Mishka and Raef: Treacherous Terrain (TRP)

**Coyote** [DAY:
I'll figure it out later. SETTING: The Icewind Dale, the valley to the south of
the Spine of the World. Mishka and Raef go on an adventure to find some elven
ruins.]

The locals called the northern mountain
range the Spine of the World. Looking upon it, Mishka could see why. The four
mountains-- Firstpeak, Secondpeak, Thirdpeak, and Fourthpeak, as they had been
creatively named-- stretched so high that their tips disappeared far into the
clouds. They seemed to hold up the very sky itself.

It would take them a week to reach the
elven ruins of Aelinthaldaar, better known as the Aerie, high atop Secondpeak.
Not because of the distance, of course, but because of the terrain: thick
mounds of snow that could stand ten feet thick and yet appear to be solid
ground. Mishka fell into one more then once, then had to burn himself out, and
so did Raef, and Mishka had to burn him out as well. Then once they reached the
mountains of the Spine, they would have to actually climb them.

Once they had actually reached the
ruins, Mishka could simply teleport them home. But they had to reach the ruins
first.

Raef was a quiet man, and Mishka
appreciated that about him. There were small pieces of conversation-- bits here
and there about what was going on at the castle, and how Raef’s chickens were
doing, and the frankly bizarre horseshark creature Raef and Hansel had fucking
adopted-- interspersed with brief conversations about the weather, and how they
were going to cross the Icewind Dale in order to reach the mountains.

Raef knew a great deal about surviving
the wilderness. A great deal. A very great deal. Mishka supposed it was from
his time surviving in the Grimwood Forest while hunting down his husband’s
murderers and skinning them alive. Mishka tried not to think about that too
much, because it made his face feel hot. Raef was very competent, and also,
well, a stone cold murderer, and Mishka found himself getting a bit flustered
at that, because… Mishka sort’ve liked very competent men who were also stone
cold murderers.

It made him jumpy, and made him draw
back from Raef a bit. He found he was enjoying Raef’s company a little too
much, and that still made him fucking nervous. But he was getting better at it.
Getting better at feeling comfortable and not jumping away.

He just… really liked it when Raef
stopped to explain something. LIke how to cross a particularly difficult river.
And his voice had that patient, low drawl. It was good. Very good. Maybe a
little too good.

It was winter, and this far north, the
days were very short-- only a few hours. Eventually, Mishka became dimly aware
that his body was becoming exhausted; he wasn’t used to walking for so long
every day; but he had a fucking mission, and wanted to get to the ruins as fast
as possible, so he kept trudging through the snow.

Mink04/10/2020

It was a long trip, made longer by the
cold...made shorter by Mishka.  There was
little conversation, but what there was was light and easy.  He liked it - liked Mishka - liked this trip,
even with sinking into snow or crossing rivers that were shallow and fast
moving.  The snow hadn't melted yet to
make them swell and grow tight, deep enough to drown a man if he fell, but they
were still dangerous.

Thankfulky Mishka could teleport and use
his fire...and he knew a thing or two about not freezing to death in the
mountains.

Raef tugged his cloak closer around him
and shook off the snow on his shoulders.
He eyed a dip in a ridge that he didn't think was too far away, maybe a
couple of hours.  It'd be a good spot to
camp for the night and catch their breath before heading out again.

"Mmm...let's try for there,"
he said, pointing to show Mishka, smiling.
It wasn't too far and --

-- a twig snapped under the snow, or it
should've.  It didn't.  It caught his boot and Mishka vanished from
sight in a puff of snow.

It was soft, powdery, and it fought
against him as he tried to push himself up before his arms gave and he just lay
there.  Fuck, he was tired, and the snow
was soft.  Pretty even.  Almost like a cozy blanket that could steal
his breath.

Coyote04/10/2020

"Huh, that is a good place,"
Mishka said, looking at the place Raef had pointed to. It was a cozy nook. A
large boulder that shielded some trees from the
harsh wind and snow, allowing them to grow upright and provide some
protection.

Then he glanced back at Raef. Raef
wasn't there anymore. "Raef?" Mishka said.

Mink04/10/2020

Raef made some sort of sound, or maybe
he didn't.  He was tired and comfortable
- which was bad.   He stirred in the snow
drift, making himself dig through the fluff.

Coyote04/10/2020

"Ha," Mishka said. "You
must've turned invisible or something. That's neat. Did Anwyll teach you a new
trick?" He bent to squint at the snow to see where Raef's footprints led.

There were no footprints. They just...
ended. And there was... was that a hole? It was hard to tell.

"Oh no," Mishka said, and
immediately applied fire to the situation. He snapped his fingers-- which was
hard, because it was cold-- and a flash of fire ripped out of him, melting the
snow around them in a rush of heat.

Mink04/10/2020

Even through the snow, Raef caught
Mishka's words and he snorted laughter; wouldn't that be a fuckin' amazing
trick.  He struggled to right himself and
he had his feet in the right direction when the snow began to drip around him -
a little warm from the fire, but it quickly cooled and he was sure as fuck glad
for wearing layers.

It didn't stop the shiver that soon set
in.

"...tripped," he said with a
faint, almost embarrassed, smile when Mishka finally came into sight.

Coyote04/10/2020

Mishka reached down to grip Raef's arm
with both of his hands and heave.

Mink04/10/2020

Raef grabbed Mishka back and he pushed
up, as good as he could - his legs felt like overcooked noodles -, and then he
was out of the hole... ditch...whatever.

"Thanks." He didn't get up
from where he had dropped near his could-be-death-trap.  Fuck...he was tired.

Coyote04/10/2020

Mishka shook him. He looked like death.
"Raef?"

Mink04/10/2020

Raef reached up to catch Mishka's
forearm, squeezing gently, hopefully reassuringly.  Through the gloves Mishka was warm. "I
need...a breather..."

Coyote04/10/2020

"Oh my god," Mishka muttered
under his breath. "Oh my god." He bent down to grasp Raef tight, so
they were hugging, then closed his eyes and snapped his fingers.

They cracked away and reappeared in the
small grove of trees hidden against the boulder.

Mink04/10/2020

Mishka was really warm...soft and
warm...the world dropped away for a moment before they were back in it, this
time in a grove that had warded off much off the snow.

Raef shivered and squeezed Mishka.

Coyote04/10/2020

Mishka nestled against Raef, feeling his
heartbeat. Raef felt so small, sometimes. He was one of the few people smaller
than Mishka himself. Well... Larkin was smaller than him, he supposed, but
Larkin was the sort of small person who seemed very big just because of how
intimidating they were. She made up for her height with knives.

Raef felt... delicate, sometimes. It was
at odds with how vicious he could be. At odds with the strange, alien,
monstrous warlock power slithering inside his skin.

Mishka held him for a long moment,
enjoying the embrace, then, carefully, slid his arms under Raef's legs and
back. "I'm going to pick you up. Can you hold onto me?"

Mink04/10/2020

Mishka was warm...Raef could've slept
right there, but Mishka had other plans.
That was fine.  This was probably
not a good place to sleep.

"...I can walk..." He wrapped
his arms loosely around Mishka's neck despite the words.  This was nice...very nice...

Coyote04/10/2020

Mishka scoffed. "I said, I'm going
to pick you up. It was not a question. Can you hold onto me or not?"

Mink04/10/2020

"Mmhmm...yeah," Raef agreed,
smiling a little.

Coyote04/10/2020

Mishka tightened his grip, then-- very
carefully-- got his feet under him and raised them both up, keeping himself
very steady as he did.

Mink04/10/2020

Raef tightened his fingers in Mishka's
cloak, stiffening a little.  Mishka
wasn't much bigger than him.  But...his
grip was strong and steady as he lifted him up.
It made his heart flutter a little and he would've scowled it away if he
could've.

He rested his head on Mishka's
shoulder.   He wanted to sleep (which was
a stupid idea after taking a tumble in the snow).
"Mmm...thank--you..."

Coyote04/10/2020

Oh, no. Oh, god. Oh, fuck. Mishka was
pretty sure falling asleep when you were cold was a bad thing, a real bad
thing. He carried Raef over to a more protected overhang with no snow, only
frozen rock, and then-- gently as he could-- set him down. He clasped Raef's
hands and started rubbing them. "Raef. Buddy. Don't fall asleep,
okay?"

Mink04/10/2020

Frozen rock was better than being sat in
a pile of snow, but not as good as Mishka's hands against his own, coaxing some
more warmth into his fingers.  They ached
faintly.

"...can't...got nice things to look
at still." Raef winked, but it was probably ruined by him looking like
shit and feeling like shit.

Coyote04/10/2020

"Oh my god, Mishka said. "I
mean, true, but. God." His face prickled where heat tried to work its way
into his frozen cheeks and failed. He dithered a moment, uncertain, then bent
to swiftly place a kiss on Raef's forehead. Raef's skin was frozen to the
touch.

Mink04/10/2020

Raef chuckled, low and quiet, the sound
drifting off as his eyes fluttered shut at the kiss pressed to his
forehead...he thought...except maybe it was because he was warm, comfortable...
(cold, too cold)..."...um tired..."

Coyote04/10/2020

"Hey!" Mishka shook him
roughly. He snapped his fingers to try and make fire, frustrated and upset,
feeling angry tears prick at his eyes. He wished Goro were here, because Goro
knew how to heal people and would know how to handle this.

His snapping created a small fire in his
hands, but he immediately realized it wouldn't be helpful. A hovering flame
five inches from Raef wasn't going to help him. He needed to be-- warmer all
over.

