8/10/2024, 6:51 PM
![[Image: dasj6kh-fcc362f4-4eae-4ea0-ab51-566d0609...VRtQg5FHd0]](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/dc92adb3-a0c8-44d8-a700-f82686783b80/dasj6kh-fcc362f4-4eae-4ea0-ab51-566d06091b70.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2RjOTJhZGIzLWEwYzgtNDRkOC1hNzAwLWY4MjY4Njc4M2I4MFwvZGFzajZraC1mY2MzNjJmNC00ZWFlLTRlYTAtYWI1MS01NjZkMDYwOTFiNzAucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.rNDHj-ycuC0jySblHh1U5lqpZDv-L4XVkVRtQg5FHd0)
A walk is just fine,she told him, not desiring to over exert him. She could see no visible injury to him on the outside, but what of his lungs? She would not force him to a trot or to a run, not wanting to stress his lungs from the smoke and stifling air. He did not cough the same as her, but he squinted against the smoke and ash and that was enough for Kairos' adrenaline to take a back seat and instead focus on making it as easy for him as possible.
Little did she know, he too had the same want.
Just... the other way around.
Together they walked through the smoke and Kairos stayed near him, wanting to ensure that they were close enough that if they went through thick smoke, she would not lose him. The Castle must be close; she hadn't gone awfully far, after all.
You will not,she said suddenly, hearing his words, and his declaration.
You cannot take leave from me until this smoke has gone, and the fires died. Otherwise I will just worry about your safety,Kairos told him, voice crisp, but her mismatched eyes were laden with emotion she could not let fall.
I will be fine, Francis. The smoke just clogged in my throat,she's softer now, voice warm like the fire that they both had all but walked through, as she sought to reassure him of her wellbeing.
You do not want me following after you, after all, do you? Because I shall, Francis.Kairos settled for, as she brushed her shoulder against his own.
Out of the thick smoke, Kairos breathed a heavy breath as to try and clear her lungs, and she glanced over her shoulder to the fire as it burned atop another branch. This time, though, it had no tree close enough for the fire to turn to ruin.
What luck we have, to have found each other in the middle of it all,she murmured, nostrils flaring as she blinked rapidly to clear her stinging eyes.
Where was Eastbourne from here?
