But, still, her murmured words gave promise, as she always did, of them. Of an ‘us.’ Which, to the vulture, translated to intimate times finally spent together. But, regardless, his gaze left her the moment she mentioned actually returning to Dorobo. And his ears tilted back, a combination of annoyance and disgrace, even as she playfully used her nickname for him.
Only when they were landed did he speak again, “I cannot go back, Saartje,” his gruff voice was serious, as was his use of her full name, “You know this.” He shook his bearded head slightly, to rid himself of the unpleasant sensations thoughts of returning to the plateaus gave him. (To face his maimed stepmother; to see the unmarked earth where true mother laid; to look into his father’s infuriated eyes…)
His ears perked forward as she answered his question, his own feathered hooves following her as she approached the water’s edge. “I’d be happy to show you the Edge’s finest hospitality, this evening,” his rough voice was back to playful as he answered her teasing words in kind, muzzle reaching out to gently brush the tufts of his beard along her haunches and dock.