"Raef," Mishka whispered
frantically. "Raef, c'mon, try to stay awake. I'm gonna fix you up, okay?
But you need to stay awake for me. Please?"

Mink04/10/2020

It didn't seem so bad - he wasn't
shivering anymore, didn't feel quite so cold...a little tired, a little
hazy...it felt fine...it was okay... just a little tired after a week in the
snow...

Raef thought he said that, maybe he
did.  Maybe he didn't.
"...jus..." gonna rest his eyes...his grip loosened on Mishka.  Just a little bit of sleep.

Coyote04/10/2020

Mishka set Raef down, then unbuttoned
his own cloak-- a thick woolen cloak trimmed with white ermine-- and draped it
across Raef, though it would do little good since Raef was not producing much
body heat. Then Mishka dragged himself, half-dead himself, out of the
protection of the overhang and into the grove.

He dug around for wood, but couldn't
find any. The snow was too deep. And as he worked, dread began to seep into
him, bit by bit. He wouldn't be able to find any wood. He wouldn't be able to
start a fire, and then Raef would die of hypothermia, and then-- Mishka might
die, too, and no one would be able to find their corpses to revive them, and
then he'd have abandoned Hansel, and Sam and Joan, too, and-- god.

Finally, his painfully frozen fingers
brushed against something in the snow. A log. He dug it out, then dragged it
back to the overhang.

Before he set about building a fire, he
dropped to his knees to check on Raef.

Mink04/11/2020

The cloak was heavy (was it heavy?  Or was he...he didn't know...) - Mishka was
gone.  Raef could hear distant rummaging,
but when Mishka was gone, his mind wandered and his body slouched forward.

All he was gonna do was --

-- the thought escaped him.  The rock was cold under the cloaks.  It felt good through the low warmth that had
seeped into his limbs.  He could sleep
like that, wrapped in fur-lined cloaks, and that was okay.  It wasn't a stupid idea anymore.

Raef didn't move when Mishka came
back.  A nap was in order as thoughts
bounced to and fro.  He was vaguely aware
his friend - lover ? - person ? - fire ? - prince ? - was back.  That was also good.  He could sleep safely now.

Coyote04/12/2020

Raef wasn't moving. His eyes were
lidded-- mostly closed, but still open a crack-- but they didn't seem like they
were tracking. Still as a dead person.

Mishka immediately began to plan. He
didn't know how fast hypothermia and exhaustion could kill a person. He didn't
know how... recoverable it was. Maybe Raef was already dead. Maybe it was fine.
His mind automatically started going through those worst-case scenarios again--
Raef was dead and Mishka would soon be dead too, and then no one would be there
to recover Raef's body so he could be revived-- but he tried to shut those
thoughts down.

Mishka stood up and began to break
chunks off the wood. He tore the bark off the limb and shredded it to use as
kindling like Raef taught him, then placed the fire so that the smoke would
billow out of their little cave and not suffocate them.

As he worked, he muttered to himself.
"Don't die. Please, don't die. Tikva needs you. Az will be so pissed.
Hansel will cry. D'you hear that? You'll make my husband cry."

Raef lay still without responding. He
was either unconscious or dead. So Mishka continued scolding him. "I'll be
very upset with you as well, y'know. And I'm awful when I'm upset. But...
that's just because, I-- care about you a lot, and I'm very scared, and...
y'know, it's not fucking fair you're dying, because I never got around to
telling you that I like you. A lot. Maybe even love you, a bit. And-- I try not
to tell people that, because it's fucking scary, so I never mentioned it. And
now you're probably dead and I'm probably telling your corpse. Fantastic."

He sniffed and rubbed his face, pausing
to breath. He lit the bark kindling with a snap of his fingers. It took several
tries, because his fingers were stiff from the biting wind. He let it catch
under the sticks, then watched it catch upwards, lighting the thinnest twigs
first and then finally lighting up the big log itself.

Scolding Raef did not seem to work. He
still didn't respond. But that was okay, because Mishka was mostly talking to
himself, anyway. He crawled underneath the cloak with Raef.

Mink04/12/2020

The words danced in and out of focus,
registering and yet not.  It was like a
dream, a good dream.  A good dream with
Mishka scolding him (for what?  He was
just dozing.).  He needed to touch him,
reassure him he was okay, that it was okay.

Everything was going to be fine and then
he could answer Mishka, something more than a mumbled, something sure and
confident even if his heart fluttered and seized --

-- Mishka slid in beside him.  Mishka smelled of cold air and dirt, but
under that was the heat of fire and sweetness of flowers.  He always smelled like that.

Raef's fingers twitched, small, almost
imperceptible, but the movement was quickly still...he was still so
tired...just a little more of a nap then he could hold Mishka back.

Coyote04/12/2020

Raef didn't move, not even a bit, so
Mishka figured nobody was around and tucked himself against Raef's chest and
teared up a bit. He would've felt very foolish doing it in front of Raef,
but... Raef was unconscious, or dead, so it didn't matter.

"I really like what a
stone-murderer you are," Mishka said into his chest. "Which I suppose
is bad. But. You and Hansel, y'know, you're both very-- very intimidating, and
you're all... spooky, and such, and-- it's very nice. I wish we could've met in
Alabaster, before each of us ran away. I bet I would've loved you. And I bet
you wouldn't have been awful, like-- like-- nevermind. I bet I would've loved
you."

He kept talking, mumbling little things
he liked about Raef, things he would miss.

As he mumbled, the last lingering
touches of daylight faded from the sky, and their little cave became very dark,
and very dark. And-- exhausted from the sheer amount of anxiety he was
experiencing-- Mishka began to drift into sleep.

Mink04/12/2020

Raef wanted to tell Mishka he could've
loved him in Alabaster, that he would've stayed for him, if they had met before
he'd left.  He wanted to tell him he
could love him now, in whatever way Mishka wanted. He wanted to tell him that, wanted
to open his lips, exhale the cold air in a soft whisper.

But everything was foggy and he was --

Mishka relaxed, his breath began to even
out.  He had to be tired, exhausted.

Raef's heart fluttered and his fingers
twitched again.  It hurt a little. His
hand was heavy, his arm like brick, but he pushed and struggled against that
dark sleep, twining his fingers into Mishka's shirt.  He made his lips part briefly, whispering,
"...esh hanasich shelli..", then the momentary strength was gone and
he relaxed once more.

This time the sleep was less needed,
less warm, less comforting like the blanket of snow.  It was cold and his skin started to
prick.

But that was alright.  Mishka would keep him warm.

Coyote04/14/2020

##

Mishka laid there all night, curled
against him. Raef was small-- smaller than him, and more delicate, especially
now that he was a warlock. And it was strange, lying with someone so much
smaller and more delicate than him.

Eventually, he fell into an exhausted
and fitful sleep, and slept until morning.

Mink04/14/2020

As he warmed, Raef pulled himself in
closer and closer to Mishka in his sleep.
He woke up shivering only to fall back into sleep before the full
sensation of morning finally made his opens.

He groaned, rubbed his face, stretched,
and draped himself ontop of Mishka once more.
His head fuckin' hurt and his stomach was knotted.  He felt like shit.

"...fuck..." Raef grumbled,
burying his face against Mishka's neck.
Shit.

Coyote04/14/2020

"Oh!" Mishka sat bolt upright
as soon as he awoke. He fumbled. He wanted to heat something up for Raef to
drink, but their canteens inside their bags were frozen solid. He shifted to
lean out of their cover to restart the fire.

Mink04/14/2020

Mishka jerked up and Raef rolled to not
get his ass handed to him.  He chuckled
then groaned again.  At least he was
alive.

He was slower to sit up, wincing a
little.  Nothing wanted to move quite
right just yet - weak, limp, sore - but they needed to heat up their water and
their food...his stomach rolled at the thought.

"...lemme help," he muttered,
reaching for their canteens.

Coyote04/14/2020

Mishka batted his hands away.

Mink04/14/2020

Raef sighed dramatically and tucked
himself deeper into the cloak. "Fine, fine, but I'm gonna cook dinner
then." He smiled a little.

Coyote04/14/2020

"I will consider allowing you to
make dinner."

Mink04/14/2020

Raef laughed quietly, but it was
followed by a cough. "Yes, sir." He brought his legs up, arms tucked
between them and his chest. "...mmm...thank you."

Coyote04/14/2020

Mishka busied himself lighting the fire,
then putting a pan over the top, then gracelessly dropping a ton of snow into
the pan. He hoped this was how you made sterile water and he was not doing
anything particularly foolish. He was a city elf, not an unsophisticated tree
elf. He was not made for living in the dirt on the ground.

Mink04/14/2020

"Dump out some of the snow,"
Raef suggested.  "The pot'll burn
with that much."

Coyote04/14/2020

"I knew that." Mishka dumped
some out.

Mink04/14/2020

Raef dropped his chin to the top of his
knees, watching Mishka and the fire...mostly Mishka. "Mmhmm...I forget,
too.  Haven't been out in this much
fuckin' snow in awhile." He smiled briefly before going back to watching
Mishka.  The night before was a blur, but
he still remembered the soft, soothing words that kept him from a sleep that
would kill him.

He shifted a little.

Coyote04/14/2020

The water boiled very quickly. Goro said
there were parasites called amoebas in unclean water that could burrow into
your brain and kill you. Mishka wasn't totally sure if he was telling the
truth, but Goro was generally right about things, and he wasn't taking any
chances. He boiled the water thoroughly, and then when he was done, he said,
"D'you like tea?"

Mink04/14/2020

"Yep." Usually with a touch of
sugar and milk, but they didn't have those.
Milk would've frozen and they didn't need sugar. "What've you got?"

