"Are you really alright, Cherion?"
The question came out low and rough, more like a vibration from Zarius's chest than actual words. Cherion blinked himself out of the warm, floaty haze currently occupying his brain and looked away from the blur of pine trees outside the carriage window. Zarius was staring at him again with that intense, borderline overprotective look he'd perfected over the last few days.
"I'm fine, Zarius. Really," Cherion mumbled, though there wasn't much bite left in his voice.
Zarius clearly didn't buy it. His brows pulled together into that stubborn little frown he usually reserved for battle plans and paperwork he hated. "Then why are you pouting? You've been doing it since we crossed the creek."
Cherion's lower lip twitched.
Was he pouting?
...Maybe a little.
He leaned his head against the cool carriage window and watched the cabin disappear farther into the forest until it became nothing but a tiny dark blur swallowed by endless green.
