we burn the brightest

in the dark

Aries looked up at the wounded bear before him, amazed that he still had the strength to stand. He was truly grateful for his savior, but if he had not been so foolish, no one would have gotten hurt. For that reason, he felt like he was the main catalyst for every misfortune. Aries watched the bear nervously as the bear tried to free his hock from the tangled roots. He half expected to monster to crashing come back, frothing and red eyed with malevolence. When the pressure finally lifted from his leg, he brought himself to his hooves. Still trembling from lingering fear, he eyed the bear's painful injuries with remorse. The little one sniffled as tears escaped his pitiful, golden eyes and stained his cheeks. "I-I'm sorry." He choked. "I'm so sorry."

He stood across from his rescuer, feeling small and ashamed. Then, he rushed to him, finally giving into his despite want for safety and comfort. Aries went to bury his head in the ursine's charred fur, sniveling violently as all the stress came gushing out in an emotional flood. His mind was racing with so much dismay, and he had many questions, but right now, all he wanted from the bear was warmth and protection.

"Listen to me."
Thoughts...

TAG: @Leon // OOC:

Once the babe was freed, Leon finally reclined onto his haunches and sucked in a ragged breath. This pain was starting to eat him alive. He raised his paw, trying to pry the ice off his face; with the heat that seemed to always exist in him, it didn't take long for it to melt away, but the damage remained. His eye squinted with blood and the vision blurred. When the kid came close and buried his face, Leon coughed and wrapped his other paw around him, hushing him gently. "No need to be sorry," he promised, tilting his head down, though he feared his injury would make him look... frightening.

"My name's Leon. You're safe with me." The bear sucked in a breath again and let himself linger for a little longer, reaching out for Makyna, but it was hard to focus through the screaming agony in his body. "Do you have a name?"

@Aries