Coyote04/14/2020

"Green tea. And black." And
then, a little ashamed, Mishka said, "And chamomile. It... calms me
down."

Mink04/14/2020

"Mmm...black, please.  I don't need to fall asleep." Raef gave
a small sort of laugh, and another cough.
This was bullshit - he knew better than to let himself get so bad.
"...maybe tonight... haven't had chamomile in awhile."

Coyote04/14/2020

Mishka set the boiling water aside. He
dumped it into an insulated metal thermos, then set tea bags inside. They could
share. Once it was steeping, he settled back down next to Raef and took Raef's
face in his hands.

Mink04/14/2020

Raef felt his face heat up when it was
taken.  It wasn't like they hadn't just
spent the night cuddled up together.  To
keep warm.  But --

"I'm fine," he said with a
smile.  His head hurt and he was tired,
but he was fine. "Thank you." He hesitated a moment. "For
everything."

Coyote04/14/2020

"Psh," Mishka said.
"Nonsense." He wasn't sure which part he was saying nonsense to. He
leaned closer to Raef's face to inspect him more carefully, pulling down one of
Raef's eyelids to properly check the color. He thought that was a thing he saw
Amari do once.

Mink04/14/2020

Raef quirked an eyebrow with mild
amusement before he could stop himself.
He reached up and placed his hand over Mishka's.

"Hey. I'm fine," he said in
what he hoped was a soothing voice even though he probably looked like shit. He
squeezed Mishka's hand. "Because of you."

Coyote04/14/2020

"No one has ever been fine because
of me, Raef."

Mink04/15/2020

It was a painfully relatable
statement...no one was ever fine because of him...He placed a hand on the side
of Mishka's face, stroking across his cheek bone, running through his
words.  He was supposed to have been unconscious,
dead, anything but able to hear, but he had heard...

"You kept me warm, and safe,"
he started, slow and careful. "You made me want to stay awake because -
because I had things to tell you."

Coyote04/15/2020

Mishka steadily began to turn pink, and
began to check the cave entrance to make sure no one else was here.

Mink04/15/2020

Raef bit back a smile when Mishka turned
pink and checked the entrance of the cave - they were in the middle of nowhere,
they were alone.

He tucked a strand of hair behind
Mishka's ear.  His heart thumped and
seized unsteadily in his chest.  He let
out a breath of air.

He wasn't a fuckin' kid.  He knew how to talk.

"If...if we had met in
Alabaster...I would've stayed for you," he finally began.  Fuck, he was nervous.   He twirled a piece of Mishka's hair around a
finger. "It's fuckin' scary." Repeating Mishka's words.
"But...but...but, I wanted to say, that I -" It was his turn to turn
a little pink. " - can love you however you want me to." He made a
sort of vague gesture. "Like this, or whatever.  Just...however you want."

Coyote04/15/2020

“Oh,” Mishka said, face red. “Oh.”

He was aware he was supposed to say
something more here, like, me, too, or maybe— agreement, and telling Raef how
he... wanted Raef to love him, but— it became too overwhelming a moment, and he
ended up hiding his face against Raef’s collarbone instead.

Mink04/15/2020

Oh.
Raef was surprised, but he wrapped his arms around Mishka and lightly
stroked his hair.  He could wait for a
response, or no response.  That was
fine.  This was fine.

Coyote04/15/2020

Mishka broke the silence. “Are you
sure?” His voice came out a little muffled, even to his own ears.

Mink04/15/2020

Raef played a little with Mishka's hair.
"Yes," he answered. "Just tell me how...or don't...it doesn't
matter."

Coyote04/15/2020

Mishka meant to say something very
charming, and very suave, and very debonair.

What he actually did was squeak out the
word, “Boyfriend?” And then, a moment later, realizing that was unclear, he
added, “That one. That’s the one I want. Is that—? Is boyfriend one of them we
can—?”

Mink04/15/2020

He felt too hot, too cold, too - too -
fuck.  His heart didn't know whether or
not it should keep beating.

"...Yes...Yes, that's one,"
Raef said, making himself sound less like his body was trying to cease
being.  He smiled, happy, and squeezed
Mishka. "We can do that one."

Coyote04/16/2020

There came muffled sounds from outside
the cave. It sounded like things moving heavily through the snow.

Mink04/17/2020

Raef released Mishka, glancing at the
entrance of the cave.  He pulled away
enough for his hand to drop to his dagger, his other pressing into the cold
stone to lift himself up.

The world spun for a moment.  He just wanted to warm up and feel better
with Mishka, but some fucker was outside the cave.

Warmth flitted in his chest, unrelated
to Mishka, and the cave walls turned grey and thin for him.  Through them he could see --

He scowled.

A bear would've been better.

"Elves," he muttered to
Mishka.

Coyote04/18/2020

Mishka snickered and said,
"Racist," and then-- before he could stand up and disentangle himself
and make himself look presentable-- the elves crossed the threshold of the
cave.

There were five of them, or so. One
elderly elf, two adults, and two children. They seem taken aback to see Mishka
and Raef sitting, entangled, on the cave floor. One of the adults clucked
disapprovingly, and Mishka immediately felt a familiar hot wash of shame and
embarrassment. He knew he should've gotten up, but instead he hid his face
against Raef's shoulder and said, "Um. Uh."

Mink04/18/2020

Raef gave Mishka a playful look of
irritation.  He had a retort ready, but
then the family came in - or they looked like a family.  His eyebrows at the click before he lowered
them; the family wasn't worth it, and there were kids...even if one of their
elders was being an ass.

"Morning," Raef greeted,
squeezing Mishka before standing up.  He
tucked the cloak around Mishka.  His
touch lingered for a moment then he turned to the elves.  He dropped his accent - it was too damn cold
to play mean, unless they started it. "Can we help you?"

Coyote04/18/2020

Mishka's face felt pink, which was
fucking ridiculous. He was feared. He was terrible. He was the infamous serial
killer, Mikael Haeth. These people would be afraid of him if they knew who he
was. They'd be afraid of Raef if they knew who Raef was.

Still, he couldn't help the discomfort
that came over him. He always felt like a child again when he was around other
Alabaster high elves.

The two adults drew protectively around
their children. The mother addressed them very cordially, though. "Hello!
We're on an expedition heading north. You folks look a bit ragged. What are you
doing all the way out here?"

Mishka meant to reply, but he was too
flustered.

Mink04/18/2020

Mishka didn't answer.  That was fine.  Raef had it.
He hoped.

He smiled at the mother, easy, nice,
maybe a tinge tired (he still wanted to sleep a little longer). "We're
traveling north as well," he said, slipping back into the speech
Alabasterian elves, following the suit of the woman.

He paused then, calculated, and this
time he smiled a little sheepishly. "Excuse my manners, we should
introduce ourselves." He held out a hand. "I'm Raef and this is
my...husband...Mishka."

One of the children stood up on their
toes at that, or maybe they were just eager.

Coyote04/18/2020

Mishka was weirdly relieved when Raef
said, This is my husband, Mishka, because Mishka was just about to make the
exact same lie. "Oh!" the woman said brightly. "Husband. That
makes sense."

Her tone was a little too bright, and
Mishka shifted awkwardly. He could never tell if people were being
passive-aggressive or genuine when they were too nice like that. He remembered,
suddenly, how much he hated Alabaster elves, and how uncomfortable the layers
of caked-on politeness made him. He suddenly missed Hansel, and Goro, and
Larkin, and Luci.

He stood up and clutched Raef's hand,
nestling himself comfortably against Raef's side.

"I'm Orya," the woman said.
"This is my husband, Leonid, and my mother, Dima."

"I'm Tania!" the older girl
said.

"Yes, that's Tania. And who are
you, little one? What do we say?"

"I'm Efim," the younger boy
said uncomfortably, ducking behind his mother.

"I'm Efim. It's my honor to meet
you," the mother said firmly.

"I'm Efim. It's my honor to meet
you," he repeated dully.

Mink04/18/2020

Raef wrapped his hand around Mishka's,
the warmth and close presence comforting.
There were reasons that he had left Alabaster - reasons that Mishka
understood - but these elves in front of them wouldn't.   Yet...they had to play nice...

Still...he didn't like her tone at his
lie.  She could be genuine or she could
be as fake as most of them.  Fuckers.

"It's a pleasure, Efim," Raef
answered with a smile.

Efim gave an embarrassed shake of his
head.

"Are you going to the temple,
too?" Tania piped up, voice brimming with energy and the haughtiness
mimicked in her mother's tone.

Coyote04/18/2020

Okay. A kid. Mishka was good with kids.
He could handle this one. "Yes," Mishka said. "Aelinthaldaar?
The Aerie, you mean?"

Mink04/18/2020

"Oh, good!  We're going.
I went last year.  It's very
important!" As Tania spoke, Efrim peeked around his mother's hip, clearly
eager on the conversation, but also not certain what to say. "We're going
to visit Corellon."

The elves weren't going to leave anytime
soon even if they stood there awkwardly.

"Please, have a seat," Raef
said, gesturing at the stone floor of the cave. "Or are you in a
rush?" Tania didn't seem to be as she babbled.

Coyote04/18/2020

"What are you going to the Aerie
for?" Orya cut in. She didn't sit down, and shooed Tania and Efim away
when they tried to sit down.

Mink04/18/2020

This standing was pretentious and Raef
squeezed Mishka's hand a little tighter.
He wanted the elves to go away.
Then he could relax with Mishka and drop this rouse.

"Mmm...we wish to seek a blessing
for our marriage," Raef said, hoping it was a good enough lie.  He knew jack and shit about blessings from
gods. "I assume you wish a blessing or...?"

