nose wrinkling."I can do it, but I'm not very good, and I want as much of the fur left intact as possible."
"Of course.Give me a bit of time, and it'll be done.If you're willing, a cup of tea wouldn't go astray."
Pitambar nodded and vanished into the house again, and Dipak set to work butchering the rabbits, carefully skinning them, cleaning and prepping the furs as far as he was able.Finishing the tea Pitambar had brought him at some point in all the work, he carried everything to the door and knocked.
"Here you are," he said with a smile.
"What would you like in trade?Normally Euclid does all of this.I've never known anyone to trade directly except at the gatherings.He's always seemed so stubborn about doing it all himself."
"It's his way of doing things, but he's allowing me to help because we're lovers as of this past solstice, and that's what lovers do.Help each other, I mean," Dipak said.
Pitambar froze, the smile fading from his face before he recovered it poorly."Oh.I see.Uh, I'm happy for you both.He always seemed so alone.You haven't said what you'd like in trade."
Dipak smiled again, but this time with a slight edge to it."Nothing.Consider these rabbits a gift from a friend.Understand?"
"Y-yes," Pitambar said, dropping his gaze as he took the rabbits and furs."I understand.Dipak, wasn't it?I appreciate your generosity."He closed the door, and Dipak headed off satisfied, pulling his bow from his back as he made his way south again, taking in all he could of this stretch of forest that was new to him.
How long would it take him to learn the full of it?Even growing up, he'd never mastered more than the large area around his house, never traveling more than a full day out in any direction.Any further simply wasn't safe.To learn the whole of the Forbidden Forest…what a marvel that would be.
Especially when he'd be learning not just the forest, but all of Euclid's mysterious shortcuts.
He brought down a duck to cook for supper and carried it with him on his way, traveling until he reached the familiar solstice grounds.Two hours from Pitambar's house to the grounds, which also matched what he'd said.Well, he'd said a few hours, but Pitambar did not move as quickly and easily through the forest as Dipak.
Taking a seat, he pulled out his water flask and drank deeply, then set to work properly butchering the duck.He'd just finished with all the damned feathers, tucking away the nicer ones for other purposes, when Euclid appeared in front of him."Was wondering when I'd see you again."Especially as there was no way he'd make it back to his house before dark, not this late in the year.Sun was already setting, and the temperature was dropping rapidly.He wouldn't be surprised at all if they got an early snowfall before the week was out.
Euclid sat down next to him on the large fallen tree trunk he'd chosen, not so very far from where they'd danced a little over a week ago."I love roasted duck, especially when the skin gets all crisp and melty."
"Well, lucky for you, I am rather good at roasting duck.They were plentiful and easy to bring down most of the year, and we always killed several stragglers as the cold came and left them hanging frozen right outside the back door.My mom would bring one inside when we first woke up and leave it by the fire to thaw throughout the day, and we'd have it for dinner."He gave a soft huff."Wonder what they would think of me, having climbed so far up only to fall right back where I started.Not that I'm complaining.Despite all that led me here, I'm rather enjoying being back in this life with a wealth of experience behind me."
"Strange roads lead to home," Euclid replied."It's a dragon saying, because we cannot find our territory without going new places.I would not have found this forest if I'd not left my mother's nest and ventured into the unknown, and I would not have appreciated what I found without the roads I traveled."
Dipak leaned against him, resting his head briefly on Euclid's shoulder, a small comfort he'd not enjoyed in far too long.Not since he left the military, where soldiers were often openly affectionate with each other, always tactile, because who knew which of them would be left come morning?"Wise words, dragon.I spoke with Pitambar.He should not be a problem anymore, now he knows you're taken."
"I see," Euclid said with a chuckle."Did you tell him nicely?"
"Yes, I did.I do think he'll back off.He doesn't strike me as the sort to…lash out.Only sulk heavily and dramatically.But if he does give you problems, let me know."
"I will."Euclid kissed his temple."Here's your gift."He nudged Dipak to sit up, then tipped what proved to be a necklace into his hands.In pride of place, set in silver, was an oval moonstone that seemed to glow with blue light from deep within.Like someone had captured the heart of a flame and encased it.On either side of the moonstone, strung on a black leather cord, were four beads alternating between clear moonstone and onyx.That the colors were so vivid made it all the more precious.
"This is beautiful," Dipak said."Why does it glow like that?"
"My essence that you would share were we to bond.Call this…a trial.Now I can teach you how to take shortcuts on your own, and you can also access some of my power and sense where I am.I'll teach you all of that as well.If you decide you don't like it… Well, we'll know."
Dipak handed the necklace back with a smile."Put it on me?"
Euclid's face lit up beautifully, and all the anxiety Dipak hadn't fully appreciated until then melted away.He turned around and pulled down the high collar of his jacket so Euclid could secure the necklace in place.Turning back, he picked up the pendant, which was warm even through his gloves and seemed almost to pulse ever so faintly."What happens if I lose it?If it gets snagged by a branch or something.Not that I won't be extraordinarily careful."
"No one but you can wear it, and anything bound to me, I can find again.It shouldn't come off, though.That also is laid into the workings.There are many of them.It's one of the reasons it took a few days to make."
Dipak wrapped a gloved hand around the back of his neck and drew him into a soft kiss, enjoying the heat of him, the hint of tea that lingered, that addictive, ardent way he returned the kiss.
"Shall we to your cabin, hunter?"Euclid asked eventually, voice husky, carrying far in the chilly quiet of the grove.
Standing, Dipak pulled Euclid to his feet and then retrieved his bow."Let me get a few more ducks so you've plenty to eat."Thankfully, it was quick work to shoot them, and back at his cabin, Euclid was happy to help prepare them before they got them cooking nicely over a large fire close to the pond.It was colder than ever, and there would definitely be another frost come morning, but sitting there drinking tea with Euclid by a blazing fire, Dipak could not have come up with a complaint with a knife to his throat.
After they'd eaten and cleaned up, Dipak dragged Euclid into his cabin, small enough to be nice and toasty from the large fireplace that took up most of one wall.Whoever had built the cabin had believed very strongly in not being cold, which suited Dipak fine.His parents' cabin had always been a bit drafty, slightly chilly no matter how blazing the fire, and he did not miss that one bit.
Once clothes had been discarded, Euclid pushed him down onto the bed, eyes glowing as he dragged his eyes up and down the length of Dipak's body, lingering on the necklace."Looks good on you."