Coyote04/18/2020

"Oh, no. We--" Orya said. But then Tania
immediately interrupted.

"We're going to maintain the temple, not ask for a
blessing. We must clear out the ice, and seal up any cracks, and clear any
infestations, and renew the spells protecting the temple, so that it does not
fall into disrepair and become a shame to Corellon."

"Yes," Orya said. "That."

Mink04/18/2020

Raef stroked his thumb down the back of Mishka's hand,
almost lazily and thoughfully.  If they
got into the Aerie with these elves then they would have an easier time getting
the spell, if the family didn't try to stop them.

"Wow, that's a task, Tania," Raef said with a
smile. "Are you going to help?"

"Yes!" She was excited. "Efrim, too.".
She regained some of her mimes composure. "I did it last year."

Efrim gave another of his painfully shy smiles.

"That's exciting." Raef glanced to Orya and Leonid
then Dima. "How often do you make the trip?" Maybe they'd know of
safer places to rest and to walk.

Coyote04/18/2020

"Once a year," Tania said, bouncing on the toes of
her feet. Then she stopped, schooling her face to elegant aloofness again. She
glanced at her grandmother, who patted her on the shoulder reassuringly.

"How long have you been married?" Orya remarked.
"Just now? I hadn't heard of any wedding ceremonies in Alabaster."

Mishka wrapped his arm around Raef's waist so they mirrored
each other. "Uh. We're not from Alabaster," he said, because that
seemed like a convincing lie. "We're from..."

Mink04/18/2020

"A short while." Raef hooked his arm around
Mishka's shoulder, holding him close.  It
was an act, but his heart still fluttered. Boyfriend.  He could barely keep a smile from his face.

"We're from Evereska." A plausible town in a
plausible place filled with elves.  And
hopefully this family didn't pry too much. He decided on a change of subject.
"Are you sure you don't want to sit?
You must be tired."

Coyote04/18/2020

"Oh, no. It's only dawn. Why, if we sit down, we'll
never get back up!" Orya said with a laugh. "You should see my
husband. Why, it's like minding a third kid sometimes." She prodded him in
the ribs.

The husband smiled. "Would you folks like to come with
us? You look pretty ragged."

Mink04/18/2020

Raef chuckled.  It
would've been cute if he wasn't ready to sit back down.  He raised his eyebrows in surprise and
glanced at Mishka.  It'd be a good idea
to go along with them.

"That sounds good.
What do you think?" he asked with a smile at Mishka.

Coyote04/18/2020

"Haha," Mishka said. "Sounds suspicious. What
if you're serial killers who murder us along the road as a sacrifice to your
god?"

It was a joke, and it was funny, so Mishka laughed. Dima,
the grandmother, gave him a very stern look and said, "You know Corellon
doesn't accept human sacrifice. He's not like one of those other gods."

"Um," Mishka said. "I know. Sorry, I was
trying to make a joke."

"Don't think that's a very good remark to make in front
of the children," Dima muttered under her breath without looking directly
at Mishka.

Orya gave a strained smile.

Mink04/18/2020

Raef snorted quietly with laughter at Mishka's remark.  Fuckin' gods.
Any amusement was gone at Dima's comment.  He hated Alabasterian elves like her.

"Your children seem well-rounded and intelligent.  I'm sure they know about other gods and their
less than half savory habits," he said gently, careful to praise the kids,
but also with just a big enough bite to show he didn't like the underhanded
comment.

Coyote04/18/2020

"My grandchildren are well-rounded and
intelligent," Dima said, a bit grouchy. "We've worked hard to keep
them that way." And continued staring Raef.

Mishka squeezed Raef's hand as though to say Oh my god.

Mink04/18/2020

\*\*\*

They managed to get outof the cave without any
complications, or without anymore snide comments involving children, gods, and
sacrifice.  Once it was smoothed over,
Dima relaxed and was more pleasant.

"How did you two meet?" she asked shortly after
they left the cave.

Raef busied himself with fixing his pack...fuck...

Coyote04/18/2020

Mishka braced himself. "Uh. Fucking. Um." Then he
winced, remembering he wasn't supposed to swear in front of children.
"Well. We, uh. Met. At a celebration, actually."

Mink04/18/2020

"Oh?"

"It was during the winter solstice," Raef
supplemented. "He looked so, well, handsome in the firelight and I
couldn't resist."

Coyote04/18/2020

"That's true. I am very handsome," Mishka said.
Then, because he couldn't resist, he said to Raef, "D'you remember that
thing that happened? With the punch? God, that was ridiculous."

Mink04/18/2020

Raef stared at Mishka, feeling his face heat up. "You
mean what you did after consuming the lunch?" he asked, barely skipping a
beat, a playful smile on his face.

Coyote04/18/2020

"God, yeah. It really is a disgusting story. Maybe I
shouldn't tell it," Mishka said, and then looked embarrassed.

The little boy, Efim, looked extremely taken by this. He
tugged on Mishka's cloak. "I wanna know!"

"Efim," Orya reprimanded.

"Oh, it's fine," Mishka said. "It's just very
embarrassing. So, Raef makes the most amazing punch... it's very good. Raef,
what do you put in it?"

Mink04/18/2020

Raef gave Mishka a playful squeeze, nose wrinkling a
little.  Mishka was being bad.  He loved it.

"Mmm...a little of this and of that..."

"That doesn't sound like anything," Efim said,
frowning a little.

"Oh, it's very good.
Mishka loves it." Raef gave another smile.  "Go on, my love, tell him."

Coyote04/18/2020

"Well," Mishka said. "So... I hadn't met Raef
before, obviously. But I drank this punch, and it was so good. I was very
nervous. I get nervous, y'know, in-- social situations, sometimes. So I kept
drinking this punch, because it had some very finely distilled vodka in it. And
there were these pomegranates-- honey, d'you remember the pomegranates?"

Mink04/18/2020

"I do.  I helped
find them for the celebration." Raef grinned.  He twined his fingers with Mishka's and
brought Mishka's hand to his lips.  He
placed a kiss on the back of Mishka's knuckles. "I remember you liking
them.  I should've brought more."

Coyote04/18/2020

Mishka flushed at the kiss. That was still new. Very new.

"Right, well... I was very nervous. And I drank a lot
of the punch. And I ate a great deal of the pomegranates. And eventually the
obvious happened, and-- ah, this is so embarrassing-- I vomited right into the
punch. And I was so mortified I bolted right out of the party."

He ducked his head. "And then I hid outside and puked
in the bushes a bit, and after a while I recovered. And then I came back
inside. And my friend Erina walked up to me and said... Mishka, come here. You
have to try this most amazing punch. And I said, The punch? And she said, Yes.
It's got the most delicious little pieces of pomegranate in it."

Orya gagged and put her hand over her mouth. Efim laughed.
"That's disgusting!" Dima said.

"I don't get it," Tania said, frowning.

"She was eating his vomit!" Efim said, delighted.

"Efim!" Orya said.

Mink04/18/2020

Raef was surprised at the story that came out and it took
every bit of his willpower to not laugh.
He barely managed to hide his smile against the back of his wrist.

"It was a wild night...had to throw the whole punch
out..." Raef squeezed Mishka's hand. "He looked so red I came up to
offer to distract him for awhile."

Coyote04/18/2020

"Aye. Raef didn't know, at first, that I was the one
that ruined his punch. It took a while of us dating before he found out."

Mink04/18/2020

Dima cleared her throat. "Did you date long?" She
seemed to be looking for something other than the vomit punch to talk about.

Coyote04/18/2020

"Oh," Mishka said. "Not long at all. What was
it? Five years?"

Mink04/18/2020

"Give or take a month, yeah," Raef agreed.

"Oh.  Is that
with the engagement?"

"We skipped it.
Decided to get married instead." Raef shrugged.

Coyote04/18/2020

"Yes. We eloped. It really was quite a story--"

Mink04/18/2020

"--we can save it for later.  Maybe give our hosts something to ask about
when we've rested." Raef smiled and swing Mishka's arm gently between
them.

Coyote04/18/2020

"Very well," Mishka said. "But that will only
give me more time to remember more details, my love."

Mink04/19/2020

It sounded like a challenge and Raef grinned. "All the
better then."

"You two seem to have many stories," Dima
commented, in that same tone she had. "What do you two do in
Evereska?"

Coyote04/19/2020

"Oh," Mishka said. "I'm just a house husband.
Raef does the real work."

Mink04/19/2020

Raef squeezed Mishka's hand: I'll get you.  "I work as a tradesman." He smiled.
"I dabble in a few things." Not far from the truth, but far enough.

Coyote04/19/2020

The snow was getting thicker, here, but they all had
snowshoes, which made the going easier. Up ahead, a lodge came into view: a
cold and empty building made of spruce logs. "Is that it?" Mishka
said, pointing.

Orya nodded. "Oh yes, that's it. You're welcome to stay
a while. Put your feet up and recover from your journey. You know, you two must
be very devoted to each other to make such a treacherous journey north together
just for a marriage blessing."

Mink04/19/2020

It was a decent sized lodge, cozy with three rooms that
branched off from a main hall leading from an open living and kitchen area.  Once the fires were burning it was sure to
warm up quickly.  Just stepping out of
the cold air was welcome.

"The back room is available," Dima said with a
smile. "Please make yourselves at home."

"Thank you." Raef smiled, knocked off the snow
before stepping inside, and waited for Mishka before leading the way to the
back room so they could set down their bags.

And so he could take off his cloak before flopping down onto
the bed with a groan. "....fuck..."

Coyote04/22/2020

Mishka shut the door, then locked it securely, then locked
the deadbolt as well. Then went to investigate the windows.

Mink04/22/2020

Raef followed Mishka with his eyes.  He couldn't blame him for locking everything
and checking the windows. "Everythjn' good?"

Coyote04/22/2020

“What? Yes, of course.” Why would anything be wrong? Mishka
returned to the door and began checking the locks and the hinges.

Mink04/22/2020

"You just checked those locks," Raef pointed out,
pushing himself up onto his elbows.

Coyote04/23/2020

“Well, yes, of course,” Mishka said. “What if those elves
break into our room in the middle of the night and murder us?”

Mink04/23/2020

"Mmm...I think we can take them." He didn't think
they'd do anything, but if they did, Mishka could set the place on fire.

Coyote04/24/2020

"Well, sure. But what if we both fall asleep,
and..."

Mink04/24/2020

"We can take them." Raef sat up all of the way.
"I can stay up." He knew a trick or two to rest, but not sleep.

Coyote04/24/2020

Mishka scoffed, but then reluctantly nodded. He finished
double-checking the hinges, then set his bag on the floor as well.

He started rustling through it. He peeked at Raef from the
corners of his eyes. There was only one bed. And-- his face felt hot, because
he sort of... wanted to sleep against Raef, maybe, but he wasn't sure he wanted
to do-- more than that, and he was completely flummoxed about how to
communicate this.

Mink04/24/2020

Raef undid his boots, glancing towards Mishka.  The air was thick with awkwardness,
nervousness.  His pulse quickened briefly
before he swallowed, trying to ease some of it.   He knew Mishka - one word didn't change
that.   Except it did.  It made him almost giddy.

He dropped his boots to the floor. "...can...can I hold
you...tonight?" It sounded stupid.
But the night before he'd been fuckin' dying.

Coyote04/24/2020

"Well. We are married."

Mink04/24/2020

Raef chuckled. "We are." He slid back onto the bed
with a sigh. The bed was soft, and better than what they'd been sleeping
on.   He hesitated a moment before
offering out a hand to Mishka.

Coyote04/24/2020

Mishka batted it away, then began to dig through his bag.
"I brought pajamas," he admitted sheepishly. "In case we found
somewhere nice to sleep. Because I wanted to be comfy."

Mink04/24/2020

"Fuck... that's a good idea." Raef hadn't done
that.  He had extra clothes, but that was
it.  Not that he wore pajamas usually. He
nestled back into a pillow.

Coyote04/24/2020

Mishka tossed a pair of pajamas at Raef, because he'd
brought some for Raef too. Because he was like that.

Mink04/24/2020

Raef caught the pajamas before they could catch him in the
face. He slid out of the bed. "...mmm...you have the best ideas..."
He undid the buttons on his shirt, pulling it off with a sigh of
gratefulness.  The pajamas were softer
and cozier.  It was going to be a good
night.

Coyote04/24/2020

Mishka watched Raef undo the buttons of his shirt from the
corners of his eyes.

Mink04/24/2020

Raef shrugged off his shirt, the fabric slithering to the
floor and pooling at his feet.  He could
feel eyes on him and he bit back a smile.
He undid his pants next, letting them sag heavily at his hips while he
grabbed the pajama shirt, pulling it on slowly and carefully.

Coyote04/24/2020

"Y'know what you are?" Mishka said.

Mink04/24/2020

"What's that?" Raef moved on to changing out of
his pants.

Coyote04/24/2020

"Tiny," Mishka said. "Teeny-tiny."

Mink04/24/2020

Raef tugged on his pajama pants. "Not where it
counts."

Coyote04/24/2020

"Yes, but the rest of you. Itty-bitty," Mishka
said. "The smallest."

Mink04/24/2020

Raef laughed, turned around, and crawled back onto the bed,
pulling the covers back. "Maybe you're just big."

Coyote04/25/2020

“Maybe I’m normal sized,” Mishka said. “And you’re teeny.”

He began to undress, turning his back as he did.

Mink04/25/2020

"Uh-huh." Raef tucked the covers up.  He glanced towards Mishka; he couldn't help
himself.  The elf was...he didn't have
proper words for him.  Beautiful wasn't
good enough.

Coyote04/25/2020

Mishka finished dressing, then slid into bed with Raef,
carefully. He resisted the urge to check the locks one more time.

Mink04/25/2020

Raef slid deeper under the covers before he moved closer to
Mishka.  "Big spoon or little
spoon?"

Coyote04/27/2020

"I'd rather face you," Mishka said sheepishly.
"I get, uh..." It was hard to explain, so he stammered a bit.

Mink04/27/2020

"Mmm...I like that better." Raef grinned with a
shadow of a wink.  He hooked an arm
around Mishka's waist, pulling him closer, barely able to resist tangling their
legs and arms together.  This alone was
enough to get his blood pumping.

Coyote04/27/2020

Mishka pushed himself around until he was comfortably
arranged, then tugged the blankets over them. He rested his face against Raef’s
shoulder. It helped when he could see Raef, and smell him, and know it was him,
because being this close to other people— fucked him up, sometimes. “It’s
better for me if I can face you because then I know it’s you,” Mishka admitted,
embarrassed.

Mink04/27/2020

Raef slid his fingers through Mishka's hair - soft, like
satin - and leaned down to place a kiss to the top of Mishka's head.  Without the bitter bite of cold, the scent
sweet scent of flowers that flowed with a current of lava was stronger.

"Okay." He could do this, anytime.  He could hold Mishka however he wanted.
"I like this."

Coyote04/27/2020

“I like this, too,” Mishka said, and then snuggled a bit
closer— for warmth— and tried to fall asleep.

Mink04/27/2020

Raef kept playing with Mishka's hair, twining and untwining
the strands around his fingers.  He
listened to each quiet breath.  It was peaceful.  He doubted the elves would come, but he
stayed awake.  His mind wandered and he
dozed, or meditated, whatever the word was.
It was restful, but he'd be able to move quickly.  He promised Mishka, and, like this, he could
keep touching him.

Coyote04/27/2020

###

Mishka slept fitfully, in bits and pieces. He struggled to
sleep in new places; it put him on guard, like his brain wanted to stay half
awake to defend himself. Every time he stirred awake, though, Raef was
half-dozing next to him. And that made it easier.

Eventually, he awoke. He wasn’t sure what time it was— he
knew only that it was very dark outside. Time was hard to tell this far north,
because the sky was dark for almost eighteen hours a day, and brightened only
briefly during daytime.

When he awoke, he realized part of the reason he felt
jittery and on edge. He shifted uncomfortably, making a small, unhappy noise in
the back of his throat.

Mink04/27/2020

When Mishka stirred, Raef kept up the soft touches until
Mishka fell back asleep.  At some point
when Mishka woke it wasn't a fitful wakefulness.

Raef shifted a little bit when Mishka did, shivering
slightly and it wasn't entirely to do with the cold.

"...everythin' okay?" he asked, glancing down at
Mishka.

Coyote04/27/2020

“Yeah,” Mishka said. Then paused, and buried his face in
Raef’s neck, and said, “Uh. Actually. I’m— I’m really fucking anxious. I feel
like I’m about to have a goddamn panic attack.”

It was hard to say this aloud, even just between the two of
them.

Mink04/27/2020

Raef stroked two fingers down Mishka's back, drawing small
circles along the way.  "Mmm...what
usually helps?" He smiled gently. "Saying I big n' tough probably
doesn't."

Coyote04/27/2020

Mishka snickered. Then was quiet, too wildly embarrassed to
explain.

“Fooling around usually helps,” he eventually blurted out.
Then he immediately began to backtrack. “Not that I’m suggesting we— I mean,
not that I wouldn’t, just that—“

Mink04/27/2020

Raef laughed quietly, pressing his face into the top of
Mishka's hair. "What?  I'm too
teeny?" he teased lightly, drawing back enough to look better at Mishka.
He slid his fingers across Mishka's hip.

Coyote04/27/2020

“No,” Mishka said. He was dying; this was what dying felt
like. “I didn’t mean— oh my god.” He hid his face against Raef’s collarbone so
he didn’t have to look at him.

Mink04/27/2020

Raef bit back a grin, wrapping his arms back around Mishka's
waist. "Too big?"

Coyote04/27/2020

Mishka scoffed. Then he said haltingly into Raef’s shirt: “I
don’t want you to sleep with me just because I’m anxious and it would make me
feel better. That’s something— Hansel would probably try to do, y’know, make
himself uncomfortable in order to— make me feel better.”

Mink04/27/2020

Raef pulled back a little, sliding his hand up to cup
Mishka's face.  He stroked his thumb
across his cheek.

"You don't make me uncomfortable," he said,
smiling softly.  "...and I wouldn't
sleep with you just because." He hesitated a moment, heart thumping
nervously, before he leaned in to place a tender kiss to Mishka's lips. "I
would - I would sleep with you to make you feel better...and I would sleep with
you because I want to...because I love you."

Coyote04/29/2020

Mishka used to imagine that-- the first time he had sex with
anyone at all-- it would be like this, all soft, and awkward, and sweet.
Fumbling and not knowing quite what to do. Quiet reassurances that everything
was fine.

"Okay," Mishka said, embarrassed.
"Okay." Then, remembering he was supposed to respond: "I love
you too."

It felt like things were going very quickly, because they'd
only just decided to maybe try dating half a day ago. But-- Mishka supposed he
frequently love people he loved them before dating them at all, and it was
normal to have sex with people before dating them, so... really, this wasn't
that soon.

Besides, this didn't feel soon. This felt like a very long
time coming. It felt like-- from the moment they'd met-- they had been very
slowly heading in this direction, so slowly that neither of them had really
noticed it, millimeter by millimeter.

Mishka wished that he had noticed sooner.

He wished he could've had this sooner. Lying comfortably in
bed with his boyfriend who loved him and wanted to sleep with him but... not
make him uncomfortable. He wished he'd had this a very long time ago.

"I might need to... stop... if we fool around,
though," Mishka said, hiding his face against Raef's chest again.
"You should probably, um. Know that. I get-- overwhelmed-- easily. I'm
sorry."

Mink04/29/2020

Raef hooked both arms around Mishka then, rolling more onto
his back and nuzzled his face into Mishka's hair.  He smelled wonderful - his heart jolted in
his chest.

"...okay...tell me 'when' and I'll stop," he said
with a warm smile.  He kissed the top of
Mishka's head then his forehead. "... don't be sorry.  Feel free to push me away."

Coyote04/29/2020

"Psh," Mishka said. He wanted to say, And you
won't get mad? You won't guilt me?

Hansel had spent years drilling those doubts out of him,
picking up on Mishka's body language and stopping the moment anything changed,
even if Mishka didn't say no, not out loud. But... those doubts still cropped
up every time Mishka slept with a new person.

"Okay," Mishka said. "I'll say." Then,
still highly fucking embarrassed: "Um, can we-- do you, first?"

Mink04/29/2020

Raef flushed at the question.  His blood didn't know which way to flow.  It was an exciting, nerve-wracking idea that
made him shiver.

"...uh...yeah..." he said with a smile that
couldn't quite hide the various emotions. "Yeah." He traced his
fingers through Mishka's hair and leaned down to place a kiss on his lips.
"Yeah."

Coyote05/14/2020

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B\_T8WqViRxxTr-TXSzXP2qAmulcJO0lC5KiwzTXJKQI

Google Docs

Mishka: Honeymoon

It was easier, focusing on Raef first. Less overwhelming,
somehow. Sometimes Mishka didn’t want… people touching him, especially when he
was anxious, and he was really fucking anxious right now. Hansel had steadily
worked through it with him, spending years slowly gaining his...

Coyote05/14/2020

##

In the morning, there was an unexpected knock on the door.

Mishka mumbled in his sleep, clinging closer to Raef, but
did not wake.

Mink05/14/2020

Raef groaned softly, rolling further into his side.  He peeked out through his hair at the door.
"Yes?" Fuck.  It was too early
to be up.  The damn elves probably thought
it was a fine time.  He just wanted to
stay right there with Mishka.

Coyote05/14/2020

Orya stood there with a sharp look in her eyes. She carried
a tray of food, but she wasn’t smiling— a sharp contrast to her overly friendly
exterior the previous night. “I brought you food,” she said briefly.

Mink05/14/2020

Raef had to fix his pajama pants properly before climbing
out if bed so he could walk over to her.
He gave her a smile (an award winning, friendly smile).

"Thank you." He relieved Orya of the tray.
"Would you like us to do anything while we're here?"

Coyote05/14/2020

“Maybe something later,” Orya said with a strange smile. She
otherwise did not comment. “Let me know if you need anything.” Then she turned
to leave.

Sleepily, inside, Mishka said, “I smell cinnamon rolls.”

Mink05/14/2020

"Thank you." Raef watched Orya go before closing
the door.  He didn't know what the fuck
that was about.  He carried the tray back
to the bed, set it down, and leaned over to place a kiss to Mishka's forehead.
"Mmm...she brought cinnamon rolls, esh hanasich shelli."

Coyote05/14/2020

Mishka sat bolt upright and immediately reached for one. As
soon as he touched the plate, though, and took the cinnamon roll, he spotted
something strange. A folded paper underneath one of the cinnamon rolls, sticky
with icing. "Hey," Mishka said.

Mink05/14/2020

Raef settled onto the bed.
He pulled out the paper, picking it apart carefully.  "...strange..."

Coyote05/14/2020

In very small precise letters, the note said, I know who you
are.

Mink05/14/2020

"Shit." Raef scowled at the note. "Don't eat
the cinnamon roll."

Coyote05/14/2020

Mishka craned over Raef's shoulder to read it, the cinnamon
roll already half-stuffed into his mouth. He was immediately appalled. He
grabbed a small plate and spat the roll onto it.

Mink05/14/2020

The food was probably alright, but...he knew Mishka wasn't
liked in Alabaster and he doubted he had any friends there, too.

"Did Orya look familiar to you?" he asked,
crumpling the note.

Coyote05/14/2020

"No." Mishka thought about it some more. "No.
Absolutely not. Wait, how d'you know it's me? Maybe it's you." He prodded
Raef, then prodded him again simply because he liked Raef.

Mink05/14/2020

Raef chuckled and teasingly nudged Mishka back.
"Mmm...I don't think I know anyone in Alabaster..."

Coyote05/14/2020

"Well, maybe someone knows you," Mishka said.
"You don't know." He prodded Raef again, then dodged his next
prodding attempt and tried to prod Raef in his unprotected side. He knew he was
probably wrong, but he didn't really care.

Mink05/14/2020

Raef made a soft, giggle sort of sound when he was prodded
again. "You're just askin' for it," he warned before reaching in to
prod at Mishka.

Coyote05/14/2020

Mishka's grin widened. "Asking for what? I can take
you."

Mink05/14/2020

Raef grinned widely, caught Mishka's hips, and drew him
close.  He leaned in like he was going to
kiss Mishka's neck only to blow a raspberry against his skin instead.

Coyote05/15/2020

Mishka gasped in surprise and instinctively tried to clock
Raef.

Mink05/15/2020

Before he could think about getting a hand up to block the
fist, pain flared brightly and Raef rolled to the side with the force of the
hit.  He clapped a hand to his cheek.

At first he was quiet, but then he giggled. "Ow."

Coyote05/15/2020

Mishka bolted to assist him, then immediately became
paranoid and held back. “You’re not just pretending to be hurt so you can blow
more raspberries on me, are you?”

Mink05/15/2020

"No..no..." Raef rubbed his cheek. "You've
got a good arm." He was going to feel it for awhile in his teeth...his
cheek...everywhere.

Coyote05/17/2020

Mishka edged closer, then-- giving in-- fell to his knees to
inspect the damage, prying at Raef's fingers where Raef cupped the wound so he
could see it himself.

Mink05/17/2020

Raef didn't fight have his fingers moved.  He winced a little at the lack of pressure.
"Still pretty?" he asked with a smile that ached faintly.

Coyote05/17/2020

"Even prettier." Mishka rested his fingers on
Raef's cheek, then concentrated, briefly. He imagined his magic flowing out've
him and into Raef, repairing the damage.

It worked. The scrape on Raef's cheek healed, and the bruise
flushed a darker shade of purple, then disappeared.

Mink05/17/2020

Light, tickling warmth slipped through his cheek, spreading
out from Mishka's fingertips.  The pain
pricked, faded, and finally vanished.

Raef shivered.  He
didn't know Mishka could do that.

"Mmm...thank you...where'd you learn that?" he
asked, taking Mishka's hand in his and kissing the tips of Mishka's fingers.

Coyote05/17/2020

Mishka blinked at Raef, a little dazed by the affection,
still, due to its newness. "You might be mad," he admitted after a
moment.

Mink05/18/2020

Raef twined his fingers with Mishka's, just holding his
hand. "Why'd I be mad?" He arched an eyebrow in question.

Coyote05/18/2020

Mishka ducked his head. "Because, uh. I've been...
hanging out with Pride. And he's been... teaching me magic."

Mink05/18/2020

Oh...it wasn't he expected and he didn't know what to say,
or how to feel.  Anwyll and Pride'd made
up, but he knew that Pride didn't give a shit about Anwyll - probably'd gut 'im
if he could.

But Anwyll'd do the same... probably...

He tapped his fingers on the back of Mishka's hand.

"Okay." He gave a faint smile.  He could be mad, easily.  He didn't like Pride - didn't trust
Pride.  But...but...He sighed. "How
long've you been hanging out with him?"

Coyote05/18/2020

Mishka hesitated. "A couple weeks," he lied. It'd
been longer than that. "I think he decided to give me a bit've help since
we're helping Sam."

Mink05/18/2020

You're helping Sam.
He didn't say it.  It was mean and
splitting hairs.  He'd said he was going
to help, but...he trusted Pride less and less after the situation with Anwyll.

"It's helpful," Raef agreed.  He smiled. "What else can you do?"

Coyote05/18/2020

"Oh, nothing interesting, yet." Mishka kept his
hand on Raef's face, just looking at him a moment, still feeling a bit smitten.

Mink05/18/2020

"Healing's pretty interesting." Raef slipped a
hand over Mishka's.  He squeezed before
bringing the palm to his lips so he could kiss it. "I can't do that."

Coyote05/18/2020

"No, but you can do many other interesting
things," Mishka said, using the opportunity to steal Raef's hand back and
kiss it. "Are you alright? You looked a bit bothered, there, a moment
ago."

Mink05/18/2020

The kiss made warmth flutter through Raef.  This was all new and exciting.  "Yeah." He smiled warmly.
"Anwyll and Pride have a truce so it's fine."

Coyote05/18/2020

Mishka wrapped his arms around Raef and just sat there a
moment, sighing contentedly. In a moment they'd have to go downstairs and
resume pretending to be married, but for a moment, he just sat there and enjoyed
the quiet company of his new boyfriend.

Eventually, he kissed Raef's cheek. "We ought to go
downstairs before they come get us and drag us out," he said reluctantly.

Mink05/18/2020

Raef nestled in close, enjoying laying there with
Mishka.  It was... indescribable.  Everything was bright and shiny, and he loved
it.  He could've stayed there forever
except Mishka brought up that they should make themselves known.

He groaned playfully and slouched against Mishka. "I
guess..." He chuckled and pulled away, kissing Mishka before climbing off
the bed. "...the sooner we leave, the sooner we can eat."

Coyote05/19/2020

##

Mishka dressed warmly in layers, then wrapped himself in his
furry white cloak and headed downstairs. When they stepped into the cabin's
main room, the table was set with food. Orya smiled at them and beckoned them
down. "Come sit," she said. "Were the earlier pastries to your
liking?"

Mink05/19/2020

Even Mishka's cloak was pretty.  Raef smiled a little as he followed him,
carrying their bags so they could leave without having to head back to the
bedroom.

"They were," he said with a smile, setting the
bags down and sitting.  He watched Orya
carefully. "Thank you.  Are you sure
there isn't anything we can do to repay you?"

Coyote05/19/2020

Orya smiled at him and winked. "Maybe you can help me
with our rituals once we get to the temple," she said. "I'll show you
how once we arrive. We would greatly appreciate it. Would you be interested in
that?"

Mink05/19/2020

If he was just a little younger and Mishka wasn't there, and
kids weren't there, --

Raef smiled easily at Orya before glancing at Mishka.
"I'm okay with it, if you are."

Coyote05/19/2020

"What kind've ritual?" Mishka asked.

"Oh, Tania can tell you. Tania?"

"We shoot arrows!" Tania said. "At a statue!
To represent the time that Corellon pricked the eye out of Gruumsh! And we
light incense, and burn offerings."

Orya smiled and nodded and gave her an extra pastry. "I
can't shoot arrows, but I can burn things," Mishka said, selecting a
pastry for himself.

Mink05/19/2020

"I can shoot." Raef smiled; Mishka really could
burn things. He settled for a piece of fruit to eat. "We'd be happy to
help you." He took another bite. "When do you want to leave?"

Coyote05/19/2020

"Oh, soon. If we leave now, we should get to the temple
around noon," Orya said.

"Hey," Mishka said, glancing at her. "Do I
know you from somewhere?"

Orya smiled, looking puzzled. "No. I don't think
so."

"Huh," Mishka said, and chewed his pasty. He nudged
a plate of sausages at Raef and waggled his eyebrows.

Mink05/19/2020

Raef took a sausage, rolling his eyes before tipping a wink
at Mishka.  He sure as hell didn't know
this family.  Probably.

"We're ready when you are." He smiled easily
again.  He could still fake it.  He finished his sausage and his fruit, and
some water.  "Do you need help
clearing up?"

Coyote05/19/2020

"Certainly," Orya said. "I always need help
cleaning up."

Mink05/19/2020

Raef stood up, lifting the dishes to take them to the
kitchen.  This was easier than playing
nice and making conversation. "Did you make the rolls this morning?"
he asked as he set about washing.

Coyote05/19/2020

"I did."

Mink05/19/2020

Raef fished down a towel. "Mmm...so which one of us do
you know?"

Coyote05/19/2020

Orya paused, seeming surprised by something, but then said
nothing for a long moment. Then she said, "I know you, Raef Chastain. And
I knew Aesar."

Mink05/19/2020

Raef stiffened. "How?"

Coyote05/19/2020

"Because I worked for him as well," Orya said.
"You were not the only assassin in Alabaster." She kept her tone
cordial and friendly, as if they were discussing weather and traveling.

Mink05/19/2020

"Uh-huh." Raef began to dry off the plates.
"I'm aware.  I thought I'd got the
last of them." He shrugged.  Talking
about the weather, talking about murdering every last one that had to do with
Aesar's death.  It was all the same
thing.

Coyote05/19/2020

Orya smiled thinly. "I'm good at evading such
things." She cast Raef a sidelong look. "The true Orya is long dead.
This isn't my face. So I'm unsurprised you don't recognize me. I was only a new
recruit when-- well, when Aesar's death happened, and when you left."

Mink05/19/2020

"Then who are you?"

Coyote05/19/2020

"Well, for now I am Orya," Orya said. "That
is all that matters." She braced herself against the counter. "The
important thing is that I've been hired to quietly take out this little family.
Once we get to the temple. And make it look as though they looted the temple,
and then vanished. You can be a problem and get in my way-- or you can help
me."

Mink05/19/2020

Raef didn't even have to think.  There were children in the 'little family'.
He put the dish away. "I'm going to be a problem." He smiled thinly
at Orya. "The question is is: do you want me to be a problem or do you
want to disappear?"

Coyote05/20/2020

"An interesting question," Orya said. "Well.
I have a question for you, before I answer that. Earlier, you asked if I
recognized you, or your husband." She cocked her head. "Why would I
recognize your husband?"

Mink05/20/2020

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you." Raef smiled
again, not nice, not thinly.  He was sure
he was going to have to kill her anyway.

Coyote05/20/2020

"I sent a message back to my people in Alabaster. I
gave them your names and descriptions, my friend. If I turn up dead, they will
be after you. Are you certain you want to do that? You'd have an easier time if
you just helped me."

Mink05/20/2020

Raef played with the hilt of his dagger, tapping his fingers
over it, as if he was thinking.   He was;
he was choosing his words.  "You're
failing to understand your position, my friend.
Unless you leave here now, there will be no body for your friends to
find. You will have simply vanished.
They come after me and mine, they will also vanish." He looked back
up. "You are not in a position of negotiation."

Coyote05/21/2020

Orya smiled, gently and kindly. Instead of responding, she
said, “Thank you for your help with the dishes.” And she began walking back to
the dining room.

Mink05/21/2020

"You're welcome." Raef returned the smile and he
followed Orya out, glancing at Mishka.
He made the vaguest sign of warning from behind Orya's back before
walking to where he had rested their bags. It looked like the others had packed
as well. "It's all clean.  We can
leave."

Coyote05/21/2020

##

Orya helped the children pull on their snowsuits and their
gloves and hats; then they all headed out together.

Mishka kept up a steady pace of conversation with Orya as
they walked. Then, eventually, he dropped back to talk to Raef. “Hey,” he said
softly.

Mink05/21/2020

"Hey." Raef smiled at Mishka, taking Mishka's hand
in his and squeezing.  He'd decided to
walk a little behind the family that chatted as they marched through the snow,
wanting to think of how he was going to snag Orya without the kids seeing.

Coyote05/24/2020

"Are you alright?" Mishka murmured. "You've
been off all morning." He squeezed Raef's hand back.

Mink05/24/2020

"Orya's been hired to killed the family," Raef
said quietly, running his thumb along the back of Mishka's hand.  "She knew me from Alabaster.  Asked me to help."

Coyote05/24/2020

"Hm," Mishka said, and looked very smug, and said
nothing else.

Mink05/24/2020

Raef rolled his eyes at the look, but smiled. "Do you
wanna help me?"

Coyote05/24/2020

"Well, yes. Of course. I am a gracious man and like to
help everyone with everything. If I were a less gracious man, I would stop here
to tell you I told you so, though."

Mink05/24/2020

"Oh dear. It sounds like a conundrum." Raef
winked. "It's a good thing you're a gracious man."

Coyote05/24/2020

"It is," Mishka said, amused. "Magnanimous.
Dignified. Elegant. And with such a good boyfriend, too, who is also
magnanimous, and dignified, and-- wait, did you say Orya wants to kill the
entire family?"

Mink05/24/2020

"Very elegant," Raef corrected with a smile.  He made a face when Mishka caught up.  The idea of her killing the little kids...it
disgusted him. "Yeah.  She was hired
to do that.  Of course, she's going to
fail."

Coyote05/24/2020

Mishka shot Orya a puzzled look. She was holding her
children's hands. "But-- why? She's been hired to kill her own
family?"

Mink05/24/2020

"They're not hers.
That's not her real face." His grip tightened on Mishka's hand
briefly. It wasn't a new trick, but infiltrating a family with children like
that...he had done awful things, but never that.

Coyote05/24/2020

Mishka stiffened. He gripped Raef's hand tight. He watched
the children, then looked back at Raef. "You're going to kill her, my
love?"

Mink05/24/2020

"Mmhmm." Raef nodded once. "She's not going
to hurt those children." They'd be hurt when they learned their mom was
dead, but...they wouldn't be dead. "I need to get her on her own."

Coyote05/24/2020

Mishka kept clutching Raef's hand. "They'll think you
murdered their mother," he said. "They won't think you saved them
from an assassin."

Mink05/24/2020

"It's better than them dying." Raef squeezed
Mishka's hand, glancing at him, pained. "They're just kids." Their
mother was already dead, and the horror of thinking their mom wanted to kill
them...he could be the bad guy.

Coyote05/24/2020

Mishka nodded, then falteringly, said: "I mean, that's
true. Their mother is dead either way..." He winced. "But-- there
must be a way to do it so it's at least not traumatizing. We can't-- do it in
front of them."

Mink05/24/2020

"...yeah...I want to get her away from them..." He
played with Mishka's fingers. "...I need your help with that."

Coyote05/24/2020

"Maybe we can draw her aside," Mishka said softly.
"Or make it look like an accident."

Mink05/24/2020

Raef nodded. "An accident..." It would be ideal,
and it was a good idea.  In another life,
Aesar would've plucked Mishka up. "...if we could work near a cliff,
that'd be easiest."

Coyote05/25/2020

"Sounds easy enough," Mishka said. "There
will be cliffs once we reach the mountain. How, though? I suppose can just--
knock her off. She'll see it coming, though."

Mink05/25/2020

"... yeah...s'pose I can stab her then push
her..." Come up close, like he was going to help her, drive it in...let
her go. "...it'd be easier to just cut her throat."

Coyote05/25/2020

“They’ll want to retrieve the body,” Mishka pointed out.
“They’ll see the stab wound on her.”

He hesitated, then said— “I could paralyze her for you. And
then... you could push her.”

Mink05/25/2020

Raef paused a little in his steps before continuing on.
"You're smart." He smiled at Mishka. "That's a great idea."

Coyote05/25/2020

“I used to pull that trick on people who attacked Hansel
when we were pirates,” Mishka admitted. “Paralyze them and then knock them
overboard and... y’know... let them drown, unnoticed, during the fight.”

Mink05/25/2020

"Mmm... it's a good trick." Raef couldn't do that,
and he hadn't worked with anyone that could do magic like that. "...we'll
do that...you zap her, I'll 'stumble', and off she goes."

Coyote05/25/2020

Mishka bundled up deeper into his fancy white-furred cloak.
He said nothing for a long time, glancing unhappily at the boy and his older
sister.

Mink05/25/2020

Raef hesitated a moment before he wrapped his arms around
Mishka's shoulder.  He lightly pressed
their heads together before straightening.
This was a shitty situation and he was glad Mishka was there with him,
helping him.

It took a little more trudging through the cold before the
mountains crept up on them and they were in them, cliffs breaking through in
jagged scars.

"Soon," he muttered, eyeing Orya and the
children.  Getting them away was the hard
part.

Coyote05/25/2020

“I’ll make some excuse to help the children as we’re
climbing,” Mishka said quietly. “You signal Orya you want to talk. Pretend
you’re going to negotiate with her and need to speak privately.”

Mink05/27/2020

Raef smiled at Mishka and squeezed his hand. "Thank
you." He waited a few more minutes before he drew away from Mishka.  He stepped to Orya. "Hey."

Coyote05/30/2020

Orya glancing up, smiling. She was holding the children’s
hands. There were laugh-lines on her face, though they didn’t seem to quite
fit. “Oh, hello. Are you enjoying the travel?”

“It’s a long way,” Efim pitched in.

Mink05/30/2020

"It is," Raef agreed with a smile at Efim before
looking at Orya. "I was thinking about earlier.  Do you mind if we talk?"

Coyote05/30/2020

Orya’s expression didn’t change. She just shooed along her
children. “Go tell your father we’re taking a break for a bit. We’ll settle
here and have lunch.”

The children raced off.

Mink05/30/2020

Raef watched the children go, but then his attention was on
Orya.  He led them a little more towards
the side.

"I would like to help, depending on your payout,"
he said finally when the children were far enough away.

Coyote05/30/2020

Orya smiled, the bland look still in place. “Ah, I’m glad. I
knew you would see reason. I’ve heard stories you’re a very practical man.”

Farther away, Mishka began chatting with the children,
smiling and kneeling next to them.

Mink05/30/2020

"Oh, then you heard all of the boring ones." Raef
smiled back at Orya. "What's your payout, and my part, if I help
you?"

Coyote05/30/2020

“How about five thousand?”

Mink05/30/2020

"Seven thousand," Raef countered.  As they spoke, the nearest cavern yawned
closer and closer.

Coyote05/31/2020

Orya shrugged easily, as if it were of no importance to her.
She kept walking, casually, along with Raef, as though simply taking a stroll
with a new friend. "I can do that. We will need to discuss logistics,
though. Does your-- ahem-- husband-- know that you're doing this?"

Mink05/31/2020

"What was your plan?" Raef glanced towards Mishka
before back at Orya, as if he was regretting something.  He wasn't.
They were closer to the crumbly edge of the ravine, close enough for
Orya to fall. "No.  It'd be better
if he didn't know just yet."

Coyote06/02/2020

Orya continued walking, shuffling lightly through the snow.

When Raef glanced back, Mishka was looking at him. The look
was complex— there was a certain softness there, like he’d just been looking at
Raef to look and admire, but a certain worry, too. When Raef caught him
looking, he met Raef’s eyes, then went back to the children.

“It’s fairly simple,” Orya said. “Once we reach the temple,
the children and the father go into different rooms for different parts of the
ritual. I will go with the children and quietly do that part. After that— I
intended to scream and call my ‘husband’ for help. Then pick him off once he
came through the door. But I need you to take care of Dima. The grandmother.
She’s a powerful cleric.”

Mink06/02/2020

It was a good plan - quick, easy, and got rid of three
potential problems quickly before tackling the real fighter.   If it hadn't involved children, Raef
would've been proud in an odd sort of way.

"I can do that," he agreed with a smile at Orya.
"While you're...assisting...the children and your husband, I can keep her
busy." He knew how he would do it, too, if he was going to kill her.

He tugged his cloak closer to him, masking a 'go' sign to
Mishka in the same movement. "Are you still using Nighthand?"

Coyote06/02/2020

Orya caught the movement with her eyes, despite Raef’s
attempt to cover it. She looked briefly puzzled— then her eyes widened with
alarm as she seemed to realize that Raef’s signal was not meant for her, but
for Mishka.

She opened her mouth to respond, going for a knife at the
same moment.

Then her body froze, locked in place with her hands around
her dagger. She stared at Raef in horror, and then Mishka, over Raef’s
shoulder. Her eyes made small movement back and forth though the rest of her was
paralyzed.

Mink06/02/2020

"You do. Good." Raef smiled thinly at Orya.  He took a step closer, digging his toe into
the snow to loosen it under Orya's feet, and he pushed her off the crumbly
cliff.

Then, without missing a beat, he screamed,
"Orya!", and dropped to his stomach and stretched out an arm as if to
try to grab her.  He missed.
"Orya!" Fright, worry, shock were all written on his face though he
felt none of those things.

Coyote06/02/2020

Orya vanished into the pit below. Before the darkness swallowed
her up, she suddenly unfroze, then began writhing and kicking and screaming in
the air— though it was far too late for her to do anything.

Then, a few seconds after falling into the blackness, there
came a sickening thump that echoed through the gorge.

“Orya?” Leonid called, sounding frightened. He bolted
towards the edge, grasping Raef’s arm. Then he began to try and climb down the
treacherous slope— though it was easily a hundred feet tall.

Mink06/02/2020

Raef grabbed Leonid to drag him back from the cliff.
"Don't.  You'll fall," he
breathed out, glancing back towards Mishka, the kids, and Dima, seeking help in
keeping Leonid back.

Coyote06/02/2020

Mishka held the kids to keep them back. He motioned Dima over,
and she rushed to hold her grandchildren. Once the kids were safe, Mishka
rushed to the edge. “I can get her,” Mishka murmured to Leonid. “Don’t worry.
I’ll go get her. I can teleport.”

Leonid still fought and cursed, trying to get free of Raef.

Mink06/02/2020

Raef twisted Leonid around, securing his arms around him in
a hug. "Please...I'm sorry...let-let my husband go get her." He
glanced at Mishka. "Be careful."

Leonid was strong in Raef's grip, twisting, cursing,
struggling, but Raef refused to let go.
The kids were going to need their dad.

Coyote06/02/2020

Mishka vanished with a crack.

Leonid went still, breathing hard. Over by their
grandmother, the children began to weep.

Mink06/02/2020

Raef pulled Leonid back, take slow, hard steps, to bring him
towards the kids. "Your kids...your kids...they need you," he
whispered, trying to keep Leonid here and now.
His heart broke for the little family.
Orya had been dead for a long time, but now...now they knew.

The kids cried, held by Dima, and Leonid's struggles began
to abate some before he was also holding his children.

Then all Raef had to do was wait for Mishka to come back,
safe and sound.

Coyote06/02/2020

A minute passed, then another. Then Mishka reappeared,
holding a body.

It was not Orya’s body. Instead, it was a gangly gray
humanoid with an oddly shaped head. Mishka had an expression of shock.

“I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I’m sorry. When I got down
there, she— I think someone impersonated your mother. A doppelgänger.”

“A doppelgänger?” Leonid said, face slack with shock.

“Aye,” Mishka said. “A doppelgänger. They’re creatures who—
they kidnap someone, and often kill them, and take their place after eating
their memories. They revert to their natural form on death. I’m so sorry. She
must’ve— she must’ve fallen by accident, and then... when she hit the ground
and died, she reverted to her true form on death.”

“I married a— a doppelgänger?” Leonid said. Still stunned.
“But how... all this time—?”

“No,” Mishka said. “More likely, she— more likely the
doppelgänger killed your wife and replaced her. I’m sorry.”

Mink06/02/2020

Raef stared at the creature in Mishka's arms.  That wasn't...what he was expecting, but it
wasn't a familiar face; that was a small bit of relief.  A doppleganger was better than someone he
may've known.

"Oh...I'm...sorry," he said softly, squeezing
Leonid's shoulder.  It had to be hard to
swallow.

"But...but...Mum..." Efim whimpered.

Raef bit the inside of his lip, glancing at Mishka.  "I'm sorry," was all he could
repeat.  There was nothing else to say.
He looked at Leonid and Dima. "We can take care of - of the body for
you."

Mink07/08/2020

[End]

Mink08/22/2020

Title: Treacherous Terrain Summary: Mishka and Raef head out
to find a spell to share lifespans.  They
finally realize they both like eachother and want to be together.  Along their way to the temple, they encounter
a family where the mother is an imposter going to kill the family.  Mishka and Raef decide to kill the fake
mother.